My SECRET Method To Get Your Business On Google Maps First Page!

Having trouble getting your business to show up in the Google 3-pack? Many local business owners face this challenge, ranking only in a very small area. This post, based on a video from the Mindsaw channel, shares the secrets and specific methods used to help clients rank better in Google Maps, using the example of a home painter in Orlando named Joffrey. Learn how to assess your current ranking, optimize your Google My Business listing, fine-tune your website, and leverage customer reviews to improve your visibility and reach outside your immediate area.

Video Chapters:

  • 0:00 – 0:32 Introduction and Topic Overview
  • 0:32 – 2:02 Using a Grid Program for Ranking Assessment
  • 2:02 – 2:29 Using a Location Changer Program
  • 2:29 – 3:38 Checking Competitor GMB Categories
  • 3:38 – 4:45 Website Homepage Optimization – Calls to Action, Phone Number
  • 4:45 – 6:05 Website Homepage Navigation and H-Tags
  • 6:05 – 7:02 Website Imagery and Stock Photos vs. Owner Photo
  • 7:02 – 8:04 Website Location Signals and Navigation Structure
  • 8:04 – 9:04 Website Service Pages and Keyword Pages
  • 9:04 – 9:49 Website Areas We Serve Pages
  • 9:49 – 10:12 Website General Links and Ghost Pages
  • 10:12 – 11:41 Optimizing Reviews with Keywords, Location, and Owner Name
  • 11:41 – 13:18 Getting Optimized Reviews and Using Your Review Link
  • 13:18 – 13:53 Incentives and Google Guidelines for Reviews
  • 13:53 – 15:06 Crucially, Not Changing Your GMB Business Name
  • 15:06 – 15:48 Concluding Thoughts on Family and Well-being

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

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

Episode Transcript

Key Strategies for Google Maps Ranking:

  1. Assess Your Current Ranking: You can’t know where you’re going unless you know your starting point.

    • Use a grid program like Local Falcon, GMB Crush, Local Viking, or Bright Local. Local Falcon is recommended for its ease of use and is approximately $24 per month.
    • Type in your main keyword (e.g., “exterior house painting”) to see a general view of your ranking across a grid in your service area.
    • Use a location changer program, like GS Location Changer, to check how you rank from different physical locations.
  2. Optimize Your Google My Business (GMB) Categories: Using the correct categories is crucial.

    • See what GMB categories your competition is using. A program like GMB Everywhere (a Chrome plugin) can help you see competitor categories.
    • Identify the category used most frequently by top-ranking competitors (e.g., “painter” vs. “painting”).
    • Ensure your primary GMB category matches the most prevalent one used by competitors.
    • Set your primary, secondary, and tertiary GMB categories (e.g., “painter”, “painting”, and “service establishment”).
  3. Optimize Your Website: Your website needs to be optimized to support your GMB ranking efforts.

    • Calls to Action: Reduce the number of calls to action on your homepage. If you want phone calls, put your phone number prominently and make it a tap-to-call hotlink. Display accepted credit cards near the phone number.
    • Navigation: Change the “Home” link in your navigation to your primary GMB category (e.g., “Painter”). Don’t waste space by having the logo and a “Home” link both going to the homepage.
    • H-Tags: Use H-tags (large text headers) on your homepage to emphasize two things: what you do (your GMB category, e.g., “painter”) and where you do it (your registered GMB location, e.g., “Orlando Florida”).
    • Homepage Content: Everything on the homepage should be about your primary keyword (GMB category) and location.
    • Imagery: Avoid photo galleries on the homepage as they are distracting and can slow down loading, especially on mobile. Use one nice, big picture of the owner (working, by their van, etc.) instead of stock photos or galleries. Potential customers want to see who is coming to their house.
    • Location Signals: Put something about the area where your GMB is registered (not just areas you want business from) on the bottom of your page, potentially with a background picture or map of the location.
    • Service Navigation: Change generic “Services” links to specific GMB categories or service types (e.g., “Painting Services”, “Service Establishment”). Create dedicated pages for these.
    • Keyword Pages: You need enough keyword pages for your services (e.g., exterior house painting, interior painting, cabinet painting). Aim for 10 or 15, not just a few.
    • Content Length: Ensure you have enough words on your pages, somewhere around 1000 words is suggested.
    • Areas We Serve Pages: Create pages for specific areas/neighborhoods within a 5, 10, or 15-mile radius of your GMB center point. These should ideally be drop-down links from an “Areas We Serve” link in your navigation.
    • Ghost Pages: Use the Google search operator site:yourdomain.com to find “ghost pages” (pages with no content, often leftover from templates). Remove these pages.
  4. Optimize Your Reviews: User signals, especially reviews, are important.

    • Encourage clients to include specific details in their reviews: the area they are from, the keyword/service provided, and the owner’s name they dealt with. For example, a review could mention living “by the Orlando Science Center” and getting “exterior house painting” from “Joffrey”.
    • Not all reviews need to be optimized; aiming for 5-6 out of 10 optimized reviews looks more real to readers and Google.
    • Have your Google review link readily available (e.g., text it to yourself) so you can easily share it with clients. Show them how to click the link to go to the review page.
    • While you cannot tell clients how many stars to give, you can “nudge them a little bit”.
    • Offering small incentives like $5 gift cards (Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks) can encourage reviews and providing them when you first arrive or while completing the invoice is suggested. Asking casually later is also an option.
    • Always stay within Google’s guidelines. Do not buy fake reviews, as this can lead to suspension.
  5. Avoid Changing Your Business Name: This is extremely important.

    • Editing your GMB business name can result in getting a different CID number.
    • Changing your CID number can lead to losing all your reviews.
    • Whatever name you initially registered your GMB with, leave it as is. Google is unlikely to change it back if you lose reviews this way.

Remember: While optimizing your business is important, don’t forget about what’s truly important – your family. Business is watched and videos are consumed to improve, but balancing work with family life is key.