How to Rank in the Google Map Pack: 12 Steps for UK Businesses

What Is the Google Map Pack?

For most local searches, Google shows a map and three business listings above the normal results. This is the Map Pack (or Local Pack). The businesses in it get the lion’s share of calls, website clicks and direction requests – being fourth is very different from being third.

Rankings in the Map Pack depend on relevance, distance and prominence. Here is how to improve each.

Step 1: Pick the Right Primary Category

Your primary category is one of the strongest relevance signals. Search your main keyword, look at the top three businesses and check their primary categories (free browser extensions can show them). Choose the most specific category that truly describes your business – “Roofing contractor”, not “Contractor”.

Step 2: Add Secondary Categories Carefully

Add secondary categories only for services you genuinely offer. Too many unrelated categories dilute relevance. Read our guide to Google Business Profile categories.

Step 3: Complete Every Field

Description, opening hours, holiday hours, attributes, service areas, website, booking link, products and services. Empty fields are missed opportunities.

Step 4: List Your Services in Detail

Add each service with a short description. This helps you appear for more specific searches such as “gutter cleaning” or “emergency boiler repair”.

Step 5: Get Reviews Steadily

Review count, rating and recency all matter. A routine of asking every customer works better than occasional bursts. Encourage customers to mention the job and area naturally. See how to get more Google reviews.

Step 6: Reply to Every Review

It shows the business is active and gives you a chance to mention the service naturally (“Thanks for choosing us for your flat roof repair in Bedminster”).

Step 7: Fix Your Citations

Make your business name, address and phone identical across Yell, Thomson Local, Bing Places, Apple Business Connect, Facebook and trade directories. Remove duplicates. See the best UK citation sites.

Step 8: Strengthen the Linked Website Page

Your profile links to a page on your site – usually the homepage. Make sure it clearly states your main service and location in the title and H1, includes your address or service areas, shows reviews and has LocalBusiness schema. Branches should link to their own branch page.

Step 9: Earn Local Links

Links from local news, clubs, charities, suppliers and associations increase prominence. Ten good local links can beat a hundred random ones. See local link building.

Step 10: Post and Upload Photos Regularly

Google Posts and fresh, real photos keep the profile active and give customers reasons to choose you. Aim for weekly posts and a few photos a month.

Step 11: Report Spam Competitors

Fake listings and keyword-stuffed names often hold Map Pack spots. Report them with evidence through Google’s official channels – removing one can move you up a place overnight.

Step 12: Track With a Rank Grid

Checking your ranking from one location tells you little. A rank grid shows your position from many points across your area, so you can see your real coverage and whether it is growing.

What Does Not Work

• Adding keywords to your business name – it breaks Google’s guidelines and risks suspension.
• Fake addresses or virtual offices to appear in other towns.
• Buying reviews or swapping reviews with other businesses.
• Hundreds of low-quality directory submissions.

How Long Does It Take?

Category and profile fixes can show changes within two to six weeks. Prominence – reviews, citations and links – builds over three to six months. In very competitive cities it can take longer. If you would like a clear plan, our Google Maps SEO service starts with a free rank-grid audit.