How to Beat 99% of Local Competitors on Google: A Practical SEO Guide
Have you ever wondered why your business doesn’t show up on Google Maps, even though you’ve set up your Google Business Profile and built a website? Worse yet, some of your local competitors—who don’t seem as good—are ranking above you.
If that sounds familiar, this article is for you.
We’ve broken down the insights from a helpful video by a senior SEO expert who ranked the top 20 local SEO factors. This blog will show you what truly helps your business rank in the Google Map Pack, what you should prioritize, and what’s simply a waste of time.
Let’s dive in.
Must-Do SEO Tasks That Really Work
These are the most important things you should focus on first if you want to rank higher in Google Maps.
1. Add Keywords to Your Website’s Meta Title
Your website homepage (or landing page linked to your Google profile) should include important keywords in its title. For example, instead of just “John’s Plumbing,” use “John’s Plumbing | Auckland Emergency Plumber.” It’s easy to do and makes a big difference.
2. Complete and Verify Your Google Business Profile
Make sure all parts of your Google Business Profile are filled out—opening hours, services, photos, and more. Then verify your address. This simple step helps Google trust your business more and boosts your ranking.
3. Use Your City Name on Your Website
Include your city or service area in your website content naturally—especially in headlines, titles, and body text. This helps Google understand where your business is based and who to show it to.
4. Choose the Right Google Business Categories
Pick the best primary category that matches your business (like “Dentist” instead of “Health Clinic”) and then add secondary categories that match other services you offer. This helps you rank for more local searches.
Should-Do Tasks That Also Help
Once the must-dos are done, these are the next steps to focus on.
1. Get More 5-Star Reviews
Google cares about your average star rating. Encourage happy customers to leave a review right after you serve them. The more 5-star reviews, the better your chances of ranking higher.
2. Create a Web Page for Each Service
If you offer more than one service, make a separate page for each on your website. Google likes when your website matches the services listed in your profile—it makes your business look more trustworthy.
3. Add Keywords to Page Headings
Make sure your most important keywords are in your main headline (H1) and in subheadings (H2) on the landing page. This helps Google understand what the page is about.
4. Use Internal Links to Your Landing Page
Link from other parts of your website back to your main landing page. For example, blog posts or service pages should link back to the homepage or the page your Google profile points to.
5. Make Sure You’re Physically in the City You Want to Rank In
If you want to rank in Auckland, but your office is in a suburb, it will be harder. Try focusing on ranking in the city where your business is actually located.
Do When You Have Time
These are helpful, but not urgent.
1. Build Backlinks from Other Sites
Getting links from other websites can help, especially if they’re local or industry-related. But it takes time and effort, like writing guest blog posts. Only focus on this once the basics are covered.
2. Keep Your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) Consistent
Your business info should match across all online platforms (like Yelp, Facebook, Yellow Pages). It’s not as important as it used to be, but it’s still worth doing when you can.
SEO Myths and Wastes of Time
These tasks won’t help your rankings—and some might even hurt them.
1. Stuffing Keywords into Your Google Business Description
Adding lots of keywords to your business description won’t help you rank. Just use natural language to describe your business.
2. Geo-Tagging Images
Adding location data to photos used to help, but not anymore. Google ignores this, so don’t waste time on it.
3. Setting “Service Areas” in Your Profile
Adding service areas (like multiple zip codes) doesn’t improve rankings. It only tells customers where you work—it doesn’t change your Google Map position.
4. Social Media Engagement
Even if your Facebook or Instagram gets lots of likes or comments, it won’t help your Google ranking. Social media is great for branding, but not for SEO.
What You Can’t Control (But Should Understand)
1. How Close You Are to the Searcher
Google shows results based on how close a business is to the person searching. This matters most for location-based businesses, like restaurants or salons. If you’re farther away, your chances of showing up go down—even if your SEO is perfect.
Final SEO Tips and Takeaways
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Focus on the must-dos first—they give the best results for the time you spend.
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Don’t fall for SEO myths that waste your energy.
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Keep your site and profile updated with real, helpful information.
By following this local SEO tier list, you’ll have a big edge over other businesses who are still guessing what works.
Want to Rank Higher on Google Maps and Search?
We’re HornTech—an experienced SEO agency specializing in Google SEO, Google SEO optimization, and Sydney SEO. Whether you’re a local shop or an online service provider, we can help you build a strong SEO foundation that drives real traffic and leads.
👉 Learn more about our services at HornTech
Let us help you climb to the top—because better rankings mean more customers, and more customers mean real business growth.
