Is that Google that keeps calling you and offering to make your listing number one in Google’s local listings? I am sorry to be the deliverer of bad news, but that’s not Google on the other end of the phone or that automated message. In fact, Google will probably never call you about getting your listing ranked to a number one position.

Do you want to be number one in the Google local listing? You and about 1 billion other companies want the same thing. So, what is the secret? Can you pay your way to the top? Is there some top secret hacking method a media manager can do to make it happen? Is there a backdoor that only a select few know? No! No! No! No! Google gave all of us the answer a long time ago on their support pages regarding your local listing.

1. Accurate and complete information on your Google listing. You must be truthful about your business category, your physical address of your business, your phone number and your business description. Keep in mind Google favors the most accurate and relevant information for its users. No need to attempt to game their system as they collect ample amounts of information to cross-verify the accuracy of your information. If you have multiple listings or public business information that does not match up your listing will more than likely not rank well.
2. Hours of operation need to be accurate. Again this should be consistent across all channels where you list your hours of operation. This includes but not limited to your website, Facebook page and other directory listing services.
3. Reviews are the secret sauce to ranking well. It is critical to obtain positive and good quality reviews. Often when we tell businesses this, they become overwhelmed with the thought of having to ask and encourage customers to leave feedback and reviews. Take a close look at who is ranking high for the spot you want in the Google local listings. Chances are you will find that these businesses have more reviews than you do.
4. A picture is worth 1000 words so be sure to populate your Google listing with photos. The photos will help improve your ranking as Google loves to keep their users visually engaged.

So, let’s say you do everything we just suggested and you still don’t move the needle on your Google listing…. What’s up with that? Well, here are a few more factors, that you will have NO CONTROL over:

Google Local listings - the keyword here is local and the results that display factor relevance, distance and prominence. And do be aware that the algorithm Google deploys can easily decide that a business that is further, in distance, from a user is a better match because the listing appears to be more relevant to the user's overall request and profile attributes.

Relevance is triggered initially by the user's keyword search word or phrase. It is impossible to build a business description to account for every combination, therefore, a complete and detailed business description will help Google better match your listing to relevant searches.

Google loves Google Maps. Google also loves giving it’s users points of destinations to local businesses. This means Google is going to return listing results that best match as users location. Again, provide an accurate address. PO boxes are not an accurate address. Some businesses are home based businesses and don’t wish to put their addresses on the internet for clients. If this is the case for your business, you will be able to provide Google with a general service area. Will this lower your chances of ranking higher over a competitor that has a store front? You will need to look at which listings are ranking above your listing, for the keyword terms or phrases, to best determine the impact to not having a store front.

You must constantly strive to improve your online presence. As you create an internet buzz for your business name, Google does recognize this and will favor your listing over another based on this data. Google does refer to other directory listing services as a clue to the importance of your business. Links to your website, your website's overall organic search result rank and even review counts from other services all influence the prominence score. Therefore after you have optimized the listing and have accurate information, it is time to go rogue (I am a Star Wars fan) and get your online presence in order elsewhere.

Hang up the phone when they call claiming they can improve your listing and pretend to represent Google. There's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking on Google. Google provides good information on how to improve your listing. Nobody is going to crack the code to Google’s search algorithm as it would not be fair to anyone if the game could be beaten.