How (YOU CAN) Beat 99% of Local Stores on Google Maps Quick and Easy Lesson 2024

Tired of being buried in Google Maps while your competitors steal local customers? Do you want to know the surprisingly simple key to outranking 99% of local businesses? In this video, inspired by the necessity for local businesses to dominate their Google Maps presence, I’m going to show you a quick and easy lesson on on-page optimization that can help you beat the competition in 2024. If you’re a local business owner ready to finally rank higher in Google Maps, this is a must-watch!

Video Chapters

  • 0:00 – Introduction: Ranking in Google Maps is Achievable
  • 0:39 – The Power of On-Page Optimization for Local SEO
  • 0:50 – Do You Need a Website to Rank in Google Maps? The Short Answer
  • 1:17 – How Google Uses Your Website to Understand Your Business
  • 1:48 – The Crucial Questions Google Asks: Where Are You Located? What Do You Do?
  • 2:09 – Avoiding the “National Brand” Website Mistake for Local Businesses
  • 2:42 – The Importance of Hyperlocal Focus: Ranking in Your Specific Area
  • 3:55 – Connecting Your Website to Your Google Business Profile
  • 4:39 – Understanding Why Some Businesses Rank Higher: A Case Study
  • 5:20 – Analyzing a Website That Isn’t Optimized for Local Ranking
  • 5:56 – The Importance of Relevant Images for Your Industry
  • 7:04 – Examining a Website That Is Optimized for Local Ranking: Sarin Law
  • 11:32 – Key On-Page Elements for Google Maps Ranking Success
  • 12:00 – Understanding Your Primary GMB Category and Matching Your Homepage
  • 12:50 – Structuring Your Website for Optimal Local SEO
  • 16:59 – Optimizing for Secondary GMB Categories and Keyword Pages
  • 18:38 – The Importance of Location Pages for Businesses with Multiple Locations
  • 19:34 – The Foundation of White Hat SEO for Long-Term Ranking
  • 21:56 – Recapping the Key On-Page Optimization Strategies
  • 26:11 – The Bigger Picture: Improving Your Business and Lifestyle

Explore more on my website: https://mindsaw.com/
Check out my channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Mindsaw

Episode Transcript

(Transcript Snippets with Key Information and Citations)

  • 0:02 – The Focus on Google Maps Ranking: The video focuses on how to achieve better rankings specifically in Google Maps.
  • 0:41 – On-Page Optimization Explained: The core topic is on-page optimization, which refers to what is present on your website.
  • 0:56 – Ranking for One Keyword Without a Website: You can rank in Google Maps without a website, but you will likely only rank for one keyword, which is the one in your GMB title. For example, a business titled “Dow divorce law” might rank for “divorce law”.
  • 1:36 – Google Spiders Your Website: Google uses the website linked in your Google Business Profile to spider through it.
  • 1:48 – Google Looks for Location and Services: Google is primarily looking to understand where you are located and what you do.
  • 2:07 – Local vs. National Brand Websites: Local businesses should avoid having websites designed like national brands (e.g., Home Depot, Starbucks, Walmart) that don’t heavily feature a specific location.
  • 2:46 – Hyperlocal Content is Key: If you offer a service like basement refinishing in Cleveland, Ohio, your website needs to have “Cleveland Ohio” plastered all over it. Ideally, you should target even smaller suburbs within Cleveland.
  • 4:21 – Evaluating Ranking Websites: The video analyzes two divorce lawyer websites in Staten Island to illustrate why one ranks better than the other.
  • 5:26 – A Website Lacking Local Optimization: The first website reviewed (Cassandra and Julo) had an address but lacked clear indicators of their specific location and services on the homepage. The presence of a lion and tiger logo was deemed irrelevant to ranking for “Staten Island divorce lawyer”.
  • 7:13 – Missing Key Information: The poorly ranking website lacked clear information on who the attorneys are, their phone number, and location on the homepage.
  • 8:15 – Designed Like a National Brand: The underperforming website was designed like a national brand, failing to emphasize its local presence.
  • 11:33 – Elements of a Well-Optimized Website (Sarin Law Example): The higher-ranking website (Sarin Law) features a clear logo, phone number prominently displayed, and a call to action. It also includes the phrase “top rated divorce lawyer on Staten Island“.
  • 12:00 – Matching Homepage to Primary GMB Category: Your homepage should be optimized around your number one GMB category. For Sarin Law, their primary category is “divorce lawyer”.
  • 12:10 – Using GMB Everywhere to Analyze Competition: The speaker uses the GMB Everywhere extension to see the GMB categories their competition is using.
  • 12:53 – Relevant Images Matter: The images used on your website should be relevant to your industry. A picture of a gavel is relevant for a divorce lawyer, while a lion and tiger are not.
  • 13:26 – Including Location and Keywords in Homepage Content: The Sarin Law website includes “Staten Island divorce attorney,” “Richmond County” (another name for Staten Island), and mentions the areas they serve. They also feature “real divorce client testimonials from Staten Island New York“.
  • 14:39 – Featuring the Local Area: Adding a section about Staten Island on the website, including a map and relevant pictures, helps Google understand your local focus.
  • 15:10 – Footer Location: If you have one location, put it in the footer of your website. If you have multiple GMB listings, you should create a locations page similar to Starbucks or Home Depot.
  • 16:32 – Optimizing Secondary Pages for Other GMB Categories: Your first set of links on your website should be your GMB categories, not just “Home”. Your second set of links should be your keyword pages, targeting the services you offer. The third set of links should be the areas you serve.
  • 17:01 – Creating Pages for Specific Keywords and GMB Categories: To rank for a keyword like “legal separation lawyer,” you need to see what GMB category your competition uses for that service (e.g., “legal services”) and ensure you also have that category and a corresponding page.
  • 18:56 – Importance of Phone Number and Contact Information: Your phone number should be nice and huge on your website and repeated several times.
  • 20:28 – Prioritizing White Hat SEO: While “dirty tricks” might offer short-term ranking, 95-98% of your campaign should be white hat SEO, focusing on what Google wants to see.
  • 20:38 – Avoiding Misleading Google: Google shouldn’t have to guess that you’re a divorce lawyer in Staten Island based on vague website content.
  • 26:23 – The Real Reasons for Improving Your Website: The goal of improving your website for ranking isn’t just about getting more leads but ultimately about improving your lifestyle and taking care of your family