How to Optimize for Google Local 3-pack

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What Is a Local 3-pack?

If you've been into local SEO, you'd have heard of the local 3-pack on Google searches. But what is it, and why are they important?

In short, the 3-pack is one of the most effective ways to promote your small business to local consumers. These local listings are called "3-packs" because they include three businesses in a single listing.

Most consumers see the 3-pack and assume that it's a chain of businesses. This can be the key to improving brand perception. It's a great way to connect with potential customers and generate leads for your business.

Let's look at how you can optimize to appear on the local 3-pack a lot easier.

7 Tips to Optimize for Google Local 3-pack Like a Pro

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1. Optimize Your GMB Page

Your Google My Business page is the best place to start your optimization efforts for the local 3-pack.

If you don't make your listing page optimized for Google and GMB, there's a good chance that your business will slip through the cracks. That's because Google and GMB are the two most-used search engines, with a combined share of 80 percent of all searches.

Strategies To Improve Your GMB

When people look for your products and services, they'll almost always start their search on Google Search. Your business may fall through the cracks if your listing isn't optimized for these search engines. This can lead to the inability to feature on the 3-pack.

• Claim your listing for your business if you haven't already. And then, you can manage and update information whenever your business makes changes.

• Ensure you enter all the correct data for your business.
• Tools like Whitespark, Local Viking, and Surfer Local can help audit your GMB.

Read: Step-by-step Setup Guide for Google My Business Set up

2. Use Long-Tail Keyword Optimization

Opt for longer, more specific queries rather than focusing on short, highly competitive keywords. These are the type of queries normally related to local searches. It can improve your chances of being featured on the 3-pack. You can find them using free tools like Keyword.io by choosing the desired location.

Tools For Identifying Long-Tail Keywords

Local search results are a whole lot different from national searches. They are more focused and follow a different set of rules for success.

You can use long-tail keywords on a blog post to target highly-specific audiences. In this case, it's a keyword phrase that a consumer might search in Google. This is what makes it powerful for the 3-pack.

• The most popular all-inclusive platforms are SEMrush and Ahrefs. These can be slightly expensive, though.
• UberSuggest is another powerful tool that is focused on keyword analysis.
• AnswerThePublic helps you find terms most people are searching for.

3. Adding In Requisite Images

Using images to pull in viewers is a great tactic for business reach. It also helps improve your chances of being featured on the 3-pack. These snippets feature images of your business and should be considered for better results. You may have seen a lot of businesses adding photos, as shown in the below screenshot.

It helps grab the attention of the users.

Tips On Adding Images For Your Business Page

Regardless of the directory you choose, you should take it if there's a place to add images. Images bring a more visual impact to your business listing and are a great way to bring in new people.

Images can improve engagement over time and get you better conversions. It also improves your business and customer relationships - bringing to light the people behind the brand.

• Optimize your images with Adobe Photoshop for the best experience.
• You can also opt for free tools like Imgur to work on your images.
• Remember to add relevant alt text to images before you post them online.

4. Ensure Consistent NAP Details

When it comes to the local pack on Google Maps, there are three things consumers need to know - name, address, and phone number. And according to Google, consumers should always see a phone number.

The problem is that sometimes businesses change details, which is not reflected on the listing.

Ensuring Accurate NAP Details

Adding your business details is the first step, but it is critical to ensure accuracy. Wrong NAP details can affect your chances of being featured on the local 3-pack. This also includes unclaimed listings that you were not aware of.

Consistent NAP details also improve business confidence score, which is critical even without the local 3-pack.

The simplest way to check your NAP is to use Google Search. It shows what business details are users see online.

• Audit your NAP regularly and especially after your business has moved.
• Moz Local Search and SEMrush can audit your business listings.

5. Include Google Reviews To Your Website

Suppose you want to be the number one organic result for your local keyword phrase. In that case, you need to be the number one organic result on all the organic results for that phrase. That means you also need to be featured on the 3-pack of the local results.

How Google Reviews Can Help You

Featuring in the local 3-pack is what every business wants. Not only does it make your business look better, but it will likely increase your conversion rate and CTRs. The easiest way to accomplish this is to include Google reviews on your site.

Take a look at this screenshot of how Embedsocial is leveraging it.

Ideally, you should have a collection of reviews for your service. This enables word-of-mouth marketing which is critical to success.

• The best way to get more reviews for your business is to ask your customers.
• Google My Business offers several tools for managing reviews on Google Searches.
• Reputology is a platform that helps you with reputation management for your business.

6. Focus On Better Mobile Experience

With mobiles leading the way to the internet, you need to take note of this.

Mobile devices are responsible for more than 54% of web traffic today. It has slowly edged out other traffic sources and is set to increase even more. Thus, any business must have a mobile-friendly website to generate more revenue.

You can keep a check on your mobile responsiveness using free tools like page speed insights, SEOReview tools, site checker, etc.

Opting For Mobile-Friendly Marketing Methods

Websites need to be more open to mobile devices as most users prefer them today. These devices are used on the move by people and are significantly more powerful. Ensuring that your website has a dynamic design is paramount to ranking on the 3-pack.

Users can consume all types of online content through mobiles, including HD videos.

• Your website should be mobile optimized for improved rankings on searches.
• PageSpeed Insights have several tools which can check your website for different statistics.
• Another powerful tool is the Mobile SEO Page Analyzer, which can also help.

Read: The Role of UX in Local SEO

7. Share Through Social Media Channels

Social sharing is much more powerful today than ever before. With more than 3 billion people on social media, it unlocks access to many people.

Sharing your website on social media can give it more exposure. This improves reach with your local audience.

Leveraging Social Media Platforms For 3-Pack

More people use social media as a platform to communicate than any other medium today. It has grown into a powerful tool for businesses to use. Social media is also indexed on searches which makes this critical to success.

• Manage multiple social media accounts or campaigns with Rignite.
• Use tools like Mention and BuzzSumo to find out what your audiences are talking about you.
• Add visual imagery to make your posts more attractive with Canva.

Key Takeaways

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• Ensure your business has consistent NAP details overall listings and platforms.
• Featuring in the local 3-pack is critical to improving business numbers.
• Depending on the niche, it can be difficult to get on the 3-pack.
• Optimize your long-tail keywords for a better chance to be featured.
• Leverage your social media profile to improve your chances.
• Adding images is a great way to build engagement.
• Remember always to give audiences what they want to know about your business.