Customers today turn to Google for almost everything, including researching local businesses like automotive repair shops. That means that if you can get your shop to show up on the first page when people search for repair shops in your area, you can bring in a lot of new business.
But what’s even better than showing up on the first page of results is being one of the three businesses listed in the Google Local Pack. Appearing in this prominently displayed section ensures that your listing will catch plenty of eyes and can be a game-changer when it comes to driving business to your shop.
Managing to get featured in Google Local Pack can be a challenge at times, but there are several proven strategies you can use to improve your odds. To help you master local SEO for auto repair shops and get featured in Google Local Pack, we’ll go over all of these strategies and everything else you need to know about Google Local Pack for auto repair shops.
What Is the Google Local Pack?
The Google Local Pack is a section that appears at the top of search results when users perform a local search, such as “auto repair shop near me.” It typically features three businesses along with essential details such as:
- Business name
- Address
- Phone number
- Ratings and reviews
- Website link
- Directions
In other words, it’s a prominently displayed section that not only makes customers more likely to notice your listing but also includes everything they need to know about it at a glance. It goes without saying that getting featured here can offer a lot of value. However, since only three listings can make the cut, it goes without saying that the competition is pretty fierce.
To determine which businesses will appear in the Google Local Pack, Google considers several ranking factors, such as ratings and reviews, keywords, and website performance, among others. Carefully considering all of these factors and ensuring that your repair shop’s website is optimized for each of them is the key to getting featured in Google Local Pack.
Why the Google Local Pack Matters for Auto Repair Shops
There are several big benefits that repair shops get to enjoy when they’re featured in the Google Local Pack, including benefits like the following:
- Increased Visibility: The Local Pack appears above organic search results, meaning businesses featured here are more likely to be noticed by potential customers.
- Higher Click-Through Rate (CTR): Businesses in the Local Pack receive a higher number of clicks compared to those appearing lower in the search results.
- More Walk-In Traffic: Many customers searching for auto repair services are ready to visit a shop immediately. Being featured in the Local Pack makes it easier for them to find and contact you.
- Enhanced Trust and Credibility: Having your shop listed alongside positive reviews and helpful information builds trust with potential customers, increasing the likelihood that they’ll choose your business over competitors.
How to Rank in Google Local Pack
There is no guaranteed way to ensure that your business will be one of the three listed in the Google Local Pack, but there are several things you can do to increase your odds. Best of all, all the local SEO strategies for auto repair shops that can help you get featured in the Google Local Pack will still improve your business’s visibility even if you don’t manage to get featured.
That said, here are five effective strategies you can use to improve your local SEO and get featured in Google Local Pack:
1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile plays a crucial role in Local Pack rankings, and ensuring that your business’s profile is optimized is a key first step to getting featured. Start by claiming and verifying your listing if you haven’t already. Next, make sure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are accurate and consistent across all online listings.
Complete your profile by selecting the correct business category (for example, “auto repair shops”) and adding high-quality images of your shop, services, and staff. A compelling business description with relevant keywords can also help, along with keeping your hours updated, especially for holidays or special closures.
2, Encourage and Manage Customer Reviews
Google wants to display businesses that have a history of delighting customers, and the number one tool it uses to do this is customer ratings and reviews. Every business knows the value of online reviews, and this is yet another reason why they are so important.
Of course, reviews aren’t something you can directly control. However, you can take steps to encourage them. For example, sending customers an email requesting that they leave a review and providing a link where they can do so is one strategy that can help you generate a lot of positive reviews. It’s also a good idea to respond to all reviews, whether they are positive or negative, in a way that is professional and courteous. Thank customers for positive reviews, and offer solutions to address the issues that customers bring up in negative reviews. Doing this will enhance your brand’s credibility and make your online reviews even more appealing to potential customers.
3. Optimize for Local SEO
To improve your chances of ranking in the Local Pack, local SEO strategies are essential. These strategies ensure that your website and online listings are optimized for local searches such as “auto repair shops near me” and “auto repair in [City]”. You could fill an entire book with all there is to know about local SEO, but we’ll try to cover a few of the most important elements that go into optimizing for local traffic.
Start by using location-based keywords in your website content, such as “best auto repair shop in [City]”. By using keyword tools to determine which location-based keywords your customers are searching and including them in your web content, you will improve your ranking for those searches and your likelihood of getting featured in the Local Pack. Publishing localized content such as blog posts about common car issues in your area or seasonal maintenance tips, can also help establish authority and improve your ranking. Lastly, be sure to list your business in online directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and industry-specific platforms, and confirm that your business information is accurate and consistent across all of these listings.
4. Improve Website Performance
Google favors businesses with well-optimized websites that perform like they are supposed to. To get featured in the Google Local Pack, you may need to take a few steps to ensure your website is up-to-date and optimized.
Page speed is one critical factor to consider, and you want to ensure that all the pages on your website load quickly (ideally in less than 2-3 seconds) by using a page speed checker tool. It’s also essential to ensure that your website is optimized for mobile devices and will still appear and function correctly when viewed on smaller screens. Next, adding structured data markup will help Google to better understand your business information, increasing your chances of being featured.
5. Leverage Local Citations and Backlinks
Citations (which are mentions of your business name, address, and phone number on other websites) and backlinks (which are links from other sites to your website) play a significant role in improving your business’s search rankings. Like customer reviews, citations and backlinks aren’t always something you can directly control, but there are things you can do to help generate more of them.
Collaborating with other local businesses and bloggers is one effective strategy, and you can create guest posts and offer to publish them on high-authority automotive industry websites. Engaging in community events and securing local press coverage can also help generate citations and backlinks that will strengthen your business’s online authority.
Get Featured in the Local Pack With Help From Surefire Local
Improving your business’s local SEO is one of the most effective long-term strategies for attracting new customers, and getting featured in the Google Local Pack is the cherry on top that comes with great local SEO.
At Surefire Local, our local SEO experts help businesses across a variety of industries improve their search rankings, get listed in the Local Pack, and reach more local customers. To see for yourself how Surefire Local can help you optimize your auto repair shop’s online presence, be sure to sign up for a free demo today!