2024 Game Changer Local SEO with Google Maps and Bard Portfolio Pages

Hey there, and welcome! Are you looking for a cutting-edge strategy to skyrocket your local business rankings on Google Maps in 2024? In this video, we’re uncovering a game-changing method that utilizes the power of Google Bard to help you outrank your competition and capture more local leads within the coveted Google 3-pack.

Brett Mleta from Mindsaw is back to share an innovative approach that goes beyond traditional local SEO tactics. He reveals how creating targeted portfolio pages based on insights from Google Bard can significantly improve your visibility in specific geographic areas you’re currently missing. If you’re ready to take your local SEO to the next level and tap into the immense potential of Google Maps, then get ready to learn how to use Google Bard to your advantage!

Explore more on my website: https://mindsaw.com/

Check out my channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Mindsaw

Episode Transcript

Understanding the Battleground: The Google 3-Pack

As discussed in a previous video, our primary focus here is on dominating the Google 3-pack, the top three map listings that appear for local searches. This is a crucial area because it often receives the lion’s share of clicks from local customers [Summary of previous Mindsaw video]. While ranking organically is important, achieving visibility in the 3-pack is paramount for attracting nearby customers actively searching for your services [Summary of previous Mindsaw video]. The strategy we’re about to explore is specifically designed to help you break into and expand your presence within this vital section of Google Maps.

The Essential Tool: Your SEO Grid Program

Before implementing any advanced strategies, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your current Google Maps ranking. This is where an SEO grid program comes into play. These tools, such as Local Falcon (the speaker’s preferred choice), Local Viking, Bright Local, and Local Dominator, provide a visual representation of where your Google Business Profile (GBP) ranks for your target keywords across a grid of different locations.

Interpreting Your Grid:

  • The grid displays dots with numbers, indicating your ranking in each specific location for your chosen keyword (e.g., “roofers near me”).
  • Green dots generally signify that you are ranking within the Google 3-pack in that area.
  • As the dots transition to yellow and orange, it indicates that your ranking decreases as you move further away from your primary location. The number on the dot shows your specific ranking in that area (e.g., “10” means you are the 10th listing).
  • This grid report is essential for identifying the “yellow and red” areas where you are not ranking well and where you need to focus your optimization efforts. You don’t need to target areas where you are already ranking well (the “green” areas).

The 2024 Game Changer: Leveraging Bard for Portfolio Pages

The core of this new strategy revolves around creating portfolio pages on your website for specific addresses in the areas where you are currently not ranking well. The speaker highlights that this method is a relatively undiscussed way to potentially “beat Google Maps” by strategically showing Google your relevance in those underserved locations.

Here’s the breakdown of the strategy:

  1. Identify Underperforming Areas: Use your SEO grid program to pinpoint the exact locations (represented by yellow and red dots with higher numbers) where you are not ranking within the Google 3-pack.

  2. Gather Specific Addresses with Google Bard: Utilize Google Bard to find exact addresses of historic buildings or new developments within those underperforming ZIP codes. The rationale behind this is that Google often recognizes these types of locations as important or prominent. The speaker’s prompt to Bard was something like, “Please give me exact addresses of like historic buildings new developments” in the target ZIP code.

  3. Create Targeted Portfolio Pages: For each address obtained from Bard (that falls within an area where you’re not ranking well), create a dedicated portfolio page on your website.

    • Include the Exact Address: Clearly state the specific address on the page.

    • Incorporate Bard’s Recommended Elements: Based on a previous interaction with Bard about improving local rankings, include information that Google seems to value:

      • Unique Selling Points (USPs): Highlight your warranties, financing options, emergency services, etc..
      • Expertise and Experience: Showcase your company’s years in business, qualifications, and expertise in your service area (e.g., “20-year warranty for roofs”).
      • Commitment to Customer Satisfaction: Emphasize your dedication to providing excellent service.
      • Finished Projects: Include pictures or videos of completed work. Even if you didn’t do a full project at the exact Bard-provided address, the speaker suggests you might have done an estimate there or a job nearby in the past. Be “a little bit creative” to show relevance.
      • Team Members in Action: Feature photos or videos of your team working.
      • Keyword Integration: Naturally incorporate your target keywords (e.g., “roofer near me,” “roof replacement”) within the page content, specifically in the context of the address.
    • Focus on the Address: Ensure that all the content on this specific portfolio page revolves around the particular address you are targeting.

  4. Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP): Take the addresses you’ve created portfolio pages for and integrate them into your GBP.

    • Google Posts: Create Google Posts specifically mentioning work (even estimates) done at these addresses. Include photos taken near or at the location.
    • Add Addresses (Where Work Was Done): If you have genuinely provided service at any of the addresses Bard gave you or addresses in those underperforming areas, add those addresses to your GBP, detailing the service provided.
  5. Seek Localized Reviews: The final and crucial step is to obtain reviews from customers who are physically located at or near the specific addresses you are targeting.

    • Specificity is Key: Encourage the reviewer to mention the service they received and ideally the location (even if it’s near the target address). They should also use your target keywords in their review (e.g., “roof replacement”).
    • Timing: The best time to ask for a review is immediately after providing service.
    • Standing at the Location: While not always feasible, the speaker mentions that it’s preferable if the person leaving the review is physically standing at that address when they submit it.

The Synergy: By creating these targeted portfolio pages with Bard-sourced addresses, optimizing your GBP with this location-specific information, and obtaining localized reviews, you are sending strong signals to Google that your business is relevant and active in those specific geographic areas where you were previously not ranking well.

 

The Expected Outcome: Improved Local Ranking

 

By consistently implementing these three steps (portfolio page, GBP optimization, localized review) for your target addresses, the speaker guarantees that a ranking of “10” in your grid report can potentially turn into a “one or a two,” placing you in the Google 3-pack. This increased visibility will lead to more leads and more phone calls for your business.