Local SEO Case Study: 150% Boost in Google Maps Rankings for Retail Stores

Get Local SEO Consultation

Project Summary

A multi-location retail brand struggled to appear in Google Maps for important “near me” and product-focused searches, limiting calls and store visits. By optimizing Google Business Profiles, fixing citation issues, and driving reviews, the brand achieved up to a 150% boost in local visibility for priority keywords.

The objective was to own local map pack positions for high-intent searches and convert more local searches into in-store customers.

Client Background and Challenge

The client operated several physical stores but faced these challenges:

As a result, the brand was losing local search real estate to rivals, and many nearby customers simply did not see them when searching on Google Maps.

Incomplete or inconsistent Google Business Profiles across locations.

NAP (Name, Address, Phone) inconsistencies in local directories.

Few reviews and low star ratings that failed to build trust.

Competitors dominating top map pack and local organic positions.

Local SEO Strategy and Implementation

The Local SEO campaign focused on building accurate, authoritative local signals and a strong presence on Google Maps.

Google Business Profile Optimization

  • Completed profiles for each store (categories, services, opening hours, photos, attributes).
  • Wrote keyword-informed, user-friendly business descriptions tailored to each location.

NAP and Citation Cleanup

  • Audited major citation sources to find inconsistent or outdated listings.
  • Standardized NAP info and removed duplicate or incorrect entries.

Local Landing Page Strategy

  • Created or refined location-specific landing pages for each store.
  • Optimized titles, headings, and content around “[service/product] + city/area” and “near me” queries.

Review and Reputation Building

  • Implemented a review generation process using in-store prompts and follow-up messages.
  • Responded to all new reviews, addressing feedback and reinforcing trust signals.

Ongoing Tracking and Reporting

  • Monitored local rankings, GMB insights, and store interaction metrics.
  • Refined categories, photos, and posts based on performance.

Key Results and Metrics

The brand experienced notable gains in local visibility and customer actions driven by Maps.

Metric
Before Campaign
After Campaign

Average local ranking (target keywords)

Lower positions / inconsistent

Up to 150% improvement in ranking positions

Keywords in local 3-pack

Limited presence

Expanded presence across core terms

GMB calls and direction requests

Modest volume

Significant increase vs baseline

Number of reviews per store

Low review count

Higher volume of recent positive reviews

Average star rating

Mixed

Improved and more consistent ratings

These outcomes translated into more store visits, calls, and local brand visibility for the client’s key locations.

Client Feedback

  • We now appear where our customers are searching, and our stores are seeing a clear uplift in visits from Google Maps.”
    Stuart Sullivan
    Enterprise SEO & Digital Content Strategy Leader

If your retail locations are invisible in local search, Local SEO can change that. Get a Local SEO and Google Maps optimization consultation to improve your visibility and drive more in-store visits.

Get Local SEO Consultation