If you’re running a local business, your Google Maps ranking could be the difference between thriving and just surviving. As someone who works with small businesses every day, I can tell you that Google Maps isn’t just another marketing channel – it’s often the most important one.
Think about it: when was the last time you needed a service and didn’t check Google Maps? Exactly. And your potential customers are doing the same thing.
In this guide, I’m going to show you exactly how to rank higher in Google Maps, using proven tactics that actually work in 2025. No fluff, no outdated strategies – just practical steps you can implement today.
Why Google Maps Rankings Matter More Than Ever
Before we dive into the tactics, here’s something most businesses don’t realize: Google Maps results appear above regular search results on mobile devices. With mobile searches accounting for over 60% of all Google searches, your Maps ranking could be more important than your regular SEO efforts.
Core Ranking Factor #1: Location Strategy and Proximity
Here’s a truth that might be hard to swallow: your business location has a massive impact on your Google Maps ranking. In fact, it’s one of the most crucial factors Google considers when deciding where to rank your business.
Understanding Proximity’s Impact
You’ll naturally rank higher when someone searches from a location near your business. This is why you might be ranking #1 for searches in your neighborhood but struggle to appear for searches just a few miles away.
Strategic Location Selection
If you haven’t chosen a location yet, here’s an insider tip: look for areas that have:
- High concentration of your target customers
- Relatively low competition in your industry
- Good accessibility and visibility
Service Area Business Considerations
Don’t have a physical location customers can visit? Here’s a lesser-known strategy: you can list your business at an employee’s address and hide it on your profile. When doing this, choose an address that’s:
- Central to your service area
- In an area with high customer concentration
- Away from your main competitors
The Truth About Multiple Locations
If you serve multiple areas, you might be tempted to create multiple Google Business Profiles. This can work, but here’s what you need to know:
- Each location must have a unique phone number
- Each location needs distinct business hours
- You must have staff present during those hours
- Google occasionally calls to verify operation
What About Virtual Offices?
While it might be tempting to use virtual office addresses to game the system, I need to be direct here: this is risky. Google is getting better at detecting virtual offices, and your listing could be suspended if caught.
Instead, focus on maximizing your visibility from your actual location. In the next section, we’ll cover how to optimize your business profile to rank better regardless of where you’re located.
Core Ranking Factor #2: Business Profile Optimization
Let’s talk about optimizing your Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). While this might seem basic, I’ve discovered that even experienced business owners often miss crucial optimization opportunities.
Business Name Strategy: The Controversial Approach
Here’s something your competitors might not tell you: adding a keyword to your business name can boost your rankings significantly. For example, if you’re “Wellington Law,” adding “Personal Injury Attorneys” could help you rank better for those searches.
But here’s the catch: this technically violates Google’s terms of service. While Google rarely suspends listings for this (trust me, we’ve flagged competitors multiple times, and they just keep doing it), you should proceed with caution. If you decide to take this route, make sure you’re ready to:
- Produce signage with your modified business name if requested
- Register a DBA (Doing Business As) with that name
- Maintain consistency across all platforms
Category Selection: Your Make-or-Break Moment
Your business category selection is more crucial than you might think. Here’s how to get it right:
Primary Category
Choose the category that most precisely matches your main service. Don’t have an exact match? Here’s what to do:
- Select the closest relevant category
- Consider what categories your successfully ranking competitors are using
- Remember: your primary category has the most ranking weight
Secondary Categories
You get up to nine secondary categories, but here’s a little-known fact: having too many categories can actually dilute your ranking power. Only add categories that:
- Represent services you actually offer
- Are genuinely relevant to your business
- Have clear search volume (check Google Trends)
The Services Section: Your Secret Weapon
This is something most businesses completely overlook: the services section allows you to add unlimited custom services. Unlike categories, you can write anything here. Use this to:
- List every variation of your services
- Include location-based service names
- Add common misspellings and alternate terms
For example, if you’re a car accident lawyer, your services might include:
- Car Accident Attorney
- Auto Crash Lawyer
- Vehicle Collision Legal Services
- Motorcycle Accident Attorney
- Truck Accident Representation
Hours of Operation: The Strategic Approach
Here’s an insider tip about business hours: Google gives preference to businesses that are open when someone is searching. While you should never lie about your hours, consider:
- Extended hours if you have phone coverage
- Special hours for emergency services
- Seasonal hour adjustments
Products and Services Showcase
Even if you don’t sell physical products, you can use the Products section to showcase your services. This gives you:
- More real estate in your listing
- Additional keyword opportunities
- Visual representation of your offerings
Each product/service listing should include:
- High-quality images
- Detailed descriptions
- Pricing (if applicable)
- Clear call-to-action
Photos and Visual Content
While photos might not directly impact rankings, they dramatically affect conversion rates. But here’s something most people don’t know: Google prioritizes customer-submitted photos over business-submitted ones. To leverage this:
- Encourage happy customers to take and post photos
- Respond to all photo contributions
- Regularly update your own photos
- Include both interior and exterior shots
Core Ranking Factor #3: Review Management
Reviews aren’t just social proof – they’re a crucial ranking factor. Let me share something most business owners don’t know: getting to 10 reviews is a critical milestone that can significantly boost your visibility in Google Maps.
The 10-Review Milestone
Here’s what happens when you hit 10 reviews:
- Google starts treating your business as more established
- Your listing becomes more likely to appear in the Local Pack
- Your overall Maps visibility increases
- Your business shows up for more competitive keywords
Getting More Reviews (The Right Way)
Getting reviews is hard – if you ask 10 happy customers for a review, you’re lucky to get one. Here’s what actually works:
- Ask immediately after providing great service
- Send follow-up reminders (people forget, even when they want to help)
- Use automated review request systems via email or text
- Make the review process as simple as possible
Managing Negative Reviews
Don’t panic about negative reviews – a perfect 5-star rating can actually look suspicious. The sweet spot is around 4.7 stars. Here’s how to handle negative reviews:
- Respond promptly and professionally
- Address specific concerns
- Take the conversation offline when needed
- Focus on getting more positive reviews rather than fighting negative ones
Advanced Optimization Strategies
Popular Times Impact
Here’s an insight your competitors probably don’t know about: Google ranks businesses higher during their popular times. To leverage this:
- Encourage customers to visit during slower periods
- Run promotions during off-peak hours
- Keep your profile updated with accurate busy periods
- Monitor and adjust your hours based on actual customer patterns
Video Content Strategy
Want to really stand out? Add video to your profile. Very few businesses do this, but Google often features videos prominently, especially on mobile devices. Create videos that:
- Showcase your location
- Demonstrate your services
- Feature customer testimonials
- Highlight your team and process
Local Community Integration
Google looks for signals that your business is genuinely part of the local community. Build these signals by:
- Participating in local events
- Joining local business organizations
- Getting mentioned in local news
- Creating location-specific content
Competitive Analysis and Clean-up
Sometimes, ranking higher means helping Google clean up spam. Here’s how:
- Use tools like Local Falcon to analyze your ranking across different locations
- Identify competitors using forbidden tactics (keyword stuffing, fake addresses)
- Report violations through proper channels
- Focus on areas where spam removal could improve your ranking
Measuring Success
Track these metrics to gauge your optimization efforts:
- Rankings for specific keywords across different locations
- Number and quality of reviews
- Photo and video views
- Customer actions (calls, direction requests, website visits)
- Conversion rates from Maps listings
Final Thoughts: Building Long-Term Success
Remember, ranking higher in Google Maps isn’t about finding quick hacks – it’s about building a strong, legitimate presence that serves your community. Focus on:
- Providing exceptional service that earns natural reviews
- Maintaining accurate, up-to-date information
- Engaging genuinely with your community
- Creating valuable content for your customers
Keep in mind that changes don’t happen overnight. Give each optimization at least 30 days to show results, and continue refining your strategy based on what works best for your specific business and location.
By implementing these strategies consistently and ethically, you’ll not only improve your Google Maps ranking but also build a stronger, more resilient online presence for your business.
Remember: The best time to optimize your Google Maps presence was yesterday. The second best time is today. Start with one strategy, implement it well, and gradually build up your optimization efforts for lasting success.
