MapLocal blog
Getting found by local customers
Plain-English guides for GTA business owners on Google Maps, reviews and AI search.
How Google Maps Rankings Actually Work for Local Businesses
Relevance, distance and prominence: the three things Google uses to decide who shows up in the map results, and what you can actually change.
Read article →Why You Rank #1 at Your Door but Not 3 km Away
Google Maps results change every few blocks. Here's why checking your ranking from your own phone gives you the wrong picture, and how to see the real one.
Read article →How to Get More Google Reviews (Without Breaking Google's Rules)
Simple ways to get a steady flow of honest Google reviews: when to ask, what to say, QR codes and text messages, and the shortcuts that can get your reviews removed.
Read article →How to Reply to Google Reviews: Examples for Good and Bad Reviews
Ready-to-adapt replies for 5-star, mixed and negative Google reviews, plus what never to write, and extra care for health businesses.
Read article →Does ChatGPT Recommend Your Business? AI Search for Local Businesses
More people ask AI assistants for local recommendations. Here's how those assistants find businesses, why some get named and others don't, and what you can do about it.
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