By Diandra Partridge
From the Winter 2017 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association
Showing up on Google Maps can be a key factor in helping patients find and connect with your practice.
Getting set up so that your location displays prominently in Google Map results is a straightforward process. Here are the four primary factors that help you rank higher in Google Maps and make it easier for patients to find you.
Claim and Verify Your Google My Business Listing
Google My Business is an essential tool for managing your organization’s local presence in local search results. You’ll want to claim or add your listing as soon as possible if you haven’t done so already.
Once you’ve added your listing, you’ll have to verify it. Verification can be time-consuming, but it helps to ensure that all listings are accurate and that no one can attempt to post false or misleading information about a competitor’s business. Google provides a page with instructions on the different methods you can use to verify your Google My Business listing.
Keep Contact Information Consistent Across the Web
Now that your listing is up, it’s crucial to make sure that all of your details are accurate. Double check that your address, hours of operation, and phone number are all consistent with the information you provide on your website. If possible, it’s best if your phone number has a local area code. You’ll also want to create listings on other sites and directories.
To improve your chances of ranking highly, you need to make sure all your business contact information is identical across the web. Even though it’s easy for a human to tell that “123 Example St. Unit #1” and “123 Example St. Suite #1” are the same place, Google’s algorithm reads these as two different addresses. Providing accurate information in search results is a priority, so even minor inconsistencies can lower your ranking.
Make Sure Your Website is Optimized for Mobile
The number of people who primarily search the web from mobile devices is growing every year.
Today, more than 50% of global search queries come from mobile devices. Having a mobile-friendly website plays a role in providing a better user experience and can have an impact on your rankings.
Collect and Engage with Customer Feedback
Having lots of positive reviews will not only help you rank higher in search, but it will also make users more likely to click on your listing.
It’s a sad fact of human psychology that people are more motivated by negative experiences than positive ones. As a result, business owners need to be proactive about collecting positive reviews and do what they can to professionally respond to negative feedback.
About the Author: Diandra Partridge is an SEO specialist at Clicks and Clients. For advice on your digital marketing strategy, contact Melissa Sheehan at melissa@clicksandclients.com or 720-485-6731.
