Need to know where you are or where you’re going? Looking for directions to a restaurant or local business. Just want to check out a satellite image of your house? There is an almost ubiquitous app many people turn to for all of the above: Google Maps.

Google Maps is a powerful tool for businesses and consumers alike. Not only can it help customers find the services they’re looking for in their area, but it also provides businesses with an opportunity to stand out in search engine results. However, many businesses may not realize the impact that Google Maps can have on their search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. By understanding how Google Maps works and how SEO can be used to optimize location-based searches, your business can benefit greatly from this invaluable service.

In order to make the most of Google Maps, you must first understand how it works and why optimizing your listings can improve your rankings in search engines. Keep reading to find out more about what Google Maps is, why it matters for SEO, and tips on how to optimize your business listings for maximum visibility.

Google Maps: What Is It?

Put simply, Google Maps is a web mapping service that allows users to locate places all around the world. It offers detailed information about locations such as streets, landmarks, establishments, public transportation routes, etc., making it easy for users to find what they’re looking for quickly and conveniently.

When searching on the web or via a smartphone app, users are presented with a map view of an area along with related search results. As long as you have included relevant information in your business listing (more on this later), then customers should be able to find your location easily when using Google Search or Maps applications.

Google My Business

One of the most important ways that Google Maps can impact SEO is through the use of Google My Business (GMB) listings. GMB listings allow businesses to provide detailed information about their location, including their address, phone number, hours of operation, and more. These listings also allow businesses to include photos, videos, and customer reviews, which can all help to improve their visibility in search results. Claiming and keeping your GMB listings up-to-date is important since it’s often the first and most thing potential customers see when looking up a business.

The interactive nature of these platforms also makes them great tools for connecting with customers directly since users can get directions right away or even look up reviews before committing to a visit.

Why Does It Matter For SEO?

It’s not uncommon for a business’ number of Google Maps impressions to be 3, 4, or more times the number of its organic list search impressions, meaning far more eyeballs are likely to look at your GMB and Google Maps listings than virtually anything else online, save for paid advertising. Optimizing your presence on Google Maps and GMB can have huge benefits for your business in terms of search engine optimization (SEO). This is because having accurate and complete listing data will ensure that you show up prominently when potential customers are searching for businesses like yours within their immediate vicinity. This type of local-focused keyword intent improves the chances that people will actually visit your store or website once they’ve seen it listed among the other options available near them.

Additionally, including important information such as opening hours or contact details helps make sure that customers know exactly what type of experience they can expect from you upon arrival – all elements which drive customer satisfaction ratings up which then leads to higher rankings over time due to improved relevance signals from searchers who are actively engaging with you rather than just passing by quickly in low numbers without any further interaction.

Let Us Help You Get Found

Ignite Marketing can help you make sure your business listings on GMB and Google Maps are optimized and current so that you don’t let potential customers slip through the gaps. Contact us today to see how we can get more people to find your business online.