How important is Google Places? Well, for services, Google Places typically occupies 3 – 6 places above the first search result. For a local plumber or handyman, this may mean that a first place ranking in the regular SERPs has a much smaller impact than a high ranking in Google Places. Ideally, when an SEO campaign is taking place, Google Places will be a part of the campaign. This ensures a high natural ranking and local ranking.
51Blocks specializes in optimizing local listings for high keyword rankings. If you haven’t started ranking in Google Places, you can do so using these few, yet simple, tips.
Acquire Further Citations
Citations are essentially links or business listings from other websites. These are listings for your business and will include things, such as:
- Business name
- Operating hours
- Address and phone number
By acquiring citations that match your Places page, you will be able to increase your rankings in both organic results and Google Places.
Garner Reviews
Inform clients on how they can review your service on Google Places. By earning reviews, you will be able to have a prominent ranking indicator in the search results as well as increase your overall ranking as a result. Conversion rates are also often higher when positive reviews are seen. This acts as a trust indicator to potential leads and is always highly recommended.
Quick Ranking Improvements
Sometimes, small changes can have a slight impact on your ranking. The following small improvements may provide your rankings in Google Places with a boost:
- Choose the right page category
- Place the category name inside of the business name “Joe’s Plumbing in Colorado”
- Include the following in the description section of your listing:
o The operating city o The type of service (plumber, pizza, etc.)
- Aim for at least 5 reviews
One of the main things to remember is to not stuff your listing with keywords. While we have mentioned adding them can help your ranking, you want to do your best to avoid any keyword stuffing and the penalties that may follow this practice. Another important factor to note is that duplicate listings can harm your ranking. If you haven’t done so already, claim your business listing and ensure that it is only in Places one time. You can fix this issue by going into your verified account and ensuring that only one listing is seen. If there is more than one listing, you can do the following:
- Visit the respective listing page
- Report the link as having another listing
Now, you can simply wait while Google reviews the duplicate listing and takes the appropriate actions to remedy the situation.
Ranking Google Places Experts
While these are just small tips, they can be very helpful in boosting your rankings. If you want to increase your rankings even further, you can hire a professional SEO company to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us today for more information, and to get started optimizing your local listing!
