Showing up on Google Maps is one thing. Ranking in the top 3 is another. That top section, known as the Google Map Pack, is where most of your potential customers click. And if your Vancouver business is not showing up there, you are missing out on traffic that is ready to buy.
Most small business owners think that simply creating a Google Business Profile is enough. It is not. Your profile, website, and reputation all work together to determine your visibility. Here are the Google Maps ranking factors Vancouver business owners most often overlook, and what you can do to start climbing.
Updated February 2026.
If you have filled out your business name, address, phone number, and hours, great. But that is the bare minimum.
To improve your visibility you should use accurate categories that reflect your actual services, add detailed descriptions with location-based terms, list out services and products directly in the profile, keep your hours, phone number, and links up to date, and post updates or promotions regularly. Google treats consistent posting as a sign of an active business.
If your competitors are doing all of this and you are not, they will outrank you.
Google does not just look at your Business Profile. It looks at your website too. If your site is outdated, missing location terms, or loading slowly, it is hurting your local ranking.
What helps: fast, mobile-optimized pages; clear mention of your service area (for example, 'licensed electrician in Vancouver'); location pages for different neighbourhoods or services; and schema markup like LocalBusiness to help Google understand what you offer.
An optimized website is a key local ranking factor, yet it is one of the most ignored by business owners. If you are serious about improving your visibility, fixing your site is step one.
Even if your listing shows up, it does not guarantee results. Google looks at how people engage with your profile: do they click through to your website, do they call you, are they requesting directions, are they looking through your photos.
If users do not interact, Google will assume your listing is not useful and lower it over time. You can improve these engagement signals by making sure your photos are high quality and your business info is crystal clear.
Google checks your business information across other platforms like Yelp, YellowPages, and Apple Maps. These are called local citations.
If your business name, address, or phone number is inconsistent across the web, it creates confusion and lowers trust with Google. Search your business name, correct any mismatched listings, update any outdated phone numbers or addresses, and make sure all listings match your Google profile exactly.
A local citation audit is one of the fastest ways to clean up your local presence.
Your profile should look active. If the last photo you posted was from 2021, that is a problem.
You do not need a professional photographer. Use your phone to post before and after shots of your work, team photos, seasonal promotions, and quick updates like announcing a new service area or extended hours. Even posting once a week can make a measurable difference.
Most business owners know reviews help, but it is not just about star ratings. Google also looks at review frequency, keywords in the review text, and whether the owner replies.
Encourage your customers to mention your service and location in their reviews. Something like: 'Hired this plumbing company in Vancouver for a same-day emergency fix. Super fast and reliable.' Then reply. It does not have to be elaborate. A short thank you goes a long way.
Google tracks your response rate as a ranking signal, and an unanswered negative review does significantly more damage than one you addressed professionally.
If your business is not showing up on Google Maps, or it is showing up but no one is clicking, it is not by accident. Ranking well locally takes more than just a profile. It takes a solid website, clear signals, and ongoing updates.
We handle the details: Business Profile setup, local SEO, on-site content, review systems, and more. Get in touch and let us get your local visibility working for you.
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