When someone in Ogden searches for “plumber near me” or “best tacos Ogden,” Google usually shows a map with three businesses before any regular results. That’s the map pack, and it gets a large share of the clicks and calls. Here’s what decides who shows up there, and what you can do about it.
The three things Google looks at
Google says local rankings come down to three factors:
- Relevance: how well your Business Profile matches the search. Your categories, services and description do most of the work here.
- Distance: how close your business is to the searcher (or the location in the search). You can’t change this, which is why rankings in Layton look different from rankings in downtown Ogden.
- Prominence: how well known and trusted your business is. Reviews, links, mentions and your website’s own SEO strength all feed into this.
Step 1: Get your primary category right
Your primary category is the single biggest relevance signal you control. Look at the top three businesses in the map pack for your main search and check which primary category they use. If they’re “Plumber” and you’re “Contractor,” that alone can keep you out.
Step 2: Fill out everything
Add every service you offer, your hours, service areas, attributes, a real description and at least a dozen genuine photos. Complete profiles get more engagement, and engagement is a signal.
Step 3: Build a steady review habit
A burst of 30 reviews followed by nothing looks odd. A few new reviews every week looks like a healthy business. Ask every happy customer by text right after the job, with a direct link. Reply to every review, including the bad ones, calmly and specifically.
Step 4: Make your website back it up
Google cross-checks your profile against your website. Make sure your homepage or a location page clearly states your business name, phone number, service area and the services you offer in Ogden, and link your Business Profile to that page.
Step 5: Clean up your listings
If your old address or phone number still appears on Yelp, Facebook, the BBB or industry directories, Google gets mixed signals. Search for your business name and old phone numbers and fix what you find.
Step 6: Post and stay active
Weekly Business Profile posts, new photos and answered questions show Google you’re open and active. They take ten minutes a week.
What not to do
- Don’t stuff keywords into your business name (“Joe’s Plumbing Ogden Best Plumber”). It can get you suspended.
- Don’t use a virtual office or mailbox as your address. Google suspends these regularly.
- Don’t buy reviews. It’s against Google’s rules and against FTC rules.
Want to know where you stand?
We’ll map your rankings across Ogden and send you a free, prioritized list of fixes.