This is one of the most common questions we have about Service Area Business (SAB) on Google Business Profiles (GBP).
TLDR:
- Ranking of service areas and SABS (Service Area Business): The service areas listed in Google Business Profile (GBP) are indeed no Current impact rankings. Ranking is based on the address used to verify the list.
- Visual impact of service areas:
- On the desktopthe service area creates visual overlay on Google Maps.
- On the phonethe service area appears at the location where the address is usually located.
- What to include in the service area:
- Add the main area you are using to clearly indicate the service area you serve on Google Maps. This helps users understand your reach even if it doesn’t affect rankings.
- Should non-SAB use service area functions?
- Often, this is unnecessary and may confuse customers (e.g., hotels). Avoid using it unless it adds clarity to your specific business type.
- For example Hybrid business (stores with storefronts, and services in the area, such as equipment retailers with delivery services).
- What if your business is not in the city you serve?
- Move to service area: Transferring your physical address to the target city can significantly improve your ranking.
- Focus on long-tail keywords: Optimize your website and GBP login pages for long-tail search terms to improve visibility of less competitive, targeted searches.
- The service area won’t affect SAB rankings, but strategies such as relocation or keyword optimization can help expand visibility beyond your physical location. Ranking may change in the future, so regularly test and track performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS_FC6G49BY
The answer is…depending on. I’m just kidding. The answer is, Not at present. Just like the physical business list, ranking is based on the address of the business verification list. The only impact of the service area is vision. On Google Maps on your desktop, you will see the overlay layer showing the service area on the map:
On a mobile device, it shows where the address is usually located:
There is one exception: the “Prolist” view on the desktop uses a similar layout as the mobile view, including service area details.
The “Prolist” view replaces the local finder for some service categories.
We are currently tracking several lists on Sterling Sky to see if this will change over time. Sterling Sky’s GBP hides the address (called pure SAB) and is something we keep monitoring every day.
The physical address of Sterling Sky is located in Uxbridge and the mailing address is Stouffville. It is very important to realize this The city you use to mail the address yes no Always in your business physical location. Inside our poundWe have designated one of Toronto’s service areas in Canada.
Where do you think we rank? Not in our designated service area in Toronto.
As you can see in the rankings GIF below, this has been the case since we started tracking rankings, and today we are still right into 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1fee5var4e
What should I place in the pound service area?
OK, so the service field will not affect rankings. So should I put it there, and even bother? Yes, you should. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, we recommend that you add the main areas of your service to have the best service areas on Google Maps. Think of it as a “Service Area Mapping Visual Optimization” exercise. In other words, if you want to find someone who serves Toronto, use it as your service area so that when someone checks your GBP on Google Maps, they will make it clear whether you serve their area.
Should non-SABs take advantage of service area functionality?
In most cases, I would say that it makes no difference and is not worth the effort.
A hybrid business that has a storefront and serves customers in the area (for example, a pizza restaurant with dining and delivery) may wish to include details of the service area if it is valuable to share that information with potential customers.
On the other hand, in some cases, such as hotels, I strongly recommend not adding service areas. The reason is that it only makes the map look weird and is confused with potential customers. Here is an example from the Google Business Profile Forum where the user asked “Why are the hotel’s service areas listed in the GMB account?transparent
What should you do if you don’t live in a city?
This is another common question we are asked. One of two things we usually recommend to business owners.
Move to the city/region you serve
Yes, you heard it. This makes sense, doesn’t it? It seems easy if all of your business comes from a city you are physically not in and Google will rank in the brick-and-mortar city you are in. We recommend that customers do this exact thing and change their business. In this case, they are physically located in a town of 222 people, but the city they serve is miles away and has a population of more than 80,000. We told them to move the GBP address to the address of another owner, who happens to live in the target city. They now dominate the rankings in the geography they serve.
Target long tail keywords
If it isn’t a mobile option, I’ll focus on the site, especially the GBP login page, for long-tail search terms. On-site optimization has a direct impact on local package/discoverer ranking. Long tail keywords are less competitive, and they are easier to rank even if you are located further apart. (In other words, you can rank long-tail keywords in a larger area.)
Here is an example of a business that follows this exact suggestion and sees its ranking beyond the increase in its physical location.
so what?
The service area does not currently affect SAB ranking. This means that if your GBP is outside of a physical city, you need to be creative to grow your business. Ranking factors are in a constant state of change, so all this may change one day. Always test and track this for your customers so that you know the moment when the rankings actually do change so that you can lead the competition.
Have you seen an example where the service area seems to affect rankings? Are you tracking and testing? We would love to hear from you.
