How To get Your Company’s Google Business Profile (GBP) to Rank in the Local Map Pack in 2025

April 10, 2025

Why Your Business Should Rank in the Local Map Pack

If you run a local service business, getting your Google Business Profile (GBP) to rank in the local map pack isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential. The map pack appears at the top of search results when people look for services near them. That means if you’re not showing up there, you’re losing business to competitors who are.

Local customers are searching with high intent — they’re ready to call, book, or visit. Ranking in the map pack puts your business front and center at the exact moment they’re making a decision. It’s a free and powerful way to drive qualified leads without paying for ads.

Google’s map listings also show reviews, hours, services, and directions, helping customers quickly choose who to trust. With the rise of mobile searches and voice assistants, map pack visibility has become even more critical.

Best of all, the map pack often gets more clicks than even the top organic result. So whether you’re a plumber, roofer, or dentist, optimizing your GBP can bring more calls, more visits, and more revenue.

In short, if you’re not working to rank in the local map pack, you’re leaving money on the table.

To get your company’s Google Business Profile (GBP) to rank in the local map pack (that 3-pack of businesses that shows up under the map), you’ll want to focus on these core local SEO strategies:

🔑 Top Factors That Influence Map Rankings:

Google uses three main pillars to rank your listing:

  1. Relevance – How well your GBP matches the searcher’s intent.
  2. Distance – How close you are to the searcher’s location.
  3. Prominence – How well-known and trusted your business is online.

✅ How to Improve Your Google Business Profile Ranking:

1. Complete & Optimize Your GBP

  • Fill out every section: business name, address, phone, website, hours, categories, services, and products.
  • Use your primary keyword in your business description and services (e.g., “Emergency HVAC Repair in Nashville”).
  • Add photos regularly (inside, outside, staff, work-in-progress, before/after).
  • Add posts weekly (offers, updates, events).
  • Select the most accurate primary category, then add relevant secondary categories.

2. Use Keywords Strategically

  • Use service + location keywords naturally in your:
    • GBP description
    • Service names and details
    • Posts
    • Reviews (encourage customers to mention services + city in their reviews)

3. Get Reviews (and Respond)

  • Encourage happy customers to leave reviews often.
  • Ask them to mention:
    • What service you provided
    • What city or neighborhood they’re in
  • Always respond to reviews — shows engagement and builds trust.

4. Build Local Citations (NAP Consistency)

  • Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) are consistent across:
    • Yelp, BBB, Angi, HomeAdvisor, Facebook, etc.
  • Use tools like BrightLocal or Whitespark to find and fix inconsistent listings.

5. Create Location-Optimized Website Pages

  • Create or optimize your website with:
    • Service pages (one per main service)
    • Location pages (one per target city/neighborhood)
    • Embed your Google Map on your contact page
    • Use schema markup for LocalBusiness and service areas

6. Build Local Backlinks

  • Get listed in local directories, chambers of commerce, industry groups.
  • Sponsor local events or charities (they usually link back).
  • Get mentioned in local news or blogs.

7. Use a Local Phone Number and a Physical Address

  • A local area code helps build local trust.
  • Make sure your physical address is real (not a PO box or virtual office).

8. Enable Messaging and Booking

  • Turn on Google Messages and link up a booking platform if applicable — it boosts interaction signals.

9. Monitor & Improve Engagement

  • Google notices when people click, call, get directions, or engage with your profile.
  • Improve your click-through rate by:
    • Having strong photos
    • Compelling business description
    • Positive reviews

Bonus: Proximity Hack

If you serve multiple cities, you may want to:

  • Open satellite offices (real ones) and create a GBP for each
  • Or rank organically with location pages on your website and run local PPC while building SEO
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