What is Local Pack SEO? How to Get Your Business Featured on Google Maps
What is Local Pack SEO? How to Get Your Business Featured on Google Maps
Introduction: The Power of Local Pack SEO
Have you ever searched for something like “best coffee shop near me” and noticed a map with three business listings at the top of Google search results? That’s called the Google Local Pack—one of the most valuable spots for any local business.
✔ 93% of consumers use online searches to find local businesses
✔ 46% of all Google searches have local intent (e.g., “near me” searches)
✔ Businesses in the Local Pack get 5x more visibility than regular search results
So, how do you get featured in the Google Local Pack and drive more traffic to your business? Let’s dive in.
What is Google’s Local Pack?
The Local Pack is the top three business listings that appear in Google search results along with a map.
Why It’s Important:
✅ More visibility – Appears at the top of search results
✅ Higher CTR (click-through rate) – Users are more likely to click these listings
✅ More walk-in traffic – Great for physical stores and service-based businesses
✅ Boosts credibility – Customers trust businesses featured in Google’s Local Pack
How to Get Your Business Featured in the Local Pack
1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the #1 ranking factor for Local Pack SEO.
Steps to optimize GBP:
✔ Claim & verify your business at Google Business Profile
✔ Use accurate business information (Name, Address, Phone Number)
✔ Choose the right business category (e.g., “Digital Marketing Agency” instead of just “Marketing”)
✔ Write a compelling business description (Include location-based keywords)
✔ Add high-quality photos & videos
✔ List your operating hours
Example: A bakery in New York optimizes its GBP with:
✔ “Best fresh-baked cookies in NYC” in its description
✔ Updated hours, menu, and location details
✔ Customer reviews with keywords like “best bakery in Manhattan”
🚀 Result: Higher rankings & more foot traffic!
2. Get More Customer Reviews (With Keywords!)
Google loves businesses with high ratings and frequent reviews.
💡 Tips to get more reviews:
✅ Ask happy customers to leave reviews (Make it easy with a direct review link)
✅ Respond to every review (Even the negative ones—be professional)
✅ Encourage keyword-rich reviews
✔ Bad: “Great service!”
✔ Good: “The best Italian restaurant in Chicago with amazing pasta!”
🔹 Example: A dentist in LA asks patients to leave reviews with words like “best dentist in Los Angeles” to rank higher.
3. Use Location-Based Keywords
Google ranks businesses based on relevance, distance, and prominence. Using local SEO keywords helps your business appear in “near me” searches.
✅ Where to use local keywords:
✔ GBP description & services section
✔ Website homepage & service pages
✔ Blog posts (e.g., “Best Plumbers in Miami – A Complete Guide”)
✔ Meta titles & descriptions
🔹 Example: A law firm in Houston should target keywords like:
✔ “Top personal injury lawyer in Houston”✔ “Houston car accident lawyer near me”
🚀 Result: Higher rankings in local search results & the Local Pack.
4. Add Your Business to Local Directories (Citations)
Google checks if your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) is consistent across different websites.
📌 Where to list your business:
✅ Google Business Profile
✅ Yelp, Bing Places, and Apple Maps
✅ Local directories (e.g., Yellow Pages, TripAdvisor, Justdial)
✅ Industry-specific sites (e.g., Zillow for real estate agents, Healthgrades for doctors)
🔹 Example: A spa in San Diego lists itself on Yelp, Google, and local directories with the same NAP details.
🚀 Result: Increased trust & ranking in local search results.
5. Optimize Your Website for Local SEO
Even though the Local Pack is separate from normal SEO, your website still impacts rankings.
Key website optimizations for Local SEO:
✔ Create location-specific landing pages
✔ Embed Google Maps on your Contact page
✔ Use structured data markup (Schema)
✔ Improve mobile-friendliness (Most local searches happen on mobile)
✔ Speed up your website (Faster sites rank higher)
🔹 Example: A pest control company with pages like “Pest Control in Dallas” & “Termite Removal in Austin” will rank higher than a generic website.
🚀 Result: More leads from local searches!
6. Build Local Backlinks
Backlinks from local websites & news sources help boost your credibility.
💡 How to get local backlinks:
✅ Sponsor local events & charities
✅ Get featured in local news articles
✅ Collaborate with local bloggers & influencers
✅ Submit guest posts to local business websites
🔹 Example: A coffee shop in Seattle partners with a local food blogger for a review, getting a high-authority backlink.
🚀 Result: Higher domain authority & better Local Pack rankings!
7. Post Regular Updates on Google Business Profile
Google rewards businesses that actively update their GBP.
💡 What to post on GBP:
✔ New product launches
✔ Special promotions & discounts
✔ Customer success stories & reviews
✔ Local events & industry news
🔹 Example: A gym posts weekly fitness tips & member testimonials on GBP.
🚀 Result: More engagement & higher rankings!
Case Study: How a Small Restaurant Increased Walk-Ins by 300%
📍 **The Problem:**A small restaurant in Chicago wasn’t getting enough foot traffic & online visibility.
📈 The Strategy:
✅ Fully optimized their Google Business Profile
✅ Encouraged keyword-rich customer reviews
✅ Added high-quality food photos
✅ Used “Chicago’s best brunch” in their GBP description
✅ Listed in local directories like Yelp & TripAdvisor
✅ Created a Google post for weekly discounts
🔥 The Results:
🚀 300% increase in walk-in customers
📈 70% more website clicks
⭐ 4.8-star rating from 200+ reviews
Final Thoughts: Why Every Local Business Needs Local Pack SEO
✔ Increases online visibility – Your business gets featured at the top of Google
✔ Drives more local customers – People searching “near me” find you first
✔ Boosts credibility – More reviews & listings = more trust
📢 Action Plan:
✅ Claim & optimize your Google Business Profile
✅ Encourage customer reviews with keywords
✅ Use local SEO keywords on your website
✅ Get listed on local directories & build backlinks
✅ Post updates on GBP regularly
🚀 Ready to dominate the Local Pack? Start optimizing today and watch your business grow!