📝

How To Do Google Maps SEO

A practical, actionable tutorial for local businesses.

Step 1: Claim & Verify Your Profile

  1. Go to business.google.com
  2. Search for your business or click "Add your business"
  3. Complete verification (postcard, phone, or email)
  4. Fill out every single field — aim for 100% completion

Step 2: Choose the Right Category

Your primary category is critical. Choose the most specific option:

  • ❌ Bad: "Restaurant"
  • ✅ Good: "Italian Restaurant"
  • ✅ Better: "Neapolitan Pizza Restaurant"

Step 3: Optimize Your Profile

  • Business description — 750 characters, natural keywords
  • Photos — Upload 12+ images (interior, exterior, products)
  • Hours — Keep accurate, add special hours for holidays
  • Services — List all services with descriptions
  • Attributes — Enable everything relevant to your business

Step 4: Get Reviews Systematically

Don't just ask "can you leave a review?" Create a system:

  1. Generate your Google review link
  2. Send it via email/text after every transaction
  3. Make it easy — one-click process
  4. Respond to every review within 24 hours

⚠️ WARNING

Never buy fake reviews or offer incentives. Google detects this and can suspend your profile.

Step 5: Build Citations

List your business on:

  • Yelp, Facebook, Apple Maps
  • Industry-specific directories
  • Local chamber of commerce sites

Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is exactly identical everywhere.

Step 6: Create Posts Weekly

Google Business Posts keep your profile active:

  • Share promotions, events, new products
  • Add a call-to-action button
  • Post at least once per week

Step 7: Track Your Rankings

Use our free GeoGrid checker to monitor progress. Check weekly and adjust strategy based on results.

Track Your Optimization Progress

Start Free Tracking