What does this mean to search marketers? While the local map pack is displayed within the standard Google organic search listings, separate algorithms power the main Google search results for local rankings and the local map pack results. As a local business, you have the opportunity the appear within both the main organic search results and the local map pack at the same time.
If you’re new to marketing your business online, one of the main challenges is knowing what you should focus on to make your efforts as effective as possible.
Marketing analytics software company Moz posts its annual Local Search Ranking Factors survey, which includes the top 35 to 40 worldwide experts in local SEO. Its results provide the best insights into which factors influence local search visibility.
Localized content and local link popularity are factors, just as it is in Google’s traditional search algorithm, so it's important to build local landing pages for each of your locations- especially if you're a multiple location business-, where you should include not only your business name but also its details like address and phone as well as optimize their titles tags, meta descriptions, and follow SEO best practice. This should be taken into consideration as well in your content marketing and link building strategy.
Additionally, location-based factors like having a business listing in Google My Business, local citations from data aggregators, and review signals - that should be published by your local customers - are also taken into consideration in your local oriented seo rankings and as consequence you should also take them into consideration in your local SEO efforts.
It's also important to note that there are SEO tools focused on local search that can help you to develop local oriented SEO audits, from developing keyword research focused on your local audience, building citations, managing Google My Business listings, business profile and Google posts, and even monitor your inclusion in local packs.
Website content is a significant factor, just as it is in Google’s traditional search algorithm, but location-based factors like Google My Business, citations, and review signals are also included.