Reviews & Maps / How to rank in the Google Map Pack
How to rank in the Google Map Pack
Short answer
Google says local results come down to three things: relevance, distance and prominence. You can’t move your shop, but you can make your profile more relevant (categories, services, website) and more prominent (reviews, listings, mentions). Here’s what to fix first.
1. Get your primary category right
This is the biggest single setting on your profile. Pick the most specific one that matches your main money job, like “Roofing contractor”, not “Contractor”. Add secondary categories only for work you actually do.
2. Fill in services and service areas
List every service you offer, in the words customers use, with a short description. Set service areas to the cities you actually drive to. Leave nothing blank.
3. Win on reviews: count, recency and replies
Compare yourself with the top 3 companies near you. Their review count is your target. Steady new reviews matter as much as the total, so ask every customer, every time, and reply to every review. Read how many reviews you need.
4. Match your name, address and phone everywhere
Google cross-checks your business on Yelp, Facebook, Bing, Apple Maps, Angi and the BBB. Use the exact same name, address and phone on all of them. Mismatches make Google less sure you’re real.
5. Give your website one page per service
Your website feeds relevance. A site with one “Services” page loses to one with a page for each job you do: roof repair, roof replacement, storm damage. Put your city, phone number and real job photos on each one.
6. Post photos and updates every week
Upload real photos from real jobs and post a short update weekly. It shows Google the business is active, and it gives searchers a reason to call you over a quiet profile.
7. Track it the right way
Your ranking changes block by block, because Google ranks by where the searcher is standing. Check a grid of points across your area every month, not one search from your office.
What gets profiles suspended
- Adding keywords or cities to your business name.
- Using a virtual office, PO box or fake address.
- Fake, bought or employee-written reviews.
- Creating more than one profile for the same business.
Want to see where you stand? Run the free audit on the Reviews & Maps page.
Rather have it done for you?
Try it free for two weeks: we text your past customers and connect your job software. 25 reviews, or we keep working free until you get them. Applies at 25+ jobs a month.
Start my free trial →
Keep reading
Google review request templates → Responding to a negative review → What review management costs → How to get more Google reviews →