Here’s a guide to improving your Google ranking without needing to be an SEO expert!
Step 1: Start and Verify Your Google Business Profile
If you haven’t already done so, start a new Google account using your company email and details, then register a Google business profile from the account.
This business profile is what will put your company on Google maps, allow you to get reviews and also includes a link to your website and social media.
After starting you will also need to verify your business profile, you can do this with a short video or by mail.
You can sometimes shortcut this by doing a site map and indexing your website with Google, which will automatically verify your account
This will now be a place for you to build your company online and optimise your profile to get a better position in search engine results pages
✅ Tip:
Make sure you complete every field, such as; services, service areas, description, phone number, and website link.
By verifying and completing your business listing, you’re making it easier for Google to trust and promote your company in local search results.
Step 2: Collect More Google Reviews
Once you have started a Google business profile, and after you have verified it (usually with a 2 minute video), you will be able to start collecting reviews which will show on your business profile, Getting reviews is very important for your ranking on Google.
Google will evaluate your reviews, & keywords that are used in the reviews to rank your business, for search results.
Step 3: Encourage Google Reviews with Photos
Google reviews with pictures generally take a higher priority, meaning they will be the first reviews that people see when they look at your google reviews.
Google likes reviews that include pictures as it reinforces legitimacy, shows a higher level of engagement, & is a good way to show physical representation of your business, it’s services or products.
The Google algorithm will favor companies that have reviews with pictures.
✅ Pro tip:
It’s also a good way to push bad reviews lower on the list of results 🙃
Watch This quick video to see an example of how reviews with pictures work
Step 4: Always Reply to Every Google Review
When customers leave reviews on Google for your business, there is feature that allows you to reply to them.
It is very beneficial for you to reply to all reviews. It shows a higher level of engagement on your profile, & the Google algorithm will favor this.
When you do reply to Google reviews, do your best to include as many keywords about your business as possible.
Include as many service or industry specific keywords as reasonably possible, e.g. “gardening service”, “grass cutting” or “hedge trimming” etc.
Another good practice is to include location specific keywords in your reply if your company operates within a specific area e.g. “grass cut in Chelmsford” or “hedge trimmed in Colchester”.
Google will read these keywords and improve your ranking when someone searches for a service, or products related to your business, in these areas.
Example reply:
“Thanks for trusting our landscaping service in Braintree! We’re so glad you loved your new garden design.”
Step 5: Get Reviews with Keywords
When you get Google reviews if you can get your clientele to include as many keywords in their reviews as possible, the Google algorithm will favour this.
Google will read all of your reviews and summarise them to build a picture of your business, what it offers, and where it operates.
Having customers leave reviews that mention your services or location will help Google understand your business and where to promote it on search results for local SEO.
✅ Pro tip:
When you send a link to your clients asking them to leave you a review (mentioned in step 2) write them a template review from their perspective. This not only gives you an opportunity to include some keywords, it also makes it easier for your customers to leave a review, as they only have to copy & paste it in, then alter it as they wish.
Step 6: Regularly Update Your Google Business Profile
Google has a feature that allows you to post pictures and videos with descriptions on your Google business profile, much like making a social media post.
This is a good way to boost your performance on Google and stay relevant.
Add keywords and hashtags in descriptions on your updates, the Google algorithm will read and consider when ranking your business on the Google platform.
It’s also a really good way to stay engaged with your audience on the platform, which is favored by the Google algorithm.
Step 7: Fully Optimise Your Google Business Profile
When you start your Google business profile it will ask for information such as services your business offers and a description of your business etc.
it is important to input as much as you can into these Fields to enable Google to have an understanding of your business, and what it offers. It’s also important to keep it up to date with your business and its prerogatives. Doing this will give you an edge over competition that have not done so.
Step 8: Build and Optimise Your Website with Sitemap and Indexing
Your google business profile is the first point of contact on the google map search results, however without a website that is sitemapped and indexed with google, you have no chance of showing up in the google search results, and there is no link for a website on your google business profile for them to click and go into your funnel.
As you probably already know, many of your competitors on google will realise this and will have an optimised website to ensure they are competing on serch results
What’s a sitemap?
It’s a simple file that tells Google how your website is laid out, making it easier to understand and index.
What’s indexing?
It’s the process of submitting your site to search engines so they know it exists and can show it in search results.
Final Thoughts!
Ranking higher on Google doesn’t have to be complicated.
By creating and optimising your Google Business Profile, collecting reviews with keywords and photos, replying to customers, and keeping your content updated, you can dramatically improve your local SEO.
And remember: Consistency wins!
Every post, every reply, and every review makes a difference over time.
Package
Monthly
What's Included?
- 5-Page Website
- Monthly Updates
- Ongoing Support
- All the standard features
Monthly
What's Included?
- 10-Page Website
- Service Specific Pages
- Monthly Updates
- Ongoing Support
- All the standard features
Monthly
What's Included?
- 15-Page Website
- Service Specific Pages
- Monthly Updates
- Ongoing Support
- All the standard features
