Why Your Competitor’s Business is Showing on Google Maps More Than Yours (And How to Beat Them)

Google Maps is one of the most powerful tools for local businesses to get discovered by potential customers. But if you’ve noticed that your competitor’s business is appearing higher and more frequently than yours, you’re not alone. Many businesses struggle to rank well on Google Maps, even if they offer better products or services.

In this guide, we’ll break down why your competitor is ranking higher on Google Maps, and more importantly, how you can beat them with smart optimization strategies.

1. Understanding How Google Maps Ranking Works

Before we dive into the reasons, it’s important to know how Google decides which businesses to show on top in the Google Maps results (also called the Local Pack).

Google considers three main factors:

1. Relevance – How closely your business matches what the user is searching for.
2. Distance – How far your business is from the searcher’s location.
3. Prominence – How well-known and trusted your business is, based on reviews, ratings, citations, and online presence.

Your competitor might be beating you simply because they’re doing better in one or more of these areas.

2. Why Your Competitor is Showing More on Google Maps

a) Their Google Business Profile (GBP) is Fully Optimized

If your competitor’s Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) has complete details—business name, category, services, working hours, images, FAQs—they are more likely to appear higher.

b) They Have More Positive Reviews

Google gives more visibility to businesses with higher ratings and consistent positive reviews. If your competitor has 150 reviews with an average of 4.8 stars and you have only 25 reviews with 4.0 stars, Google sees them as more trustworthy.

c) They Post Regularly on Google

Your competitor might be using Google Posts to share updates, offers, or events. Regular posting signals activity to Google and keeps their profile fresh.

3. How to Beat Your Competitor on Google Maps

Here’s a step-by-step action plan to outrank them:

Step 1: Fully Optimize Your Google Business Profile

1. Add complete information: business name, category, services, working hours, contact details.
2. Write a keyword-rich but natural business description.
3. Add products, services, and price ranges.
4. Keep all info accurate and updated.

Step 2: Get More High-Quality Reviews

1. Politely ask happy customers to leave reviews.
2. Respond to every review (positive or negative) within 24 hours.
3. Use review request cards, links, or QR codes at your store.

Step 3: Post Regularly on Google

1. Share weekly updates about offers, tips, events, or news.
2. Use engaging images and a short CTA in every post.

Step 4: Build Local Citations

1. List your business on local directories (Justdial, Sulekha, Yelp, etc.).
2. Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is consistent everywhere.

Step 5: Improve Your Website’s Local SEO

1. Add location-based keywords in your meta title, description, and content.
2. Create location-specific landing pages if you serve multiple areas.
3. Improve website speed & make it mobile-friendly.

Step 6: Add High-Quality Photos & Videos

Step 7: Engage With Your Audience

1. Answer questions in the Q&A section of your Google profile.
2. Reply to messages quickly if you’ve enabled Google Messaging.

4. Pro Tips to Get an Extra Edge

1. Use Google Ads for Local Targeting – Paid ads on Google Maps can instantly put you above your competitor while you work on organic ranking.
2. Track Your Competitor’s Moves – Use tools like BrightLocal or Whitespark to track their reviews, posts, and rankings.
3. Leverage Social Media Signals – Share your Google Business Profile link on your social channels to drive more clicks and engagement.

5. How Long Will It Take to Beat Them?

Improving your Google Maps ranking isn’t instant—it usually takes 4–12 weeks depending on competition and your consistency. The key is to be more active and consistent than your competitors.

Final Thoughts

If your competitor is dominating Google Maps, it’s not because Google “likes them more”—it’s because they’re following the rules and actively working to stay on top.
By fully optimizing your profile, collecting reviews, posting regularly, and improving your local SEO, you can level the playing field and even surpass them.

Take Action Today

Don’t let your competitors keep stealing your customers. Start optimizing your Google Maps presence now. If you need expert help with Google My Business optimization and local SEO, we can get your business ranking higher within weeks.

Contact us today and let’s make your business the first one customers see on Google Maps!