All of us know what are Google Maps. Google Maps is a digital road map that provides detailed information about any geographical location. Google Maps have over 220 countries and territories with millions of businesses and places mapped.
We will discuss how you can use Google Maps as an efficient marketing tool. What tactics and best practices will bring potential leads through google maps? So let’s get started.
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What Is Google Maps Marketing?
Google Maps marketing helps to reach those potential customers who are searching for products and services similar to your business. Maps marketing is an approach to getting your business to appear in local searches.
Google Maps marketing is a tactic in the form of online ads for local shoppers. According to a survey by brightlocal.com 76% of shoppers first read online reviews about the local business. 87% of customers use Google to evaluate local businesses.
What Are Google Map Packs?
Google map packs are in the top position on the map results. these are all the more important when you are a local-level operator. You can swipe away the potential customers even if your competitors’ local SEO is stronger.
When a map search is performed google evaluates and displays a set of three most relevant results generally known as google local 3 packs. These packs appear on the top of the SERP above the traditional results.
The map packs provide general information about the business like, the name, address, website, operational hours, etc. To appear in the top map packs:
- Claim and maintain your business profile
- Gain more online reviews
- Build citation
Google Maps marketing is a very necessary marketing strategy to attract more customers and gain more profits. Here are some must-try Google Maps marketing tactics.
1. Use a Google Business Account
A business can appear in local searches only when Google knows about your business. The first step is to set up your Google My Business account with relevant and exact information like address, contact, working hours services, etc.
Google my business is a free tool for companies and businesses to manage their online presence. This is an easy way to help customers with your business. Google Maps shows the information from your business profile.
When a user searches for key terms applicable to your business, you will cover Google Business and Google Maps positions together and appear in the local-3-pack.
For example, I performed a search for “salon near me.” The search results show the nearest and the most relevant results.
2. Google Map Advertisements
Google search ads are known as local search ads. Google map ads are a very effective marketing tactic. They are the sources to gain more live offline traffic and get lead calls. These ads are like pay-per-click ads that appear on the top of Google Maps searches.
You can add Google ads to map searches as local search ads. Like other pay-per-click ads, these ads also appear on the top of google maps.
Over 1 billion users use google maps. 84% of consumers perform local searches. 90% of global sales happen in physical stores and not online. These stats prove how efficiently map ads can bring in sales for your business.
You can also review your click history and the performance of search ads. There are three types of clicks
- Get location: when want to know your location
- Get direction clicks: when customers want to reach your outlet.
- Mobile clicks to call clicks
3. Use location targeting and bid by location
A local business should be easy to find by local customers. Target customers near your outlet by integrating location assets into google maps. Adding a location with an accurate address and information will increase your chances of appearing in the map packs.
4. Local citation
A local citation is the mention of a business in the local media. Local citation becomes very important for building a reputation for your business. The local citation has information regarding your business like name, address, working hours, services, etc.
Citation ensures that the business information is accurate, hence establishing credibility. It increases visibility on the search results and improves your ranking on google maps. To get local citations you need to follow these steps:
- Get listed with data aggregators
- Submit your business NAP information to relevant directories and websites
- You can submit your information in two ways
- Use the geolocation citation list
- Use the industry citation list
- You can also get citations by press mentions, blog posts, etc. From the local media sources
5. Target Languages
Google can show results in 133 languages. People are more likely to understand and prefer their languages. If you optimize your campaigns according to the languages people speak, the possibility to get a higher rank in google maps will increase. It lets you reach potential customers who use Google products and third-party websites based on the languages.
6. Customer reviews
High-quality customer reviews help you stand apart from your competitors. According to Google, reviews are a factor determining your local search rankings. You should encourage and invite reviews from your customers. You can request reviews through emails, customer conversions, and print materials.
Google may also show reviews and average ratings from websites and other third-party websites. Customers often evaluate local businesses from the reviews they see on Google Maps. These reviews influence the user’s decision.
7. Google Map Optimization
Map optimization is the process that improves the ranking of your business for map searches. Here is a checklist that may help you to optimize google maps:
- Claim or create a listing for your business.
- Fill up all the information like name, address, etc.
- Pick the most relevant and common categories for your business
- Ensure the information is accurate and the same across the websites
- Add high-quality photos
- Cultivate good reviews
- Mention your services in google my business
- List your business in other directories
- Use analytics to adapt your strategies
These are the best and most important seven tactics for Google map marketing for a website. Google Maps marketing prevents users to browse on any other option for searching. Google map marketing is an effective and affordable way to target your potential customers.