Local businesses looking to get more traffic from search must improve their local rankings.
But do salience, distance, and relevance affect your organic search rankings?
Read on to find out if there is any connection between salience, distance, and relevance and improved Google rankings.
Claim: Relevance, distance, and prominence are ranking factors
What is the relevance, distance and prominence associated with local businesses?
association Determine how well a search user’s query matches local business information.
While Google can get information from the web, the best way to ensure relevance is to use Complete the Google My Business listing.
Think about the keywords you optimize your website for – these same product and service keywords should appear in your GMB list.
distance Determine the distance between the searching user and the local business according to the user’s browser information.
The closer a search user is to a local business, the more likely that business will appear in local map results.
The exception is if another local business better matches the relevance of the search query.
It may be more visible in search results than closer, less relevant businesses.
protrude Determines the popularity of local businesses offline.
“For example, famous museums, landmark hotels or well-known store brands may also feature prominently in local search results.”
Evidence for correlation, distance and significance as ranking factors
In Google My Business Help CenterGoogle specifically says:
“Local results are primarily based on relevance, distance, and prominence. The combination of these factors helps us find the best matches for your search. For example, our algorithms may determine that businesses that are further away from your location are closer of businesses are more likely to have what you’re looking for and therefore rank higher in local search results.”
To improve each of these factors for your business, Google recommends that you fill out your business details in Google My Business.
These details help Google determine the relevance and proximity of your business to users’ search queries.
To stand out, “More reviews and positive reviews can improve your business’s ranking locally.”
exist 2018Moz publishes their research on the top ranking factors.
The first three signals are from Google My Business, Linkand Comment.
This is in line with Google’s recommendation to update your Google My Business profile and get more reviews.
Relevance, Distance, and Salience as Ranking Factors: Our Verdict
Google confirms prominence, distance, and relevance through the Google My Business Help Center.
In addition to entering your full business details in Google My Business, Google recommends doing the following to improve your visibility in local search results.
- Verify each of your business locations Increase the likelihood that your business will be close to applicable search users.
- keep your Latest business hours and accurate.
- Manage and reply to all commentsboth positive and negative.
- Add photos that showcase your businessproducts and services.
To stand out better, focus on More and more mentions of your business Inside and outside the local community.
The more positive mentions, ratings, and reviews Google sees about your business, the more likely your visibility on Google will increase.
Also be sure to read our chapter Local citation and NAP (name, address, phone number).
Featured image: Paulo Bobita/Search Engine Magazine
