I’m Frasat Ali, and over the past 10 years of doing SEO, I’ve seen local businesses win or lose depending on one thing: their Google Maps SEO. If you run a business, showing up in the Google Map Pack is often more valuable than ranking a blog post. People searching there are ready to buy, call, or visit.
In this guide, I’ll share first-hand strategies I’ve used to rank businesses on top of Google Maps. These are not theories—I’ve tested them on Virtual Offices, Law Firms, Roofers, Cleaners, Movers, Medical Clinics, and hundreds of Other Local Businesses. The results? More calls, more traffic, and more sales.
Why Google Maps SEO Matters
When someone searches “roofing near me” or “best law firm in London, Ontario,” they usually don’t scroll. They pick one of the first 3 results in the Google Map Pack. If your business isn’t there, you’re invisible.
Local intent searches (like “near me” or city-based queries) are rising fast. That’s why learning how to rank higher on Google Maps isn’t just optional—it’s survival for local businesses.
Step 1: Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the foundation of Maps SEO. Many businesses claim their profile but never optimize it fully. Here’s what I always do:
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Business Name: Use your real business name. Don’t keyword stuff—Google is strict here.
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Category Selection: Pick the most accurate primary category (e.g., “Family Law Attorney,” not just “Lawyer”). Add relevant secondary categories.
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NAP Consistency: Make sure your Name, Address, and Phone are consistent across your website, directories, and social media.
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Photos & Videos: Upload professional photos of your office, team, or products. Businesses with real images get higher engagement.
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Business Description: Write a natural, keyword-rich description that explains your services and location.
I’ve seen just this step improve Map Pack ranking within weeks for a roofing company in the US.
Step 2: Collect & Manage Reviews
Google values trust. Reviews directly influence your Google Map Pack ranking. I always encourage my clients to:
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Ask happy customers for reviews right after service.
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Reply to every review (good or bad). This shows activity.
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Use keywords naturally in responses (e.g., “Thanks for choosing our law firm in London, Ontario”).
For example, a law firm I optimized in Canada now gets 77k+ clicks and nearly half a million impressions—reviews played a big role in this success.
Step 3: Build Local Citations & Backlinks
Google checks if your business info appears consistently across the web. This is where local citations come in. I list my clients on:
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Business directories (Yelp, YellowPages, local chamber sites).
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Niche directories (law-specific, roofing-specific, etc.).
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High-authority guest posts.
Backlinks with local relevance also boost Maps SEO. For instance, when I wrote guest posts linking to a maid service business, their Google Map Pack ranking jumped, and so did their traffic.
Step 4: Use Location Pages on Your Website
Google Maps results often tie back to your website. If you serve multiple cities, create location-specific pages. Each page should:
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Target “[Service] in [City]” naturally.
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Include NAP details and a map embed.
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Feature local reviews and case studies.
I tested this with a roofing company. After publishing detailed content for their service areas, their website clicks grew 49% and impressions 48% in just one month.
Step 5: Post Regularly on Google Business Profile
Most businesses ignore this feature, but posting updates works. I use it like mini-blogging:
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Share promotions, events, or tips.
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Add photos and CTAs like “Call Now” or “Get Directions.”
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Use keywords naturally (like “Google Maps SEO” or “best roofing company near me”).
This signals activity to Google, and active profiles tend to rank on top faster.
Step 6: Track & Improve Your Performance
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. I always:
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Track Google Map Pack ranking using tools like GMB tracking software.
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Monitor clicks and impressions inside Google Search Console.
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Adjust strategies based on data (more reviews, more citations, more posts).
For example, my e-commerce case study jumped from 0 to 233k+ impressions—all tracked in Search Console. Without data, you’re flying blind.
Key Takeaways to Rank Higher on Google Maps
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Fully optimize your Google Business Profile.
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Encourage and manage customer reviews.
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Build consistent local citations and backlinks.
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Use city-specific location pages on your site.
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Post updates regularly to stay active.
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Track your performance and refine your strategy.
With these steps, you can improve your Maps SEO and claim a spot in the Google Map Pack ranking.
I’ve personally seen small businesses transform just by applying these strategies. Whether you’re a roofer, lawyer, or local shop, ranking higher on Google Maps can bring steady leads every week.
Frasat Ali is a seasoned SEO Manager with over a decade of experience helping websites improve visibility through ethical, data-backed strategies. He shares actionable SEO insights grounded in real-world success. Read More
