Tips to Improve Your Dallas Small Business Ranking on Google Maps

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Did you know that a Google Maps listing is a vital marketing tool for small businesses in Dallas? If you want to get discovered by new clients, outmaneuver the competition, and create more business, you've come to the right place. 

This article shows you how to boost your visibility and attain all the above benefits!

9 Tips to Improve Your Dallas Small Business Ranking on Google Maps

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1. Add Your Business to Google Maps

Claim your Google Map listing; without it, it's impossible to rank or do any of the tips and tricks we've got for you today. To check if your business is already on Google Maps, follow the procedure below:

1. Go to www.google.com/maps 
2. In the search bar, type in your business name. 
3. You've got a listing if it shows up in the drop-down results. 

However, if it doesn't show up in your Dallas neighborhood, do the following steps: 

1. Type your business name in the search bar. 
2. Look for the 'Add Missing Place' link in the drop-down results. 
3. Click on it, and a popup box will open. 
4. Type in your business name, category, and location. 

Getting a Google Map listing is the first step to ranking on the platform. However, you need more than just a geo-tag to increase visibility. 

• To do that, you need to have a listing on Google My Business.

2. Claim Your Google My Business Listing

Google My Business (GMB) is one of the most important factors in local SEO. It's necessary to attain the converted local 3-pack spot on results pages. Google uses GMB listings to get more context about your brand and its location. The more information on your profile, the better it will be ranked. 

So, say you're a new brewing company in Deep Ellum, Dallas, and you want to get more clients. Having an active GMB profile with pictures and info will entice people walking around the neighborhood to discover you and visit your restaurant. 

If you want to keep your GMB listing thriving and see it maintain its rank in local Dallas searches, it's vital to keep your profile fresh and updated. You can do this by:

• Adding photos,
• Filling out all details from business hours to NAP info.
• Responding to reviews, etc.

Here’s an example of a GMB profile containing all necessary business information:

3. Maintain Consistent NAP info

Outrank small businesses in Dallas by becoming a brand that Google deems trustworthy. And, therefore, ranked higher. 

So, how to gain its trust? 

One of the easiest ways is to ensure that your name, address, and phone number details are consistent on all platforms. 

For example, say your company name is Dallas Movers Co. So, you claim your Google My Business listing with that name. However, your social media handles say 'Dallas Co Movers.' The discrepancy in information can impact your ranking and confuse potential clients. 

So, make sure your GMB and Google Map listings have the same info. Secondly, check the NAP details on the pages of your website and directories. Consistency sends a trustworthy signal to Google that your company is located in a specific area.

Check NAP details using:

• SEM rush's listing management feature. 
• Bright Local's Citation Builder service.
• Whitespark's local Listing management feature.

Here’s a screenshot of SEMrush’s listing management feature:

4. Correctly Select Your Category

Google uses categories as ranking signals. Therefore, it's important to correctly select the primary and secondary categories that further give insight into your business's niche. 

For example, say you own a fitness store in downtown Dallas called 'Athena.' You've selected 'fitness center' as the main GMB category and 'pilates class' as your secondary category. 

Google will show a user looking for 'Athena Dallas' all the businesses that match the brand name. That may include clothing stores, interior design companies, etc. 

However, a user searching for 'Athena Fitness Dallas' will immediately get your company listing. Further, if a user in your area is searching for a 'pilates class,' Google will bring up your listing. 

So, if you want to show up in more local searches:

• Use your main industry niche for your primary category.
• Select more specialized categories for your secondary categories. 

Here’s a screenshot of the industry selection screen:

5. Add Quality Photographs

Another huge ranking signal is photographs of your company/product. It tells Google that your listing is active and legitimate, ranking it higher than your competition. But, it also entices a user who wants to know more about your brand. 

Additionally, by doing image SEO for your photographs, they will appear in image searches. That's because Google indexes images. So, uploading photos to your GMB is a must. Especially since those images also appear in Google Map listings. 

When uploading images, pay attention to the specific photo albums in your GMB listing. There are separate sections to upload the logo, interiors, exteriors, team photos, etc. While these are more minor elements, it does factor in the ranking. 

Improve your Google Map listing by:

• Uploading high-resolution images
• Adding brand name + city in the image title
• Uploading pictures to the proper photo album in GMB.

Here’s an example of a GMB profile with high-res images:

Read: Get to Know 15 Incredible Features of Google Maps

6. Get and Manage Reviews

Ratings and reviews show up on Google Map listings giving users a clear indication of your business's reputation. Additionally, the more reviews you have, it signals to Google that you're a legitimate business. 

Therefore, a critical step to increase your ranking is to get reviews. However, just getting reviews isn't enough. Another ranking signal is responding to negative and positive reviews. 

So, say you're a daycare center in Highland Park, Dallas, and want to appear in local searches. Firstly, send your GMB review link to existing clients. Reviews from local clients help Google establish that your business is in Highland Park. Secondly, respond to the reviews, even the negative ones. This tells Google that your company is trustworthy and responsive to clients. 

So, to increase rank, you must:

• Get reviews from local clients
• Respond to reviews regularly. 

Here’s an example of a business owner responding to reviews:

7. Embed A Google Map

Creating more interconnections between your Google Map listing and your website helps rank. One way to do that is to embed the map on your website. It's a great signal to tell Google's crawlers that your business is located where you've stated in your listing.

Plus, embedding the map on your website will help clients on your page to find your business quickly. Thankfully, you don't have to be a developer to embed the map. 

Follow the steps below to add the map to your website:

• Search for your company listing on Google Maps. 
• Look for the 'share' sign on the listing. 
• A popup will appear with two options [Send a link & Embed a map]
• Click on 'Embed a Map'
• Copy-paste the link into your Contact Us page or Home page footer.

Here’s a screenshot of Google’s ‘Embed a Map’ feature:

8. Add Q&A Section

Connecting with your customers and adding valuable content to your GMB profiles is a surefire way to increase your Map ranking. 

Google's main aim regarding user search queries is to show relevant, authentic, and up-to-date results. Therefore, the Q&A feature is a great way to give Google more context about your small business. 

Remember that business owners and community members (online users) can ask and respond to questions. Therefore, it's imperative to constantly check your GMB listing for new questions to avoid others answering incorrectly. 

Plus, the more proactive you are at answering community questions, it sends a strong signal to Google that your business is active and has authority in your niche. 

How to add questions:

• Go to your GMB profile
• Click the 'Ask a Question' Button
• Enter a question, and post it
• Answer the questions directly on the listing. 
• Repeat the process for more questions. 

Here’s a screenshot of the Q&A section:

9. Post Regularly

Google Maps and GMB listings are similar to social media platforms. Meaning it performs better when there is a regular posting schedule. Being proactive is a huge factor when Google ranks your business. So, managing your profile and posting sends a strong ranking signal. 

Additionally, users like to get to know about a brand before making a decision or action. Therefore, the more information they have about your company, the higher the chance for conversions such as visiting your store, clicking your website, or calling. 

Since users are actively looking for your brand, a Google post lets them contact you directly through the comment section on the listing, which is an excellent opportunity for you to engage with potential clients. 

So, add posts to GMB listings that:

• Include local keywords
• Entice and add value to your clients
• Establish your company in your location. 

Key Takeaways

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• Claim your Google Map Listing.
• Update your Google My Business profile with correct information.
• Add categories that fit with your business niche and specialization. 
• Upload high-resolution images that are SEO-friendly.
• Respond to good and bad reviews on your GMB profile.
• Maintain consistent NAP info on all listings and pages. 
• Create and post content that adds value to your clients. 
• Send your GMB review link to local clients to get more local reviews and ratings. 
• Add a Question & Answer section to your listing.
• Respond to queries in the Q & A section immediately to avoid inaccurate answers from third parties.