Author: Ryan Walsh

Date: 06/02/2025

Obtaining a Google Maps listing is essential for most businesses. Yet here’s the thing: Every business will obtain a Google Business listing, yet it’s typically only around three businesses that get displayed next to the Google Map. Therefore, to say that it is hyper competitive to get your business shown in the Google Business results, well, that would be something of an understatement.

You need to optimise your Google Business listing to stand out and be head and shoulders above the competition. This detailed and comprehensive guide will inform you how to improve its visibility.

You might think that Google only considers Proximity when deciding which businesses to display. However, Google’s algorithms calculate so much more, such as the business’s Google E-EAT score, business reviews, and the accuracy of its NAP information.

 

What we will cover in this article:

• We explain how to set up and also claim your Google Maps listing
• How to optimise and improve your Google Maps profile
• How to continually take steps to improve your Google Maps listing

 

Why rank higher on Google Maps?

What are the benefits to a business being shown on Google Maps?

 

Well, comprehensive research does show that a high number of shoppers do not go past the first couple of results when looking for a business. And why it’s especially important that your business ranks often and highly in Google is that shoppers then often use the App to navigate directly to your business.

Let’s say someone is looking online for a local business, say in the city of Cardiff. Then, they see a business with a high number of positive reviews. Often, they will select the business and ask for directions.

Google Maps can then offer auditable directions, leading the shopper directly to the shop.

 

How can a business increase its chances of appearing more often in Google Maps results?

 

There have been many statistics that say that around half of the searches made on Google to find businesses are to find a local business. Therefore, many shoppers are looking for businesses that are close to them, and this is why it’s crucial for most businesses to try their upmost to get displayed in the Google Business results as often as they can.

 

 

Before you can improve the search engine optimisation for your Google Maps listing, you need to claim and set up a listing. Don’t rush this; set aside a good hour or two to set up your Google Business account.

 

For example, getting the following details right is essential

•  Make sure your business NAP information is consistent
• Make sure you write a detailed business description
• Make sure the URL points to the homepage
• Make sure also that you add as much detail as possible
• Keep your Google Maps listing up to date; if the opening hours change, then do update your listing

 

Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how to set up a Google Maps listing:

Head on over to Google.co.uk/maps, or you could simply open the Google Map app in the Google Android app store. Then run a search for your business name, as sometimes Google may have already set a Google Maps listing for you.

 

New location

If your business doesn’t appear, you can simply select the option “add a missing place.”

Then, you must follow the step-by-step instructions for setting up your Google Maps listing.

 

When setting up your Google Business listing, write the name of the business, just as it appears on your website and also your NAP listings. Then, select the right business category. Try to select the category that most closely suits your business type.

For example, if you are a tree surgeon, then select this option. Don’t select a general business category, such as gardening services, as this will mean your business may be displayed to customers who want a service your company doesn’t offer.

Then, choose a location.

 

 

Claiming your business listing

Whether your business listing already exists or you’ve just set it up, make sure that you claim your listing. This only takes a few steps. Perhaps you like to take an automated call, for example, where Google reads a validation code to you, and then sometimes you can instantly set up your Google Business account, and it’s validated.

 

Now it is time to optimise your Google Business listing

Now it is time to grab that nice coffee, and it is time to set up your Google Business listing in terms of adding more detail.

Nap information

Make sure that your NAP information is 100% consistent.

What do we mean by that?

Well, the NAP information should be on your company website, marked up using Schema markup.

Also, you should have much NAP information cited in various business directories.

Make sure your NAP information is consistent there.

Also, when setting your Google Business profile, ensure that NAP information is consistent.

 

What are business citations?

Your business citations are your company’s name and business address in Cardiff, and you need to add the main phone number. Again, the NAP information must match your business citations and the NAP information on your company’s social media accounts. For example, you have a Facebook page set up; this is where the company’s NAP is mentioned; this also must match with the Google Maps listing and the rest of your company’s business citations.

 

Make sure that you use a local phone number.

If you have no option but to use a mobile number, then use this, but ideally, if you can, use a landline number. For example, here in Cardiff, the numbers often start with 029 21. This shows that your company is based in Cardiff, you have a local number, and Google will have greater confidence that your business is based in that city.

Okay, you must use a mobile phone number if you have no choice. Yet, if you can, use a local phone number.

 

 

Make sure that you keep your opening hours updated.

What you most definitely don’t want is to say your shop is open at a particular time. Customers then drive to you, and you’re close. It possibly sometimes causes a negative business review to be left. So, you need to keep your opening hours up to date. This does two things: it keeps your customers updated on your opening hours, but making changes now and then to your Google business listing is good because it shows Google that your business is open and trading.

For example, a business that sets up a Google Maps listing yet doesn’t make any updates for, say, the next 10 years, well, that might have closed. So, Google prefers to show businesses in the Google Maps results, which regularly update their listings. This could be, for example, during the holidays, let Christmas time, if the company just goes in once a year to keep their opening hours up to date.

Here’s the thing: regularly check to see if your business’s Google Business listing is up to date. For example, make sure the address and opening hours are correct and respond to any reviews that have been left by clients.

 

Write an in-depth business description.

So, don’t just copy and paste your business description from, say, your own website. Instead, take some time to write a well-written business description that describes your business’s products or services. Make sure it’s kept up to date. For example, if you start retailing a different set of products or brands, why not change the business description so it’s more up-to-date and mentions the brands you sell now?

 

Business Category

We did mention this a bit earlier, but it’s definitely worth mentioning again: You need to select the right business category.

Let’s give you an example: Let’s say your business is a company that offers loft conversions.

Therefore, don’t choose builders or construction companies; it is too general.

Choose a loft conversion company instead, as this more accurately describes the services your business offers.

 

 

Add photos, not stock photos.

You add photos of your business premises and the products you sell. So, for example, if you own a coffee shop, take a photo of some of the food you might offer, the coffee, and the coffee bags to show you superior coffee, for example.

Take a photo of your baristas or of your coffee shop. This helps improve your marketing in a few different ways.

One way to improve the optimisation of your Google business listing is to regularly add new photos.

For example, a business that shows its products or services, such as the luxury coffee you make, gives customers a better idea of the coffee shop.

If you give customers a better idea of your coffee shop, they are more likely to select the listing, which means that your Google Business listing is getting more clicks.

More engagement and more clicks equal more customers.

Compare this to a listing, let’s say again, of a coffee shop that has no photos. Customers may not know what the shop looks like or the cakes and products that you sell.

 

 

Obtain Google Reviews

When you sit down with any of the major SEO companies and ask, “What do you think is one of the best ways of increasing visibility?” That’s when our Google Business listing is displayed.

The top leading agencies will say without a doubt that a Google Map listing that’s accumulated many 5-star reviews over an extended timeframe is the Google Map result that Google most often shows.

It’s clear why this is so: the business is offering exactly what the customer wants, and many customers seem satisfied with the service.

 

 

Make sure that your website is responsive

So, around 50% to 60% of searches are completed on a smartphone. And someone looking for a local business somewhere in the city centre of Cardiff is likely to be on the move. This is why your company’s website has to be responsive. Now, all this means that the website must work on smartphones; the website must fit the iPhone screen, for example.

So, when improving your business’s local SEO, ensure your website is responsive.

 

Come to us

For well over 10 years now, we have been working with many Welsh businesses to help them increase their sales. We offer organic and local SEO. We charge a fixed fee per month to improve your marketing, and the fee is dependent on how competitive your business sector is.

If you run a company here in Cardiff and would like to improve your organic search engine optimisation.

Then do call us today.