Wondering best ways to optimize for google maps/local listing

[higherimages]

I'm wondering if there is any strategy to optimize a client to show up in the local listings. I assume a lot of this is tied to Google + / Google Places for Business. Is it possible to have a company show up in the local listings over a certain geographic area even if they are not technically addressed in that area? Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Dan H.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Bryan,

In order for a business to qualify for inclusion in Google's local pack of results, it must meet the following criteria:

1. Have a unique, staffed, physical address. This cannot be a virtual office or P.O. box.

2. Have a unique local area code phone number. Not toll free, vanity or call tracking numbers.

3. Have face-to-face transactions with customers, either at the place of business (like a dentist) or at the customers' locations (like a plumber).

If the business can say 'yes' to ALL THREE of these things, then it qualifies, and it's time to read the Google Places Quality Guidelines to become acquainted with all of Google's various policies. See: https://support.google.com/places/answer/107528?hl=en

If the business cannot say yes to any of the above or fails to meet any of the criteria in the Google Places Quality Guidelines, then it should not pursue Google local pack rankings.

It's very important to understand Google's bias toward physical locale. Most businesses can strive to achieve local pack rankings only for their city of location. In other words, a plumber located in San Jose, California can hope to achieve local results for searches that include the term 'san jose' or that stem from San Jose-based devices. He cannot typically expect to appear in the local pack for his additional service cities where he lacks a physical location. Instead, he must pursue organic rankings for these location-less cities.

There are exceptions to this in scenarios of low competition. For example, if your business is one of only two chimney sweep companies serving 5 different cities, there is a chance that Google may surface you in the local pack for more than one city, simply because their is little competition and there are few choices. This is typically the exception rather than the rule, however.

Pursuing organic rankings for your additional service cities involves the creation of city landing pages. You can read more about this here: http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/?p=1403

Pursuing high local rankings involves a ton of different efforts. You might find these resources helpful:

http://moz.com/local-search-ranking-factors

http://moz.com/blog/top-20-local-search-ranking-factors-an-illustrated-guide

So, the first step is to determine how the business model fits in with Google's view of local businesses and then proceed accordingly.

[vmialik]

"not technically addressed in that area"

Physical staffed location is required according to Google Places policy.

If its not techincally in the area, you can build organic content to rank for those areas but not local.

Hope this helps!

[SEO5Team]

Hi Byran,

If the site does not have any local presence, that would be a huge disadvantage against better optimized sites that do have a local presence. The level of competition in that industry would also make a difference. I'd like to point out a post by Rand below as reference to this discussion. The post is a bit old (2010) however a lot of the concepts addressed still seem to be revelant today.

Ranking in Multiple Geographies

Cheers,

SEO5