Why Your Competitors Rank Higher on Google Maps (And How You Can Beat Them)
Published by A.Nicholls Marketing
When potential customers search for a local service, such as "plasterer near me", "electrician in Bedford", or "builder in Biggleswade", they almost always click one of the businesses that appear in the Google Map Pack.
If your business isn't there, you're losing enquiries to competitors every single day.
The good news is that ranking higher on Google Maps isn't about luck. It's about sending Google the right signals and consistently optimising your online presence.
Here's why your competitors might be outranking you—and what you can do about it.
1. Their Google Business Profile Is Fully Optimised
Your Google Business Profile is one of the biggest ranking factors for local SEO.
Many businesses claim their profile but never complete it properly.
A fully optimised profile should include:
Every relevant business category
A detailed business description
All services added individually
Service areas
Opening hours
High-quality photos
Products where applicable
Regular Google Posts
Questions & Answers
Accurate contact details
Every piece of information helps Google understand exactly what your business does and where you operate.
2. They Have More High-Quality Reviews
Reviews are about much more than reputation.
Google uses them as a trust signal.
Businesses that consistently receive genuine reviews often perform better in local search results.
It's also important to reply professionally to every review, whether it's positive or negative.
Google wants to see active businesses.
3. Their Website Supports Their Google Profile
Your website and Google Business Profile work together.
A strong local website should include:
Individual service pages
Individual location pages
Helpful FAQs
Recent projects
Customer testimonials
Internal links
Fast loading speeds
Mobile-friendly design
Google looks for consistency between your website and your Business Profile.
4. They're Regularly Updating Their Business
Many business owners optimise their profile once and never touch it again.
Google rewards businesses that stay active.
Regular updates include:
Weekly Google Posts
New project photos
Updated services
Fresh reviews
Business updates
Seasonal offers
Activity tells Google your business is current and trustworthy.
5. They Have Better Local SEO
Local SEO goes far beyond keywords.
Google considers things like:
Local relevance
Website authority
Location signals
Internal linking
Structured data
Business citations
Consistent NAP (Name, Address and Phone Number)
Small improvements across lots of areas often outperform one big change.
6. They Showcase Real Work
Google loves original content.
Uploading genuine photos of completed jobs gives Google confidence that your business is active.
This also helps potential customers trust you before they even make contact.
Recent project pages can become valuable landing pages that continue attracting local traffic for years.
7. They Keep Improving
The businesses at the top of Google rarely stay there by accident.
They continue to:
Add new content
Publish blogs
Improve service pages
Earn reviews
Optimise their Google Business Profile
Monitor rankings
Fix website issues
Local SEO is an ongoing process rather than a one-off task.
How A.Nicholls Marketing Can Help
At A.Nicholls Marketing, we help local businesses throughout Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshireimprove their visibility on Google.
Our services include:
Website SEO
Technical SEO Audits
Google Maps Optimisation
Ongoing SEO Management
Whether you're a plumber, electrician, plasterer, roofer, landscaper, carpenter or another local trade, we'll help more customers find your business online.
Ready to Rank Higher?
If you're tired of watching your competitors appear above you on Google Maps, we'd love to help.
Get in touch with A.Nicholls Marketing today for a free website and Google Business Profile audit, and let's discuss how we can improve your rankings, increase your visibility and generate more enquiries for your business.