Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to the questions local business owners ask us most — about ranking on Google, websites, and paid ads. No jargon.
Local Ranking
How do I get my business to show up in the map pack on Google?
The map pack is the short list of three businesses Google shows under the map. To get there, your Google Business Profile has to be complete and accurate, your business needs steady real reviews, and your website should have pages for the services and towns you serve. It also helps when your business name, address, and phone number match everywhere online.
Why does my competitor show up above me on Google Maps?
Google ranks map results by how relevant, well-known, and close a business is to the person searching. Your competitor may have a more complete profile, more reviews, better categories, or a website with stronger local pages. Most of these gaps can be fixed once you know what they are.
How important are Google reviews for local ranking?
Reviews are one of the biggest factors in local ranking, and they also decide whether customers trust you enough to call. Both the number of reviews and your average rating matter. Asking every happy customer for a review, the right way, is one of the best habits a local business can build.
How many Google reviews do I need to rank well?
There is no magic number. What matters most is keeping new reviews coming in over time and staying ahead of the competitors in your area. A steady flow of recent reviews beats a big pile of old ones.
What is a Google Business Profile, and why does it matter?
It is the free listing that shows your business on Google Search and Maps — your hours, phone number, photos, reviews, and services. For most local businesses, it is the first thing customers see, even before your website. Keeping it complete and active is one of the highest-value things you can do.
How long does it take to rank higher on Google?
Most local businesses start seeing movement in 30 to 90 days once their profile, reviews, and website pages are fixed. Competitive markets can take longer. Anyone who promises you the top spot in a week is not being honest with you.
Do I need a page on my website for every town I serve?
If you want calls from a town, yes — Google ranks pages, not businesses. A real page written for each town you serve, with that town’s name and the services you offer there, gives Google something to rank for those searches. Thin copy-and-paste pages do not work; each page needs real, useful content.
Your Website
Do I still need a website if I have a Facebook page?
Yes. You do not own your Facebook page — the platform can change the rules, limit your reach, or shut the page down, and it does not rank on Google the way a website does. Your website is the one place online you fully control, and it is where Google sends people who are ready to buy.
How much should a local business website cost?
A professional small-business website usually runs from a few thousand dollars for a solid starter site to more for larger sites with many service and location pages. Be careful with very cheap sites — they often skip the SEO structure, copy, and speed work that make a website bring in customers.
What pages should my business website have?
At minimum: a home page with a clear offer, a page for each main service, pages for the towns you serve, an about page that builds trust, and a contact page that makes calling easy. A questions-and-answers page also helps, because Google and AI search tools pull answers from it.
Why is my website not bringing me customers?
The usual causes are slow load times, no clear offer, no click-to-call button, missing service and town pages, and copy that talks about the business instead of the customer’s problem. Most of these can be found in one audit and fixed in the right order.
Does website speed really affect my Google ranking?
Yes. Slow sites rank lower and lose visitors — most people leave if a page takes more than a few seconds to load, especially on a phone. Speed is one of the first things to check because it affects both ranking and sales.
Should I build my own website or hire a professional?
A do-it-yourself builder can work as a temporary start, but most owners run into the same wall: the site looks fine yet never ranks or brings calls. A professional builds the SEO structure, copy, and tracking in from day one. If your website is supposed to bring you business, it usually pays for itself.
Paid Ads & Working With an Agency
How much should a local business spend on ads?
Most local businesses start between $500 and $2,000 a month in ad spend, depending on the market and the value of one customer. The right amount is the one where your cost per lead stays well below what a new customer is worth to you. Start controlled, measure, then scale what works.
Which is better for a local business — Google Ads or Facebook Ads?
They do different jobs. Google Ads reaches people who are searching and ready to buy right now. Facebook and Instagram ads reach people based on who they are and where they live, which is great for offers and awareness. Many local businesses do best with Google for demand that exists today and social ads to create more of it.
How fast will I see results from paid ads?
Clicks and calls can start within days of a campaign launching. Judging whether the ads are truly working takes a few weeks of data — enough leads to see your real cost per lead. If an agency cannot show you that number, something is wrong.
Why do my ads get clicks but no customers?
Usually the problem is not the ad — it is what happens after the click. A weak landing page, a slow website, the wrong audience, or no way to track calls will waste good traffic. The fix is to track every lead back to the ad, then repair the weakest step.
What is a good cost per lead for a local business?
It depends on what a customer is worth. A pool company can profit at a cost per lead that would sink a small retail shop. The rule is simple: your cost per lead must stay comfortably below the profit one new customer brings you, and you should know that number every month.
What is a marketing audit, and should I get one before hiring an agency?
A marketing audit is a full check of your Google profile, website, ads, and SEO to find what is working, what is wasting money, and what is missing. Yes — starting with an audit protects you, because you see the problems and the plan before you commit to anything. A good agency will show you its findings in plain words.
Does SERP Maverick only work with businesses in Louisiana?
No. We are based in Gonzales, Louisiana, and many of our clients are local, but the same local marketing system works anywhere. We have worked with gyms across the country, along with pool companies, medspas, builders, and other local service businesses.