Receiving a poor report on your Google Business Profile (GBP) can be frustrating, but it also offers a valuable opportunity to identify and resolve issues that may be impacting your ranking. When your client’s business isn’t ranking well on Google Maps despite regular efforts like posting updates and answering Q&As, the problem often lies in a few critical areas. Below are troubleshooting tips to help you diagnose and address these issues effectively.
Step 1: Check Reviews
Recent Reviews
Quantity:
What to Check: How many reviews has your client received in the past 30 or 90 days? Remember, reviews older than 90 days no longer contribute to SEO benefits as of 2024.
Tip: We recommend your client consistently earns at least one 5-star review each week, ideally with relevant keywords included. A lack of recent reviews can severely impact the client’s ranking, even if they have a large total number of reviews.
Quality:
What to Check: Have there been any negative reviews in the past 90 days? Negative reviews can significantly hurt your client’s ranking, especially if they’re not offset by positive reviews.
Tip: Reviews containing keywords have a stronger positive impact, so encourage clients to ask their customers to include relevant terms in their feedback.
How to Improve:
Flag Negative Reviews:
Use the Google Business Profile management dashboard to flag harmful reviews. If multiple people flag a review, it’s more likely that Google will remove it.
Utilize Our Review Tools:
Use the review request URL, QR codes, and Zapier integrations to make it easier for your client’s customers to leave reviews.
Suggested Reviews Feature:
This feature provides customers with SEO-optimized review templates they can copy and paste, improving the quality of the reviews.
Enable Review Reminders:
Set up reminders to ensure clients are notified when they need to gather more reviews.
Step 2: Check Google Business Profile Photos Section
Photo Uploads
Recent Activity:
What to Check: How many images have been uploaded recently? Regularly adding new images indicates activity and engagement, which Google values.
Tip: To check, go to your client's Google Business Profile, click the "Photos" section, then the "Latest" tab, and review the upload dates.
Image Types:
Raw Images: These are best for SEO as Google favors unique, real-life images of the business.
AI and Stock Images: Avoid these, as they don't offer the same SEO benefits and fail to provide the real-world visuals Google wants.
How to Improve:
Set Up Image Reminders:
Schedule reminders for when clients are running low on new images to upload.
Upload Images via Merchynt:
Ensure images are uploaded through Merchynt/Paige instead of directly to GBP to receive optimization benefits, such as geotagging and alt text with target keywords.
Step 3: Check Keywords
Keyword Performance
Keyword Quality:
What to Check: If a keyword ranks 20+ on the grid or if most grid pins are gray, this may mean the keyword no longer triggers local search results. Search the keyword on Google to see if the local map pack appears. If it doesn’t, the keyword may need adjusting.
Keyword Modifications:
Product vs. Service Keywords: Keywords based on products often don’t show local search results (e.g., “furnace” might show product listings, not services). Changing the keyword to something like “furnace repair” signals to Google that the user is looking for a service, which will help trigger local business results.
Example:
Before: The target keyword is "furnace," and product results dominate the search results.
After: Change the keyword to "furnace repair," which prompts Google to display relevant local businesses in the Map Pack.