Local SEO: how clinics, restaurants and stores rank on Google Maps
The map pack brings more calls than most websites. How to set up, optimise and keep improving your Google Business Profile.
When someone searches "dentist near me" or "cafe in Sector 18", the three businesses in the map pack get most of the calls. Getting there is not magic. It is a set of basics done properly and kept up every month.
Claim and complete your Google Business Profile
Verify the listing. Choose the most specific primary category and add relevant secondary categories. Write a clear description with the services and area you serve. Add opening hours, phone number, website, booking link and the services or menu. Make sure the name, address and phone number match your website and other listings exactly.
Photos and posts
Upload real photos of the exterior, interior, team, products and work, and keep adding new ones every month. Use Google Posts for offers, events and updates. Listings with recent photos and posts look alive to Google and to customers.
Reviews: the biggest ranking and conversion factor
Ask every happy customer for a review with a direct link, ideally right after the visit. Reply to all reviews, good and bad, politely and within a day or two. Never buy reviews or pressure customers; it violates Google's rules and can get the listing suspended.
Citations and consistency
List the business on relevant directories and platforms (Justdial, Sulekha, IndiaMART for B2B, Zomato and Swiggy for restaurants, Practo for clinics) with identical details. Inconsistent names or numbers confuse Google and cost rankings.
Location pages on your website
Create a page for each location with the address, map, hours, services, photos, reviews and local content. Link it from the Google listing. For multi-location businesses this is the difference between ranking in one area and ranking in all of them.
Track calls, directions and bookings
Use the insights in your Business Profile, call tracking numbers if needed, and UTM links on the website button so you can see what the listing brings in. Review it monthly and keep adding photos, posts and reviews.
Our local SEO and Google Business Profile service does all of this for single locations and chains, with monthly reporting on calls and direction requests.
