When someone in McDonough searches for a local service—plumber, restaurant, attorney, mechanic—what shows up first?
The Google Maps results. That top 3 box with the map and business listings. The Local Pack.
If your Henry County business isn't showing up there, you're invisible to the majority of local customers.
Let's be clear about what's at stake.
When someone searches "web design McDonough GA" or "pizza near me" in Henry County, Google shows:
The Local Pack gets approximately 44% of clicks for local searches. That's nearly half of all search traffic going to just three businesses.
If you're not in that top 3, you're fighting for scraps with everyone else in the organic results.
For businesses in McDonough, Stockbridge, Hampton, and Locust Grove, Google Maps ranking isn't optional—it's essential.
The Local Pack (also called the "map pack" or "3-pack") shows:
Google decides who appears here based on three main factors:
Does your business match what the person searched for?
How close is your business to the searcher's location?
How well-known and well-reviewed is your business?
You can't control distance. But you can absolutely improve relevance and prominence.
If you haven't claimed your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business), stop reading and do it now. This is non-negotiable.
Go to business.google.com
Sign in with your Google account
Enter your business name and address
Choose your business category
Verify your business (usually by postcard or phone)
Verification is critical. You cannot fully optimize your profile until it's verified. This is step one.
For Henry County businesses, verification typically takes 3-7 days via postcard. Some businesses can verify by phone or email.
Once verified, fill out every section completely. Incomplete profiles rank lower.
Use your real business name (no keyword stuffing)
Choose the most accurate primary category
Use your exact address or set service areas
Use a local area code when possible
Keep hours accurate and updated
Photos do more than make your profile look good—they improve rankings.
Upload logo and cover photo
Add exterior and interior shots
Include team photos and work samples
Add videos (tours, testimonials, how-to's)
Show local presence and happy customers
Reviews are rocket fuel for Google Maps rankings.
Ask happy customers directly
Send follow-up emails with direct links
Make it easy for customers to review
Respond to every review professionally
Encourage location mentions in reviews
For Henry County businesses, even 20-30 quality reviews can dramatically improve your Google Maps visibility.
A citation is any online mention of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP).
List on major directories (Yelp, Yellow Pages)
Find industry-specific directories
Join Henry County Chamber of Commerce
Ensure NAP consistency everywhere
Use data aggregators for wider distribution
Citation consistency is critical:
Your business name, address, and phone number must be EXACTLY the same everywhere. "123 Main St" in one place and "123 Main Street" in another confuses Google and hurts rankings.
Google loves websites with local content. It shows relevance.
Blog about serving McDonough, Stockbridge, Hampton
Create location-specific landing pages
Feature local client case studies
Cover local events and community involvement
Use location-based keywords naturally
Don't add "McDonough Web Design SEO Expert" to your business name. Google will suspend you.
One wrong digit in your phone number or "Ave" vs "Avenue" can hurt rankings.
Respond professionally. Unaddressed negative reviews scare off customers.
Multiple profiles for the same business confuse Google and split your ranking power.
Every empty field is a missed opportunity. Fill out everything.
Google is very good at detecting fake reviews. You'll get caught and penalized.
It varies. New businesses can take 3-6 months. Established businesses with optimization can see results in 4-8 weeks. Consistency is key.
Yes, but focus on your primary location first. Then create location-specific content for nearby areas like Stockbridge or Hampton.
It helps, but service-area businesses can rank too. Hide your address and list your service areas instead.
Quality matters more than quantity, but businesses in competitive niches often have 50+ reviews. Start where you are and grow steadily.
Improve your customer service first. Respond to negative reviews professionally. More positive reviews will eventually outweigh the negative ones.
We specialize in helping Henry County businesses dominate local search.