Guide · Local SEO
How to rank on Google Maps: local SEO step by step.
In short
When you search «near me», Google shows a map with three businesses. That block takes most of the clicks. This guide explains how Google picks who appears and what you can do to be there.
How Google decides
Google uses three criteria for local results:
- Distance: how close you are to the person searching or the area they mention.
- Relevance: how well your business matches the search. It depends on your category, services, description and website.
- Prominence: how well known you are. Reviews, mentions on other sites, links and activity.
You can’t move, but the other two are up to you.
Local SEO checklist
On your Google profile
- Verified profile.
- Precise main category.
- Full hours, holidays included.
- Services or menu with descriptions.
- New photos each month.
- Reviews asked for and answered.
All of this is in our Google Business Profile guide.
On your website
- Name, address and phone the same as the profile.
- One page per key service, with the city or neighbourhood when it makes sense.
- Titles and headings in your clients’ words.
- LocalBusiness structured data.
- Fast on a phone.
- In your clients’ languages, with hreflang if there are several.
Beyond your website
- Local directories with the same details.
- Mentions in city guides and blogs.
- Links from suppliers, associations or collaborations.
Mistakes that sink a small business
- Keywords in the profile name. Google can suspend it.
- Two profiles for the same business.
- Old hours: clients complain in reviews.
- A slow website or no mobile version.
- Moving without updating the address everywhere.
And AI
Gemini and Google AI Overviews use the same data. What you do for Google Maps brings you closer to AI too. More in how to show up in ChatGPT.
If you’d rather we did it, see our local SEO in Valencia.
Your Google profile comes with Completa, Atelier and Puesta a punto.
Common questions.
Why doesn’t my business show on Google Maps?
Most often: the profile isn’t verified, the category is wrong, the name or address doesn’t match the website, or there are few reviews compared with competitors.
Do reviews matter that much?
Yes. The number, the rating, how recent they are and whether you answer them count for Google and for clients.
Shall we talk about your business?
Answer a few questions in one minute. Mehdi writes to you with your quote within one working day, and you see your website finished before you pay.
Keep reading.
Service · Local SEO and Google
Local SEO
Local SEO in Valencia for small businesses: an optimised Google Business Profile, reviews, Google Maps ranking and a website Google understands.
Guide · Google
Google Business Profile
How to create and optimise your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business): categories, photos, hours, reviews and posts, step by step.
Guide · AI visibility
Show up in ChatGPT
A step-by-step guide to getting ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Overviews to recommend your local business: what they look at, what to fix and what to avoid.