Google Maps is a powerful tool for listing your local business, and ranking higher can drive more traffic your way. However, improving visibility takes careful effort — doing it wrong could not only reduce your traffic but even lead to your business being suspended. Yes, you read that right! If you didn’t know this, it’s even more important to read this article till the end. Check out the points and best practices below, and be sure to follow Google’s guidelines to keep your business safe and thriving.
Recommended reads: On-Page SEO vs Off-Page SEO: Key Differences and Importance
Business name and information
It's not rocket science to choose a unique and effective business name for you, but in case if you do not know then choose a name which has the potential to become a brand with clear understanding of what your business is all about.
Following are some of the things to keep in mind while choosing a business name to rank higher on Google maps:
Do’s
- Choose unique name of clear understanding of business type and category
- The more short and simple the better
Don'ts
- It should not match any other business name that already exists
- Don't include keywords in Business name
- Don't use any special characters and over capitalization
Google Business profile Category
Choose a category that your business is best suited for, as you will be visible on the keywords related to that category and you do not want attention from the people your business is not serving so make sure you choose your category wisely.
If your business serves multiple categories then make sure to choose the primary category you will get options to add multiple services later like the below images and make sure to choose only those categories that you serve no extra no less.
Business Address
Your business address should be accurate and if someone comes to your location using maps then he/she should not have to ask and look around too much to find it as it may lead to poor management and may result in a negative impression.
Do’s
● Mention street, floor no. and accurate direction
Don'ts
- Forgetting crucial information like street no, lane no, floor no etc.
- Don't include keywords in address as well.
Give an accurate address and try to use google pin to adjust to the exact street or side.
Working hours
Everything is simple while setting up a Google business profile. All the options are simple and understandable like working hours, set the time when your business opens and closes. If your business is closed off on Sundays then set it closed.
If you set the opening and closing hours are not accurate then you are likely to get low ratings because if customers visit during your location in closing hours it will be a negative impression which can impact your google business profile.
One exception case might be that if your business serves 24 hours then you can choose accordingly For eg- Medical shops.
Do’s
- Set exact opening and closing hours e.g. 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- If sundays are closed then set it closed
- If saturdays are half day or closed the set it accordingly.
Don'ts
- If you're looking for more visibility and customer inquiries, avoid setting your business hours to 24/7 unless you truly operate around the clock. Only do so if your services are available at all times.
- Do not skip this step as it will show your business is closed all the time otherwise.
(Note: only do above selection if your business serves 24/7)
Google business profile description
If you are familiar with SEO then surely you understand the concept of providing description and why it is important. The character limit for description in 750 Characters that is perfect for describing your business. For e.g. what you serve, what your policies are and what is your aim, in a nutshell everything about your business in 750 characters you can use your keywords for the business.
Do’s
- Explain your business as much as you can with some keywords included.
- Write a brief and meaningful description.
Don'ts
- Don’t skip
- Overuse of keyword is prohibited
- Over capitalization should be avoided and special character should not be used
Images and videos
Google business profile resembles social media so you can post photos and videos to show your business. Representing your business visually impacts a lot when it comes to interactions, it can boost customer’s interaction and visibility if you do it right, otherwise it is just filling up Google’s storage with no aim and intent. If your interaction grows then surely your rankings will also increases and do make sure to include images and videos into your google business profile.
Do’s
- Post good quality images and videos with intent
- Make a good frequency for posting and do it consistently
Don'ts
- Don’t spam it one post and video is enough for a week
- Don’t post oversize images and videos
- At Least add images
Tips to rank higher on Google maps
After your business is set up on Google business profile then you are good to go, but there are some of the important things and good practices to keep in mind. Make sure from here on there are things to boost your ranking on Google business profile.
Verification
It’s very important to verify your business, as unverified businesses might not appear in search results at all. When setting up, you’ll be asked to verify your phone number, so be sure to use a valid number to receive the OTP or verification message. In most cases, your business will be verified right away if everything is correct. However, sometimes you might need to complete a video verification. This is a simple process, but necessary to make sure your business becomes visible online.
Star rating and reviews
Star ratings and reviews play a big role in how people interact with your business. When someone searches locally, Google Maps shows multiple businesses to choose from. People naturally want the best option, so they often rely on ratings and reviews to decide. Users are getting smarter and want the best value for their money — if your business offers that, you’ll attract more customers. Otherwise, it can be difficult to rank in the top three or reach the top spot.
Consistent updates on Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile offers many features to help you stand out! You can add images and videos, create special offers, organize events, and even post blogs with cover images. If you run a restaurant, you can showcase your menu with product listings and prices — all within your profile. The best part? You don’t need any third-party apps; everything is built into Google. This makes it easy to create a user-friendly space where you can highlight your business exactly how you want. And if you use these features correctly, the results can be amazing!
Image credit : Black Pepper Restaurant
The above image is a perfect example of how to maintain a profile and list what you have. This will surely boost engagement and it will get you on top in no time.
Get on other business listing platforms
To make sure you are getting more visibility and engagement make sure to get listed on other listing platforms as well like JustDial, Sulekha, Indiamart, thetoptens, yellowpages etc. Adding business on different business listing websites certainly to increase your business authority over the internet and that will be beneficial in the long run.
Keywords and website SEO
If you are familiar with SEO then it will help you out in local SEO as well. Using keywords is important but stuffing it, is not a good choice. You might get away with this but with Google Business profile it's not the same case, you will get suspended for trying illegal methods for sure so try to keep it clean.
If you have a website, its ranking can impact your Google Business Profile. Good website SEO can help your profile rank higher on Google Maps, while a lower website ranking might bring your profile down. If you don’t have a website, you can focus entirely on optimizing your profile. But if you do, it adds extra credibility and boosts your business’s online authority!
Map citations and competitor research
Map citation is old but it has effects on your business ranking on Google business profile. We would advise you to first do all the things that we have mentioned above and then do this step otherwise it won't help. If you do not know what map citations are then you can check out this article [https://www.semrush.com/local/blog/google-maps-citations-for-local-seo/] . This article describes how you can map citations correctly and how it can impact your business rankings.
Map citation (image credit : https://legiit.com/)
Summary
If you run a local business, your main audience is the people living nearby. Ranking higher on Google Maps can boost traffic and customer interactions, helping to build trust over time. The key is to believe in your services and stay committed to offering the best experience — everything else follows naturally. Google Business Profile lets you showcase your products and services directly on Maps, and the higher your ranking, the more visibility and engagement you’ll get. We hope this article has helped you understand how Google Business Profile works and what to focus on. Try these tips, and if you found this helpful, don’t forget to share it!
