How can I improve my rank on Google Local?

[CalicoKitty2000]

I am bringing this topic up again.  Last year, I suddenly stopped ranking for Google Local search results.  I tried backing away and hoping it would correct itself, but it has not.  When I do a search for myself, I rarely show up in the results anymore, and this image shows AFTER I've zoomed WAY in just to find myself.  I think it has something to do with many fishing charters having the same address.  I read the Moz article about which signals are most important, but to be quite honest, I don't think any of these competitors really bother with SEO or even have filled out their Google My Business in its entirety.  They all have way less reviews than I do as well.  I really try to do everything right, but it doesn't seem to help.  Is there something small ad obvious that I am missing.  Any ideas on what to do?

[MiriamEllis]

Hi CalicoKitty!

I remember your previous thread that you and I were working on when Possum rolled out and your listing was filtered out by it. Since then, there has been the Hawk update, which was basically Google rolling back some of the stringency of this filter that was affecting you, but it sounds like the set of business at your marina are likely still experiencing filters due to so many being co-located.

Unfortunately, when this is the case, the only thing you can do is become strong enough to be one of the results Google does show instead of being one of the filtered ones. Barring that you have any Google penalties, suspicious links or anything like that keeping you back, basically, what you need to do is a competitive audit. You need to compare a big list of metrics for your business to the metrics of the competitor who isn't being filtered. This blog post of mine from 2017 will give you a spreadsheet for doing just that:

https://moz.com/blog/basic-local-competitive-audit

In every area where your competitor is stronger than you, you need to increase your metrics.

I will add here that since publication of that post, there are two new-ish things I'd be working on that I don't believe are included in the spreadsheet. If I felt I had done all I can to surpass my competitor, based on the spreadsheet metrics, I would create a really good strategy for:

1. Google Posts

2. Google Questions and Answers

I am seeing early days indications that active use of both may increase rankings. So, I'd be sure you are covering all of the basics in the audit sheet and then create strategy around these.

After you've done the audit, if any questions arise, please come back to this thread and ask. I'm happy to hear back from you on this.

[CalicoKitty2000]

Miriam,

Yes, we talked about this at length before!  I just looked at your article and it is a really good article.  I will do the audit, but my first thoughts looking at it, is that the other fishing charters around me don't really do anything for SEO, so they will likely score low.  Also, who shows up as first depending on the search term I use seems almost completely random.  So for instance, when I us an incognito window and do a search for "fishing charter cape canaveral", this should be the one that I should show up in the top.  It is my city, and the word fishing charter is in my name.  Along with everything else I do.  But the top 3 spots are puzzling.

1. A private fishing charter (close competitor) with 18 reviews with a 5 star rating and not fully utilizing all of the available options.  The website is average.

2. A party boat with 212 reviews and a 4 star rating.  This is the only fishing business out there that seems to have a good handle on SEO, So I would expect this.

3. The REAL KICKER.... a party boat that has been CLOSED FOR over 3 YEARS!!!!  They have 29 reviews with a 2.2 star rating!!!!!!!  The last review being 4 years ago. I even reported them as closed a couple of years ago.

I use ALL of the google features and do the best I can on SEO given I am a small business and cannot afford professional SEO.  But neither can the other fishing charters, except maybe the party boats.  Also, I have 86 reviews with a 5 star rating.  I recently updated my website, but I am sure it could be better. I have also been using Google+ to post.  And I have been doing more youtube videos.

I do appreciate the tip on the posts and the q&a, and I will be doing that for sure!

[CalicoKitty2000]

How would I know if I have suspicious links?  I don't see any penalties or anything in Google Webmaster tools.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Calico,

You're welcome, and that's good you're not seeing anything in Google Search Console to indicate a problem.

Also want to highlight something you've said:

"I will do the audit, but my first thoughts looking at it, is that the other fishing charters around me don't really do anything for SEO, so they will likely score low. "

The purpose of you doing this audit will be to take the top competitor who isn't being filtered out for your most important keyword phrase, compare his metrics to yours, and then see if going through that process helps you figure out a reason why something he is doing is making him strong enough not to be filtered, compared to your business. So definitely do be sure you are picking that top ranking competitor who is showing up for the term most important to you.

I'd really like to hear what you discover from the audit.