How you rank your GMBs?

[Chris Newman]

1) Keep your hours updated (in your GMB listing or rather profile).
2) Do also include keywords in your business description, it does help to rank your your business listing on Google Maps and also for searches for products and services as well.
3) Properly categorize your business : For the primary category, choose the category that best fits the main offering of your business. If any other categories are also suitable select them as secondary categories.
4) Add photos to your Google Maps business listing
5) Get Google reviews
6) Post regularly to your Google Maps business listing : Creating regular posts in GMB from it's dashboard shows to Google that you are active and helps in ranking.
7) Add local keywords to your website (it does help in GMB ranking)
8) Embed a Google map on your website using the same address that you have on your GMB listing.

 

[DeFiNFT1]

do u suggest any schedule posting software like localviking ?

 

[Scadush]

do u suggest any schedule posting software like localviking ?

Posting software is always good, because you can bulk post for each niche. Local Viking seems to have lost their API and now has the software running through a 3rd party under Local Brand Manager. The GEO tag feature for photos in our experience is a waste of time because the information is scrubbed when passed through the API. The photos will do great just to be posted but the GPS stuff is a lot of work and again, scrubbed so why bother. Original photos best. When bulk posting, the multi-locations are handled badly in the post form. Instead of check boxes, you scroll, and click to both add and subtract. Sounds easy enough but it gets cumbersome when adding a lot of locations, something and add all, or checkbox menu as other software like MapLabs have done more successfully. The GEOgrid portion of the tool is very useful and fast, but not really integrated well. Reporting is white label, and lets you eliminate anything that is negative which is good for keeping clients, but the reporting is limited and most clients will want more detail than what's offered here. Overall, I think this is a good program for both prospecting with the GEO Grid tool and managing GMB's and posts.

 

[dealspees]

can someone explain about the CTR manipulation methods? Seems it's new to me.

 

[Scadush]

can someone explain about the CTR manipulation methods? Seems it's new to me.

CTR manipulation is based on Google's patent that says they reward search for clicks. So the more you get activity on your calls, website clicks, directions to your location, messages, etc then the more Google rewards you with real traffic. In addition, you also get the benefit of never losing a client again for not performing. Monthly CTR is the most important element to our arsenal and we do it monthly for every account. The critical factor is creating natural traffic. Local search is a mobile business, not desktop. Therefore avoid bot software using residential proxies. Also, some of the software runs on your desktop and uses it for other sources as a trade-off. This is not good either. We tried this first and the traffic looks really bad because if we can see it on analytics, then Google can too. What good is traffic from Dallas for a store in Los Angeles? The key is 4G mobile proxies and run from a lot of major cities. Its the only way to go.

 

[seo_alexa002]

GMB CTR Manipulation
Reviews
Embed Google Map on Different backlinks
Local Citations

These Can help

 

[smadaleno]

You can also add videos and geotag videos.

 

[alexandergusta]

CTR manipulation doesn't work for me. Tried several time.
Anyway for GMB ranking you must need - Keywords, reviews, citations, links, geotagging etc.

 

[Scadush]

CTR manipulation doesn't work for me. Tried several time.
Anyway for GMB ranking you must need - Keywords, reviews, citations, links, geotagging etc.

Hi Alexander,
The reason many have failed at CTR manipulation is like anything else, it has to be done the right way. It's like when I hear people say, "yeah, I tried SEO, but it doesn't work". For CTR manipulation to work locally, it has to be first and foremost, done from mobile proxies. Secondly, it must be done reasonably close to the location. Many CTR bots are sending through residential proxies from one location sometimes thousands of miles from where the actual location is. It's easily spotted on Google Analytics and if you can see it, so can Google. There have been a lot of backyard programs sold to SEO people that try to do everything. CTR to websites, CTR to Youtube, CTR to the GMB, you name it. But in order for GMB CTR to work, it needs to follow the natural progression of an actual local customer. That means expensive proxies, from mobile devices, sent out locally. And the biggest reason for an agency or SEO to use proper CTR locally is the clients they serve. Being able to show progress on Insights and Analytics in the first few months, and happily reporting on it will allow all the other parts of your local SEO to work too. The service we use is affordable and never disappoints. Even during Covid, we never lost a local client because we increase traffic month after month. Once Google sees NATURAL-looking local search, and in accordance with their own patent, they reward the GMB with more maps and search as well. This is a fact proven on over 140+ accounts for us in the past 2 years. Anyway, just wanted to clarify this point and let local SEO guys know that CTR, after the obvious optimization, directories and regular posting, etc, is the way to help and retain clients.

 

[chrsplmr]

Clicks are 1 factor , just 1 along with traffic. Any "1" factor that you manipulate will never be enough to drive things home. CTR for me can't speak for anyone else is only recommended once all other factors have been implemented to increase relevance and authority in a specific niche and geolocation.
So to break things down simply check these aspects.

1. What's your business name does it contain primaries and variations ?​

2. Have you diluted your categories ?​

3. Have you diluted your services section with dozens of services ?​

4. Do you have ample digital references online ? ​

5. Aggregators ?​

6. Socials ?​

7.Reviews with cities and primaries ?​

8. Are you receiving ample branded clicks ?​

9. How old is your asset compared to others currently ranking ?​

10 . Are all other properties showing address and your hiding ? ​

Last and certainly not least should have been first , the biggest help I can mention is before sending or manipulating traffic and clicks is your asset in the top 8 spots for your primary and or secondary's along with all variations of your main service plus location ? If your not in top 8 or better positions it is not time to manipulate clicks your missing one of the above listed aspects of your campaign.

There is more but i hope this helps.

 

[Scadush]

Clicks are 1 factor , just 1 along with traffic. Any "1" factor that you manipulate will never be enough to drive things home. CTR for me can't speak for anyone else is only recommended once all other factors have been implemented to increase relevance and authority in a specific niche and geolocation.
So to break things down simply check these aspects.

1. What's your business name does it contain primaries and variations ?​

2. Have you diluted your categories ?​

3. Have you diluted your services section with dozens of services ?​

4. Do you have ample digital references online ? ​

5. Aggregators ?​

6. Socials ?​

7.Reviews with cities and primaries ?​

8. Are you receiving ample branded clicks ?​

9. How old is your asset compared to others currently ranking ?​

10 . Are all other properties showing address and your hiding ? ​

Last and certainly not least should have been first , the biggest help I can mention is before sending or manipulating traffic and clicks is your asset in the top 8 spots for your primary and or secondary's along with all variations of your main service plus location ? If your not in top 8 or better positions it is not time to manipulate clicks your missing one of the above listed aspects of your campaign.

There is more but i hope this helps.

I would agree everything chrsplmr said is important. However, with the comment about having to be at least within 8 spots in the rankings, in my experience, there is no need to wait.

Local is GPS. You can rank in the top 3 in one area and then move a block and not show up at all. Your competitors are not found on single-digit ranking reports, but on who is getting the most maps for your actual trade area. If you are getting any traffic on your Insights report for a keyword, then you are probably getting listings in the top 3 somewhere within your location.

Since 92% of people using the map pack pick one of the top 3 then this would be a logical conclusion. This is where PROPER CTR can help. We have found, especially for new GMB's, once you reverse engineer the top 3 competitors for the actual trade area, including optimization, posting schedule, and photos each month (which can be done pretty quickly with or without reviews), you can create momentum faster by focusing your CTR on top keywords starting with the weakest ranked points in the trade area after seeing any type of search rewarded in Google Insights. The key is to start slow and emulate actual traffic patterns. When I say proper, I mean not using programs or bots using residential proxies, from desktop computers from locations states away or in another country. Only Mobile 4 and 5G proxies, from the vicinity where the local business actually is. Also, every trade area is different in size and search volume. Unless its warranted, do not use GEO-based keywords as people close to the location do not use them. The majority of best prospects in most cases don't search for say "(City) dentist" unless they live outside the city. Instead, they search for "dentist" or "dentist near me". Many SEOs are used to conical search and use the geo-based keywords used to rank a business organically, instead of GPS for a trade area. The focus for local is way too much based on the website in many cases. According to Google, local outperforms organic for local businesses 5 to 1, yet many do little more than add a Google profile, buy Yest and call it a day while focusing their whole budget on the website. I guarantee this is a mistake. Focus 80% on the local and CTR should be first after doing the basics. At least by month 3 of any business, you want to rank locally. The best tool I know uses polygon mapping that even eliminates water, desert, or any unpopulated areas close to the location so there is no wasted traffic. Again, agree with the blueprint above and this person is very knowledgable, but PROPER CTR can star after getting even a little search, and it will help get the business to grow much faster for top searched keywords. Personally, I have done this over and over with great success for new listings in the past 3 years.

 

[sonalisinha]

Citations and geotagging.

 

[DeFiNFT1]

MapLabs has a better UI than Local Falcon and multiposting is fast and clean vs the weird drop and click menu that disappears on Local Viking and Local Brand Manager which is the same thing. Make you sure contact them before buying off the rate card. If you have any amount of clients over 10, the cost for the best package should be in the $3 range.

they are showing 30$ per business listing. expensive isnt it?

 

[yogmeditation]

How to improve your local ranking on Google
Enter complete data. Local results favor the most relevant results for each search. ...
Verify your locations. ...
Keep your hours accurate. ...
Manage & respond to reviews. ...
Add photos. ...
Add in-store products. ...
Relevance. ...
Distance.

 

[Arceflow]

GMB ranking is all about location, location, location. It may sound biased, but if you want to rank you need to blanket an area

 

[Scadush]

they are showing 30$ per business listing. expensive isnt it?

As I mentioned in my post, contact the owner via the contact email on the website and tell them it's too much. If you have 10 or more listings ask them for $4 a listing for the minimum with multiposting, if you have more than $25 ask for $3. In my experience, they will work with you but you have to ask.

 

[hreyhrey]

knowing google, probably a combination of everything you've heard. CTR, citations, links, age, keyword in title, keyword in reviews, ALT tags on images, geotagging images, image uniqueness, website authority, proximity to searcher, reviews on other platforms, hours open, etc. etc.

In my experience a ton of citations and keywords in the title/reviews + image geotagging was enough for a tough niche.

What’s your recommendation for citations?

 

[Scadush]

Citations depend on two things. If the major directories, the basic necessities, have a lot of duplicates then I would go with a service like Yext. If you are a new business, then I would use a freelancer from Legiit or even Bright local to do it manually so you only pay one time. Yext is very expensive and you have to pay forever, but you can get this reasonably from SEM rush for $20 a month than through Yext direct which requires a yearly payment. You can run a local check on Yext or Brightlocal to see if you have duplicates. Don't believe freelancers who claim they can get rid of duplicates, even Bright Local. The truth is, these citations have no financial motivation to repost a listing and rarely update. They just post a duplicate and this causes the problem. I had much work on client duplicates done by big companies and freelancers, and paid through the nose with a little more than 3% correction after 6 months. Hope this helps.

 

[joseph15]

What’s your recommendation for citations?

I bought citations from @sharifawan and they were good.

But more than that, I recommend you find the businesses ranking at the top in your city and type their phone number into Google in quotation marks (like this - "100-400-0000") and you will find what kind of citations Google likes in your niche and city. From there, you can build a bunch of them manually yourself, or hire someone to do this.

​

 

[Scadush]

I bought citations from @sharifawan and they were good.

But more than that, I recommend you find the businesses ranking at the top in your city and type their phone number into Google in quotation marks (like this - "100-400-0000") and you will find what kind of citations Google likes in your niche and city. From there, you can build a bunch of them manually yourself, or hire someone to do this.

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I think this is a good suggestion, however, Google ranks by GPS for local, not organic canonical rankings. Finding the top competitor is great, but instead, define the business trade area and use a GEO Grid mapping tool to see who is getting the most maps for the exact trade area. Typically, the main keywords for a GMB are 10 to 1 over including a geo modifier so ranking for something city is ok, but not as good as ranking for most maps under the main keyword alone in your actual trade area. Another important fact is that citations are only about 7% to 10% of the equation in regards to actually ranking locally. So make them count and do reverse engineering based on GPS rankings, not conical rankings.