See the YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/40ayrbFZY7s
If you see your Google Maps ranking suddenly dropping off, especially in a specific area where you were ranking well, a competitor may be stealing your rankings.
First, you need an application that shows a geo-grid heat map of how your business ranks in your geographic area. There are many companies that offer this service, such as Local Falcon, Local Viking, BrightLocal, and Local Dominator.
Here is an actual client’s Google Maps ranking for the keyword, “probate attorney.” The area in the upper left-hand corner used to be all green.
To find out why their rankings dropped, I looked at how their competitors ranked in the same area.
This competitor has taken the top rankings in this area. Let’s see why.
It only took one look at this competitor’s Google Business Profile name to see why they are taking away the top rankings from my client. They are using a keyword stuffing tactic to steal the rankings.
In their business name they have added: “Family Law, Probate, Real Estate, Civil Litigation.”
Having keywords in the name of your business is a powerful Google ranking factor. But it is against Google’s guidelines to stuff keywords into the name of your business.
The guidelines say, “Represent your business as it’s consistently represented and recognized in the real world across signage, stationery, and other branding.”
A quick look at their website shows that the actual name of their business does not include the keywords shown on their Google Business Profile.
How to Report This to Google
If you suspect a competitor is gaming the system to gain a ranking advantage, you can report this to Google. In the case I laid out you can use Google’s Business Redressal Complaint Form.
Make sure you fill out this form completely. Include screenshots of the offender’s information and explain in detail why you believe the content is malicious to be on Google Maps. Then just wait for Google’s reply.
If you need help with your website, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), or Google Business Profile, contact Blue Lacy SEO.
