Dropping a pin in Google Maps is a great way to save a new location so that you can easily find it again. Luckily, the process is very simple and user-friendly. This feature and many others can help users to remember new locations without a confirmed address and even share them with others. Google Maps can also be a valuable tool for businesses looking to improve their local SEO and rank higher in local searches. In this article, you will learn how to drop a pin in Google Maps from a mobile device or a desktop. You will also learn more about Google Maps marketing strategies and how they can improve local SEO.
Table of Contents
What is Google Maps?
Google Maps is a web-mapping platform launched by Google in 2005. The app uses aerial photos, satellite imaging and street maps to help users find locations and get directions. This allows users to plan their route via foot, car, and public transportation. It can also provide real-time traffic conditions and expected travel time.
The app has grown steadily in popularity, with an average 1 billion active users each month in the year 2021. New features and updates are constantly being added to keep up with the changing digital media landscape. What started as a simple navigation app now allows users to submit reviews, photos, and more. Some marketing experts even believe the app will become the next big content-producing platform.
Dropping a pin in Google Maps (mobile)
When looking into how to drop a pin in Google Maps, the process for dropping a pin in the Google Maps mobile app is virtually the same, whether you use an iPhone or an Android.
- Open the Google Maps app on your phone or tablet.
- Find the location where you want to drop a pin. Zoom in until you can see it clearly.
- Tap and hold the screen until you see a pin icon appear.
- A box containing the address or coordinates will pop up at the bottom of the screen
- You can now tap on this location to share, save, or add a label.
Dropping a pin in Google Maps (desktop)
You might find Google Maps to be slightly more user-friendly on the mobile app. However, the process of dropping a pin is very similar when you use a desktop or laptop computer.
- Navigate to the Google Maps homepage.
- Type an address in the search bar. You can also zoom/pan around until you find the spot where you want to drop the pin.
- Click this location.
- A small gray pin icon will appear at your location. An information box will also pop up at the bottom of your screen.
- Clicking this new information box will make a new panel appear on the left-hand side of your screen. This contains more information and gives you more options
Making the most of your pinned locations
Now that you have pinned a location on Google Maps, there are several ways that you can use it.
Getting Directions: After you have pinned a location, you will be able to use it as a start point or an endpoint when getting directions between two locations. When you aren’t sure about the address of the place you are trying to get to, dropped pins become essential.
Saving a Pin: When dropping a pin on Google Maps, you have the option to save it and access it again later. This will save your pin’s location to a list. Three default lists (Favorites, Want to Go, and Starred Places) already appear in the app. You can add more by going into the “Saved” section and adding your own.
Adding a Label: After dropping a pin, you can add a label with your own unique name or phrase to help you remember the location. This label is synced across your Google account and appears on any version of Google Maps that you access.
Sharing your pin’s location: In the mobile version of Google Maps, you can simply tap the “Share” icon to share your link with someone else. In the desktop version, you can share the location on Facebook or Twitter by clicking on those icons in the menu. Alternatively, you can copy the link and share it or copy the HTML code and embed it on a website.
Removing dropped pins: To remove a dropped pin on Android or iOS, tap the “x” in the text box at the top of the page. To do this on a desktop, you can either click somewhere else on the map or click the “x” on the information box at the bottom of the screen.
Local SEO
The purpose of local SEO (search engine optimization) is to help businesses with physical locations rank higher in local searches. This can be especially helpful for brick-and-mortar businesses who have to compete with online stores for customer traffic. Demand for local SEO has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic, which has put many small businesses in jeopardy.
A study done by HubSpot reported that 72% of customers who performed a local search visited a store within 5 miles of their location. A similar study done by Forrester found that mobile devices in 2021 will influence more than $1.4 trillion in local sales. From these statistics alone, it is easy to see why local SEO is so important.
The first step of local SEO is to claim a business listing online and make sure that the location appears on Google. The next steps of optimizing a business’s online presence involve a combination of many different factors, like managing online reviews and comments and engaging with the local community via social media. You can easily manage these steps directly through a Google My Business account and on the Google Maps application.
Google Maps marketing
Now you know how to drop a pin, but there are many more features included in Google Maps. The app can even help your business with marketing. Google Maps marketing is the process of optimizing your business on Google Maps so that it ranks higher on search engines. The more you optimize your business’s profile, the greater your chances of showing up in a Google Maps search for similar businesses in your area.
When someone does a local search on Google, the three best options appear at the top of the page. This is known as the “3-pack.” If your listing does not appear in the 3-pack, your chances of being found lower drastically. Before 2015, local results used to appear in a 7-pack. Google stated that the last four results weren’t getting enough traffic, so they cut it down to the top three! Google chooses what businesses are featured in the 3-pack based on relevancy, distance, and popularity.
How to rank higher in local search with Google Maps
There are several strategies you can use to improve your business’s rankings through Google Maps. We’ve already discussed the first: making sure the location of your business is listed on Google Maps. This can be done by creating a business listing or dropping a pin. The next step is to optimize the listing by adding hours of operation, quality photos, and contact info. This is important, because Google takes how complete and accurate business listings are into account in search results.
Another important aspect of Google Maps marketing is getting and maintaining good reviews from customers. Many companies have different ways of getting reviews from their customers. Some might ask for a review directly after a purchase. Others send customers a link to give them a review, through a text, email, or even a QR code.
Once you get a review, good or bad, it is important to respond appropriately. Thanking customers for their feedback is a great way to engage with the community. On the other hand, responding well to bad reviews can help resolve issues before they become worse. Occasionally, businesses are hit with fake negative reviews. When this happens, the best way to respond is by asking the platform (i.e. Google, Yelp, or Facebook) to take them down as soon as possible.
Local SEO strategies and Google Maps
Being able to drop a pin in Google Maps is a great way to remember new locations so you can find them again. This combined with many other user-friendly features has contributed to a steady rise in the popularity of Google Maps. With billions of active users each month, the app has become an important part of local SEO for many businesses.
To continue improving their local SEO rankings, a business may also decide to hire an agency that specializes in local SEO. Choosing the right local SEO agency is a big decision, because it can have a huge impact on rankings and traffic. It is important to find an agency that is knowledgeable about your area and keeps up with emerging trends. The experts at SEO Design Chicago can help you to create an optimal local SEO strategy, to help grow your audience and bring more local traffic to your business.
Contact Us Today!