Do you want to get in the local 3 pack?
If you have heard of the map pack or the 3 pack, let me assure you its nothing to do with having a 6 pack! Google have been providing local business with a search engine position that beats even the number 1 ranked website! Seriously. Appearing in the local 3 pack is also affectionately known as position zero.
At the outset, if you don’t know what Google My Business is, then it’s a very powerful tool, that allows you to be found on Google maps. Any small business is going to disappear online if they don’t claim there local Google business listing shortly. So don’t worry. My video today is here to help you find your business, claim it and then optimise it for local success.
This article will today answer the following questions on the 3 pack:
- What is a Google My Business 3 pack ?
- How to get in the local 3 pack
- What you can do to help stay in the local 3 pack
What is a Google My Business 3 pack ?
As we covered in one of our recent videos. The local 3 Pack is what you are aiming for if you want rich traffic. The 3 pack refers to the SERP feature that’s shaped like a map and displays places related to your query, as well as a 3-point list of businesses.
It’s hard to indicate the importance of being in the 3 pack results for your particular sector. The title “position zero” indicates its better than being #1 in search engine results. Anything outside the top 3 of the map listings isn’t going to get a lot of traffic. This is a reflection of the fact your not showing on the first page of Google search results. Same thing, same issue, traffic occurs on page one. (top 10 in web pages, top 3 in map listings). Here in the video you will see how it looks
Video Timestamps
Click on the chapter and it will take you to the correct part of the video.
- 0:37 Introduction.
- 1:00 Main 3 pack questions raised.
- 1:22 Question 1: What is the Google My Business 3 Pack
- 2:16 Example of 3 pack
- 2:35 The importance of being in the 3 pack results
- 3:00 Looking at position zero in search engine results
- 3:43 Question 2: How do you get your business into the 3 pack?
- 4:12 Tips on what can be done.
- 4:43 Claim your business if you haven’t done so already.
- 5:15 Where to claim your business and validate it?
- 5:36 List of several other tips you can optimise for (13 tips video)
- 6:01 Add everything that’s relevant to your business – photos/ posts / geo-tag images
- 6:42 Consistent Name Address and Phone number (NAP video)
- 7:15 Add descriptions with keywords / reviews / products / add a google website too
- 8:05 Question 3: How can you Stay in the 3 pack? Being found on directions / Maps /Customers submitting photos, all helps.
- 8:46 Keep doing these things, be alert to new items from google
- 9:10 Use 1 prime category and a couple of sub categories and these are incredibly relevant.
- 9:55 Conclusion
How to get in the local 3 pack
So taking our second question “How do you get your business into the 3 pack?” its easier than getting on the first page of Google for a website, but only just. As with all of Google’s algorithms, it reflects a lot of elements and settings that are secretly unknown. They change constantly and much of it isn’t controlled by you as a business.
It appears from our study of Google My Business that Google does have several ways of indicating how relevant and authoritative your business is based on several indicators from outside your control. Lets take a look at some things that will help you get into the local 3 pack
Changes and results takes time. Around 2 or 3 months are needed before you see the full benefits of your efforts. Ultimately if you are a genuine business and you work hard, you should be fine over time.The reason? The more Google clears up the spam, the more genuine businesses and people with good work ethics will float to the top. Remember keep relevant and do not spam.
What you can do
- You can make sure you claim your business and verify it as the owner
- Have a physical address for your office
- Use the consistent name, address and phone number everywhere (NAP google my business consistency)
- Embed your map on your website
- Become an authority by reviewing other competitors
- Ask for reviews from genuine customers
- You can send directions to your business using google maps link
- Find out what your competitors are doing well and do the same
- Answer all reviews good or bad
- You can keep your posts, blogs, photos, website, description, offers etc all up to date
- Make sure you are being found on directions and maps
- Ask customers to submit photos after they are pleased with your work.
What you can’t do
- Remove poor reviews (though do make every effort to put things right)
- You can’t control if people do or don’t want to locate your map listing, and click on it
- Unable to guarantee Google wont change what is working for your business with an update
- Get your listing reinstated if you have seriously broken the rules
- Google definitely looks at the clicks used from the visitor, but knows if its artificial
- Do not keyword stuff
- Never spam
- Don’t add fake reviews or a fake office address
Want to get ahead for 2020?
You may also find that there are some tips that most business haven’t discovered. To cover this and more head over to our article and video called 3 google my business hacks to get-ahead in 2020
What you can do to help stay in the local 3 pack
Maintain your 3 pack by always updating your entree and making sure it is always highly relevant to your business. You can do this even more efficiently by using the website facility provided by Google from within the Google My Business dashboard – see below
Staying in the 3 pack isn’t easy as there is always someone else reading my post, watching my video and working hard. Having said that, we are still in the infancy of Google Business listings. If everyone had that view, no one would get success. Additionally it takes months for these things to have an effect. Many just give up at the firs hurdle. Others don’t have the time.
Keep doing these things, be alert to new items from google Use 1 prime category and a couple of sub categories that are incredibly relevant. The idea of picking more sub categories (just in case) isn’t a good idea any longer.
Conclusion – “stack the pack” in your favour
I hope that this article has shown you how to get in the local 3 pack and then what you need to do to stay there. If you have already added your listing on Google then that’s great news, but without the constant addition of ratings posts and discovery on google directions, I think it will be difficult to keep at the top. If you haven’t claimed your business, then watch the video and then do so today – right now. Now is the time to get your map entree claimed and up the ratings.
Is Google My Business Free To Use?
Yes. Google My Business is totally free to use. In fact is an incredibly cost effective way to be seen as number 1 in a local business listing. Having said that, with recent changes in the way Google is using categories. many web designers and marketeers are expecting Google to turn this into an advertising opportunity where all online business will pay to appear in the map results. This will probably happen in the next few years. So do take advantage of the fact its still free today
For those of you who need a web designer in the Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole area, then I’m currently available to do this for you. Just contact me directly via my contact page for more help. Or feel free to comment below and I will do my best to answer your questions.