Ever wondered how Google determines map rankings? In this article, we’ll cover the main factors that Google uses to determine how businesses appear in map results.

Local Google search results (aka Google Map results) are based primarily on four main factors: relevance, distance, trust, and prominence. A combination of these factors helps Google find the best match for a user’s search. For example, Google might decide that a business that’s farther away from your location is more likely to have what you’re looking for rather than a business that’s closer, and therefore rank it higher in local search results.

To qualify for visibility in Google local search results, your business must have a claimed & optimized Google Business Profile. This is one of the most important parts of a successful and visible online presence.

Click Here to learn more about Google Business Profiles

Relevance Factor

Relevance refers to how well a local business profile matches what someone is searching for. More detailed business information and content on your website help Google better understand your business and match your profile to relevant local searches.

Distance Factor

Distance considers how far each potential search result is from the location term used in a search. If a user doesn’t specify a location in their search, Google calculates distance based on what they do know about their location.

Trust Factor

How trustworthy Google thinks your business is, based on its reputation. This could be determined by your review quantity and ratings, or the number of high-authority websites that link to your website. Quantity and quality of reviews, quality and quantity of linking domains, domain age, and quality of website content are a few ways that Google can determine trustworthiness.

Prominence Factor

Prominence refers to how well known a business is. Some places are more prominent in the offline world, and Google search results try to reflect this in local rankings. Prominence is also based on information that Google has about a business from across the internet, like branded links, articles, directories, and business profiles. Google review count and review score also factor in to your prominence score. More reviews and positive ratings can improve your business’ local ranking. Of the four main factors, prominence is the one we can affect the most to help improve your Google visibility.