Summary — Google Maps Ranking Factors
Google Maps ranking is determined by three core categories: Relevance (how well your GBP matches the search query — driven by category selection, services listed, and keyword-rich description), Distance (proximity of the business to the searcher — not controllable, but service area settings matter), and Prominence (how well-known the business is online — driven by review count, review rating, citation count, website authority, and backlinks). Of these, Prominence is the only fully controllable factor and the primary focus of Local SEO work. A business with 50+ reviews, consistent citations across 40 directories, and an optimized GBP will often outrank a closer competitor with fewer signals. Relevance, distance and prominence are the three factors Google itself names (Google Business Profile Help).