Key takeaways
- •Google ranks local results mainly on relevance, distance and prominence.
- •You can't change distance, but you can improve relevance and prominence with a complete profile, accurate categories, reviews and a strong local web presence.
- •Measure progress with repeated geo-grid scans, not a single check.
Ranking in Google Maps comes down to three things Google names itself: relevance, distance and prominence. You can't move your building, but you can improve the other two. This checklist covers the work that matters and how to tell whether it is working.
What Google says matters
Google's own guidance says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and prominence. Relevance is how well your profile matches what someone searched for. Distance is how far your business is from the searcher or the location they named. Prominence is how well known your business is, based on information from across the web, including reviews and links.
1. Complete and verify your Google Business Profile
- Claim and verify the profile.
- Add your accurate name, address, phone number, hours and website.
- Choose the most accurate primary category, then add secondary categories that truly apply.
- List your services or products, and add a clear description.
- Use your real business name. Adding keywords to it breaks Google's guidelines and can get you suspended.
2. Earn and answer reviews
Reviews affect both ranking and whether someone chooses you. Ask happy customers for a review, make it easy with a direct link, and reply to reviews, positive and negative. Quantity, quality and recency all play a part.
3. Add real photos and keep the profile fresh
Add photos of your work, your team and your location. Post updates and offers. A profile that is active signals that the business is open and engaged.
4. Build your local web presence
- Keep your name, address and phone number identical across directories and your website.
- Add a page on your website for each service and each area you serve, with useful, specific content.
- Earn links and mentions from local sites, sponsors and partners.
- Make sure your website loads quickly on a phone and links to your profile.
5. Measure it by area, not by one number
Because distance is part of the ranking, you rank differently in different places. Run a geo-grid scan before you start, then repeat it monthly. Look at the share of the area where you are in the top 3. See our guide on how to check your Google Maps ranking for the steps.
Give changes time. Google's results move around, so judge the trend over several scans.
See where you rank, block by block
Run a geo-grid scan on your own business. New accounts get 25 free tokens, no card needed.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to rank in Google Maps?
It depends on your market and your starting point. Expect to measure progress over months, not days, and judge it by the trend across several scans.
Can I rank in the map pack outside my city?
Distance from the searcher matters, so ranking far from your address is harder. A grid scan shows how far your visibility reaches.
Do reviews help me rank?
Reviews are part of prominence and they influence whether people choose you. Quantity, quality and recency all matter.
Can I put keywords in my business name?
No. Google's guidelines require your real business name, and adding keywords can lead to a suspension.