Ways To Do SEO To Rank On The Local-3 Pack?

Google Pigeon update has affected thousands of local businesses in a positive manner…

Many businesses flourished and received double or even triple returns in their businesses… got so many reviews online and sales. 

But… here is the truth:

Not every business will be benefitted from the Google pigeon update and rank on Google local 3 pack. 

Then, what should be done?

Many wonders how to rank on “near me” searches…

All the local businesses that want to rank on the local 3 pack and get benefitted from the Pigeon update must do SEO (Search Engine Optimization). 

The Local SEO optimization will help you get on a local 3 pack. Below I have provided some ways through which you can easily rank on the local 3 pack.

So, let’s get started: 

What Is Google Local Pack (Local 3 Pack)?

Google 3 pack is simply a top 3 results that you see on Google when searching for local results. 

Let me show you 

Above in the image, the top 3 results that you are looking at are Google 3 packs. 

I searched for “restaurants near me”…

And below I got Top-3 results, as seen in the image above.  

When you search for local searches like, “best restaurant near me” or “dentist near me”, Google will show you the best and most relevant result to your query based on your geolocation. 

These top listings are 100% organic!!!

You can also see how much real estate they have taken from Google!!! Such results get a high Click-through rate. 

The Google map pack was introduced along with the pigeon algorithm update in 2014 with an aim to provide more relevant local results in SERP.  

First, Google used to show 10 results in the local map pack later Google reduced it to 7, and finally reduced it to 3. 

Anatomy Of Google 3 Pack 

If we talk about the anatomy of local 3 Pack, there are lots of elements in it.

Let’s discuss each of them.

• Location on the map
• Ratings 
• Open hours
• Website link
• Directions

The Google map pack shows the information about the business relevant to the user. 

The information helps the user find what they are looking for without even scrolling down. 

Why Is Google 3 Pack Important?

If you are a local business owner and usually wonder, “how to rank for near me searches?” So, this is one of the most important reasons why you should go with Google 3 Pack. 

You must have known the fact that “near me” searches are becoming popular nowadays. 

You will get shocked to know that, “near me” searches have increased by almost 200%. 

So, of course, you want to rank up in SERP when people search for particular products or services in your area.

To have a highly successful local business, it is important to have your business appear in the local 3 pack…

The reason is… it is the most prominent place in the SERP. 

If you manage to rank on the local 3 pack, you are going to dominate the damn SERP.

How Google Ranks Sites In Google 3 Pack?

To work on the Local SEO tips that I am going to give you below, you first need to understand how Google ranks sites in the local 3 pack…

Google takes 3 main factors into consideration when ranking the sites on the local 3 pack. 

Relevance: It represents how well your business is relevant to the query of the user. 

Distance: The next factor is the location of the user and your business. Google is more likely to show your business to the searchers of your nearby location. 

Trustworthiness: This is all about your brand’s or business’s reputation. Google will find out how prominent your brand is. 

After considering all these factors, Google will give rankings in the local 3 pack. 

Let’s see some of the factors for ranking on Google 3 pack by MOZ, 

Check the pie-chart below:

How To Rank In Google 3 Pack?

So, above we have discussed all local packs… now it’s time you understand how to rank in the local pack.

So, let’s get started:

Below I have provided a step-by-step guide on how to conduct local SEO and make your business at the top. 

I have created some steps and guides while taking the guidelines of google into the account. 

So, you can trust the ways I am going to give you below:

There are 6 main steps that you need to follow. 

Let’s discuss each of them. 

Create Your GMB(Google My Business) Profile

Well, this is one of the most important and foremost parts to rank on the local-3 pack or google 3 pack……

It is a must-use tool for local businesses, provided by Google for free. 

You must give them accurate data as they verify the data that you give them. 

One of the best things that GMB could give you is visibility and appearance. It will help your business be shown in Google maps. 

If you wish your business to appear like this on Google Maps, you must have a profile on Google My Business. 

OK, I know what you’re thinking:

You might be wondering: how would I be able to create a profile on GMB?

Well, believe me… it is the very easiest thing to do. 

The guide below covers all about how to create a profile on “Google My Business”. Check out the blog below and you will get to know everything that you need to know…

Read More: Complete Google My Business Guide

Also, there are some things that you can do to optimize your GMB profiles.

• Use keywords in the title and description of your profile. 
• Ensure the content matches your web content. 
• Add photos and videos to your listings 
• Audit your GMB profile with tools like Surfer Local 

Look After Your NAP

To rank in the local 3 pack, you must have the correct NAP for your business.

Let me explain…

NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. 

Because you have a local business and wish to attract the local customers… So you must have your contact no. and address on your website. 

So, you should make \sure that the NAP should be consistent on all of your social media accounts along with all over the internet. 

Of course, it is very important, mainly because of 2 reasons. 

• Your potential customer can contact you easily.
• Google takes it as a signal for high rankings. 

The NAP consistency helps you win the trust of the customers. That’s how they are more likely to make purchases from you again and after. 

Here are some tools that would help you have a consistent NAP like local GALEX, the hoth, and tribe local. 

Along with maintaining the NAP, it is important to manage citations. 

Now, you might be wondering: what are citations?

Well, citations are the mentions of your local business online. 

The more citations you have, the better it is…

It signals an authority to Google which of course, helps you rank higher in local keywords.

Read More: Can Citations Be Your Secret Weapon for Local SEO?

Work On On-Page Optimization 

This is the most important element when it comes to ranking on GMB. 

When all the local businesses are competing with each other, it becomes necessary to optimize the On-page elements of your website. 

As it is also one of the factors Google takes into consideration when ranking websites or businesses. 

Optimizing the On-page elements will help your content get easily indexed, and ranked higher. Also, it makes your website user-friendly. 

Some of the on-page factors include:

Here is a blog below that would help you understand the On-page optimization on a better level. 

Check out the blog below to understand all about On-page SEO. 

Read More: Top 10 On-Page SEO Techniques for Higher Ranking

Get More Reviews 

Reviews are the most essential thing for local businesses and have a direct impact on local 3 pack.

Do you know that online reviews are trusted more than personal recommendations by 88% of customers?

That’s why your goal should be to get local reviews as much as possible. 

One more fact that you must have known is that the ratings that you get appear on the search results. 

And… believe me when I say it directly affects your sales. 

The fact is, your customers will not leave a review if you don’t ask them to do so…

So, better ask them to leave a review. 

Now, you might be wondering: how can I make them do so?

The answer is simple. 

Here is what you can do:

Create a review us page on your website and link it to your Google review account/URL. 

• Go to the “write a review” column of your existing listing in Google SERP. 

And… paste the URL to the desired place. 

For a positive review, reply by showing gratitude, and for negative ones apologize and move forward. 

 Get More Local Backlinks 

To get more local backlinks… you can contact other businesses in the same niche as yours. 

Here are some things that you can do to get local backlinks. 

• Contact local influencers and get mentions from them. 
• Contact local bloggers and try to coordinate with them to get a sponsored post. 

Also, you can even use a tool, Monitor Backlinks to monitor and analyze the backlinks.  

The tool will help you through the process of getting local backlinks. 

Read More: Learn HARO – Link Building Strategy to Get High DA Backlinks & Media Mentions

Create Local And Relevant Content 

It is very important to create local and relevant content and steal the audience…

Create such a content that speaks to your audience. 

For example, if you have a business restaurant in New York, you cannot post content on the topics “national food of America” or “the best places to eat hamburgers!”

Instead, you can create content focusing on menus featuring local ingredients. 

I hope the example is enough to tell you about how your content should be if you are targeting a local audience. 

And… one of the biggest benefits that you will get by creating local content is if you have high-quality content.

Backlinks help in building authority and it is the most significant ranking factor for Google. 

See the pie chart below:

Conclusion 

So, here we learned the ways to do SEO to rank on the local-3 pack. Every step that I describe above is very crucial to rank in Google 3 pack. 

The tips I have provided above are practical, applicable, and derive the desired results. So, apply them wisely. 

One of the most important things that I consider to rank on Local 3-pack is On-page Optimization.

If you have any doubts or queries, you can just comment it down below in the comment section and I will reply for sure! 

FAQs

1. How do you rank up in local packs?

The main thing that matters to rank up in local packs, is the on-page optimization of your website. When your website is optimized perfectly and has good authority on Internet, your local business will definitely rank higher in local packs.

2. What are the top 3 Google ranking factors?

The most important elements for Google ranking are, in no particular order: high-quality content. Mobile-friendly website and, page experience.

3. How do I advertise a Google 3-pack?

The best thing that you can do is to run local search ads. 

• Enable location extensions in Google Ads.
• Get your Google My Business listing set up or optimized.
• Use location targeting and bid according to location.
• Include location in your keyword optimization.

4. What is the purpose of Google My Business?

GMB can help your business get your business rank on Google maps and local search results. You can add important information about your business like, contact details, timing, location etc and display all these things to yur audience.

5. Is Google My Business worth it?

Well, yes. It totally worth your time and energy. It is a way and ever growing factor in digital marketing and especially in local SEO.