Google Maps ranking depends on three core factors: relevance, distance, and prominence. You can't change distance, so focus on the other two. Start by claiming your Google Business Profile and filling every field: exact business name (no keyword stuffing), precise address, phone, hours, categories (primary plus 5–9 secondaries), services, attributes, and a keyword-informed description. Upload 10+ high-quality photos including exterior, interior, team, and work samples. Add products or services with prices if applicable. Reviews drive prominence more than most factors combined. Aim for consistent new reviews—3 to 5 per month minimum for competitive niches like legal or home services in Ottawa or Toronto. Respond to every review within 48 hours. Quality matters: detailed reviews with location mentions and keyword relevance signal stronger trust to Google. Never buy reviews or use review-gating software that filters out negatives before posting. Build citation consistency across 30–50 directories: Apple Maps, Bing Places, Yelp, industry-specific sites, and Canadian directories like Canada411 and YellowPages.ca. Your NAP (name, address, phone) must match your GBP exactly, character for character. Inconsistent citations dilute trust. Earn local backlinks from chamber of commerce pages, local news mentions, sponsorships, or supplier directories. A single link from a high-authority local site often beats ten generic directory links. Post weekly Google updates—offers, events, or quick tips—to signal an active business. At Ottawa SEO, we track map pack movement weekly because rankings fluctuate with proximity and user behaviour. If you're rank 4–10, you're often one proximity tweak or review burst away from the top three. If you're outside the top 20, audit whether your primary category matches search intent and whether competitors have 5x your review count. Fix the biggest gap first, then iterate.