How To Dominate Google Maps 3 Pack

One proven way to grow your local business in the digital space is to learn how to dominate Google maps 3-pack. Not familiar with Google map pack? First, let me show you what it looks like in real life:

I'm pretty sure you've come face to face with a 3-pack one way or another.

For regular online searchers, it probably means nothing, but for digital marketers, its the mecca of local search engine optimization.

In today's article, we will tackle expert tips on how to dominate Google maps 3-pack, so buckle up because here we go!

What Is The Local Pack?

The Local 3-Pack is a colorful, notable section of Google’s search results page that presents the three local businesses related to a search query. When there’s local intent in a search query, Google displays three of the most relevant local businesses that might answer the query.

Here are a few of the factors Google considers when showing a 3-pack:

• Relevance
• Searcher’s location
• Content quality

For example, if you type "construction companies in new york city" in Google, you will see the most relevant results:

Here’s a chart that shows the various ranking factors for the local pack from Moz.

Now we are going to dig into a few of these ranking factors in more detail.

The Impact Of Google My Business To 3-Pack Rankings

As shown in the chart earlier, Google My Business makes up 25.12% of the local pack or finder ranking factors. It also makes up 8.85% of the localized organic ranking factors.

What do these stats mean? It’s really simple. Google My Business is a driving force in ranking higher on Google and the local 3-pack!

Okay, so that answer is a little vague, allow me to break it down even further for you by discussing some of the elements to optimize in your Google My Business listing.

1. Critical Business Information

Know that online searchers use two types of searches on Google - direct search and discovery search.

Direct search is when a customer directly searched for your business using the name or address.

Discovery search is when a user searched for a category, product, or service that you offer, and your GMB listing appeared.

The impact of your business information in your GMB listing to the local 3-pack is enormous. It allows users to get to know your business as soon as they come across your listing. It helps them make an informed decision the moment they see the relevance of your listing to their query.

With that said, it’s vital to keep your business information accurate and on-point 100% of the time.

2. Google Posts

If you’ve been following us since day zero (Thanks a million by the way!), you’ll know that we post blogs, and each week we create a GMB post from our weekly blog. Why? Because it increases the strenght and relevance of your Google My Business page.

The main benefit of Google Posts is the ability to QUICKLY and DIRECTLY control the branded search results for your local business. They take a few seconds to appear, which gives users a real-time feed into the search results of your brand.

3. Photos

Google said,

Businesses with photos receive 42% more requests for driving directions to their location from users on Google, and 35% more clicks through to their websites than businesses that don't have photos.

Need I say more?

Uploading photos is like not letting customers leave your GMB listing ever again! By the way, you can include videos in this section too. If you have videos about your business we'd highly recommend you load them in addition to any photos.

4. Messaging

When the messaging feature is on in your GMB listing, you make it easy for your customers to get in touch with you. The amount of web traffic and profits that this feature will generate is enormous when your listing shows up in the local 3-pack.

Having said that, I'd only recommend activating this feature if you can respond promptly.

5. Reviews

Reviews. Many online searchers read them before making a decision.

According to BrightLocal,

82% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, with 52% of 18-54-year-olds saying they ‘always’ read reviews

Reviews are super important for local businesses. Get. More. Reviews.

Simple Tips On How To Dominate Google Maps 3-Pack

Okay, first of all, relax. Do not be too hard on yourself or your team if you don’t get to see your listing in the local pack after you’ve adjusted your local SEO strategy.

It happens!

Some industries are super competitive and others are not. Give it time.

1. Don't Panic

The changes in Google’s local 3-pack are hard to track. I don’t know anyone (SEO experts) or anything (SEO tools) that has mastered these changes to the bone.

Take note that the local 3-pack depends on the user’s IP, so the chances of your listing showing up to many different search results are high.

Again, don’t panic if your listing is not in the local pack.

2. Keep Checking The Map View

The top-20 websites list on the map view in the local map remained about the same, with the websites being rotated depending on the user’s location.

What’s in it for you? It means that the distribution of search visibility between those 20 local businesses is more even. You might need to change the return on investment (ROI) variables for your local SEO - going from “the local pack exact pack” to “being or not being listed in the top-20 map results”.

3. Keep Your Feature Snippet More Appealing

Online users will discover your competitors while digging deeper into the local pack. What you can do to stand out is to keep your snippet more appealing.

Here's an example:

4. Hold On To The Golden Local SEO Techniques For Now

These golden local SEO techniques include: 

• Claiming, filling out, and verifying your Google My Business listing.
• Making sure that your business Name, Address, Phone Number (NAP) is consistent on all online directories.
• Build new citations.
• Get more reviews.
• Build and maintain on-page optimization.

5. Build A Presence On Directories

The top 10 local listings for most local searches are from online directories like Yelp. Building a strong online presence on these directories can help you gain more visibility and site traffic.

And those are my tips on how to dominate Google maps 3-pack!

Remember that it will take time and effort to appear in the local pack. Don’t be in a hurry and stop pushing your SEO strategy to unreasonable realms.

It will happen as long as you stick to these rules!

For more information about this topic, feel free to check out the recommended resources section below or CONTACT US.

Recommended Local SEO Resources

• The Local SEO Checklist: Your Ticket Into The Snack Pack
• How to Dominate the Google Map Pack
• Local SEO: The Definitive Guide (2020)

So what do you think about this article? Are you ready to dominate Google maps 3-pack?

Leave a comment below and let’s discuss.

Also, it would be such an honor for my team and me if you think this article is worth the SHARE. Thanks for the time, and I will talk to you in the next one.

Header image courtesy of JumpStory.

About the Author Tim Fitzpatrick

Tim Fitzpatrick is the President of Rialto Marketing. At Rialto Marketing, we help small businesses & entrepreneurs eliminate the confusion of marketing. As a marketing partner, we help clients put in place and manage a simple marketing plan so they can grow. Marketing your business shouldn't be a challenge. All you need is a plan.