Part of our complete guide: How to rank on Google Maps: the complete guide.
Google has said that local results come from three things: how relevant your profile is to the search, how far you are from the person searching, and how well known your business is. You cannot move your shop, but you can make your profile a better match and build a stronger reputation.
Nobody can pay Google to rank a business higher in Maps results, and nobody outside Google can guarantee a position. What follows is what Google itself recommends, in a sensible order.
Step by step
Verify your profile
An unverified profile is mostly hidden. Complete verification first.
Fill in every detail, and keep it right
Address, phone number, hours, website, services, attributes and a clear description. Update hours for holidays so customers are not sent to a closed door.
Pick the right categories
Your main category is one of the strongest signals of relevance. Choose the most specific one and add only true extras.
Use your real business name
Keyword stuffing can get a profile suspended and does not help you rank legitimately.
Ask for reviews, and reply to all of them
Review count, score and recency all feed prominence. Ask every customer and answer every review.
Add real photos and add more over time
Photos help customers choose you and make the profile feel complete.
Post regularly
A weekly post keeps the profile fresh. Google has not said that posts directly raise rank, but they give customers a reason to act.
Keep your details the same on your website and other listings
Name, address and phone number should match everywhere, including your website and directories such as Justdial. Mixed details confuse Google.
Check where you actually rank
Rank depends on where the searcher is standing. Search for your main keyword from a few streets around your place and note the position in each, not only from your own shop.
What our team at MapBoost does instead
We run these steps for you as one service. We keep your profile right, reply to every review, add photos every month and post every week. Replies are written in your voice. Negative reviews are handled by a person on our team.
We also check where you rank across your whole area every week, against nearby competitors, and act on what we find.
India: ₹2,499* per location per monthEurope: €49 per location per month (or €39 billed yearly) + VAT where applicableRest of the world: $49 per location per month (or $39 billed yearly)
*Plus GST (India)
The three things Google says it uses
| Factor | What it means | Can you change it? |
|---|---|---|
| Relevance | How well your profile matches what the person searched for | Yes: categories, services, description, content |
| Distance | How far your business is from the person or the place they typed | No |
| Prominence | How well known and trusted you are: reviews, links, mentions | Yes, over time |
Common mistakes
- Chasing rank for one keyword from one spot. Your rank changes street by street.
- Buying reviews or asking only happy customers. Google’s policy does not allow it.
- Adding extra categories you do not serve, or keywords to your name.
- Opening many profiles for one place to take up more space on the map.
- Expecting results in a week. Reviews and trust build slowly.
Questions people ask
How do I improve my Google My Business ranking?
Verify your Business Profile, complete every detail, choose the right categories, get and answer reviews, add photos, post regularly and keep your details consistent online. These are the steps Google itself recommends.
Can I pay Google to rank higher on Google Maps?
You cannot pay to rank higher in the normal Maps results. Google Ads are separate, and they are labelled as ads.
How do I increase my Google ranking for free?
Everything in this guide is free: verify, complete your profile, ask for reviews, reply to them and keep your details accurate. The cost is your time or the time of someone who does it for you.
Can I improve my Maps ranking without hiring anyone?
Yes. Google Business Profile is free and the steps are in plain English. The hard part is doing them every week, so many owners hand it to a team.
How to get 1000 reviews on Google?
There is no shortcut. Reviews come from asking every customer, every time, and making it easy with a direct link or QR code. Never buy reviews.
How to get a 5.0 rating on Google?
A perfect score is rare for any busy business, and you cannot control what every customer writes. Aim for honest reviews and good replies, not perfection.
Why do I rank differently from where I stand?
Google ranks results by the position of the person searching. A business can show first near its own shop and far lower a few kilometres away.
How long does it take to rank higher on Google Maps?
Small fixes can show in days, but reviews and trust take months. Nobody can promise a date or a position.
Is Google Maps ranking the same as Google Search ranking?
Local results in both come from the same Business Profile data, which is why a good profile helps in both places. Your exact position can still differ between them.
Terms used in this guide, in the glossary: Local pack, Relevance, Distance, Prominence, Geogrid, NAP, Citation.