8 Tips to Rank Higher on Google Maps Local 3-Pack in 2023

Where does your local business stand on Google Maps?

In 2023, you need to focus on sharpening your local search engine optimization (SEO) tactics to attract local consumers to your business.

What is the Google 3-Pack?

You might have noticed that the results at the top of the search engine results pages (SERPs) appear in groups of three, and these three groups comprise the Google 3-Pack. In the Google 3-Pack, Google presents users with relevant results. This is Google’s way of ensuring that its users find exactly what they are looking for.

‍

‍

Google displays all possible businesses relevant to users’ queries, and these results are further customized based on their location while searching for a business with a local intent. As discussed, the Google-3 Pack comprises the top three results relevant to a local search.

If you want to understand how this works, try searching for a local business in your area; you can include keywords such as “near me” or a location reference in your search query. For example, “Digital marketing agency near me.” Google will display the top three digital marketing agencies nearest to you.

You’d be pleased to know that with Google-3 Pack, the results are faster than any other form of SEO. The Google Local Pack listing comprises critical business information, including contact number, business address, website link, price range, location on the map, directions, ratings, etc.

The influence of Google-3 Pack on your local business

‍

For an online business to drive visitors, it is important that the business appear frequently in local searches. Let us discuss how this influences the Google-3 Pack.

A business that appears in the Google Local Pack is able to drive more traffic both online and offline, boosting sales.

Factors considered by Google when determining the 3-pack local ranking

Distance: As we discussed, users might be using keywords, such as “near me,” in their search queries. So, it is obvious that Google will consider how close the local business is to the user’s location.

‍Popularity: People are always looking for popular businesses online. So, Google also looks for prominence when listing the three-pack.

‍Relevance: Google will measure the local business’s relevance to the user’s query before qualifying the business for the three-pack.

How to Rank Higher in the Google 3 Pack

1. Create & Verify your Google My Business Profile

Keep your business information online up-to-date with Google My Business for free.

The first and foremost step to qualifying for the 3-Pack is to own a completed Google My Business Profile. You might already own one. Review to see if your Google My Business Profile exists.

There are two ways to create your Google My Business Profile:

Either add or claim your business.

You can proceed with the next steps once you have entered the permanent local phone number and address for your business.

2. Optimize your Google My Business profile

Once you have the ownership of your business profile, proceed to the next step to amplify your business’s presence in the 3-Pack.

• ‍Ensure that you have entered all the essential information for your profile. Review if you have filled in all the relevant categories.
• When describing your business, try to ensure that you are being as unique as possible.
• Ensure that your business and location are verified.
• While entering your business hours, ensure that you are entering only accurate information.
• We recommend including photos of your business.
• Always respond to reviews.

3. Add Local Business Schema Markup to your website

The next step is to add the name, address, and phone number (NAP) for your business. When you are including NAP on your website, you need to encapsulate it in Schema language (which is a structural protocol supported by Google and other search engines. The intent is to identify the presence of specific datasets within web pages with ease).

Encapsulating your NAP in Schema is one of the recommended ways to send a high-quality signal to search engines with regard to relevance and authority of your business’s proximity to the user based on the specific details related to your business.

4. Ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly

The intent of focusing more and more on relevance is to offer the best user experience. Another thing you need to do is ensure that your website is responsive and mobile-friendly to reserve yourself a seat in the Google 3 pack.

5. Build local citations

What exactly is a citation?

A citation comprises your name, address, and phone number. In some cases, it might include your website’s URL. Your citation will help Google confirm your location.

6. Make sure the Citations are consistent

Your rankings can go down if there is volatility in your citations. Volatility can arise when you have multiple addresses or variations listed on the internet.

Analyze all those sites wherever you have published citations and then eliminate the volatility.

7. Get More Reviews for Your GMB Profile

You can do this by directly reaching out to your loyal base of customers and requesting feedback. Keep in touch with them constantly.

Get your people to use related keywords and city names while sharing their reviews.

8. Add GMB Posts regularly to increase CTR

GMB posts are known to have a direct impact on click through rate (CTR) whenever a highlight from a post appears in the local 3 Pack.

Conclusion

There is no perfectly customized solution to rank in the 3 Pack. However, you can keep combining different local SEO tactics with organic SEO and monitor the results till you get what you want.  

‍

About Seattle New Media

Seattle New Media is a digital marketing company, offering all kinds of digital marketing services including local SEO services to our clients to take their business to the next level. Contact us for a free consultation!