We were invisible on Google. Within 90 days of working with RankRGV, we went from nowhere to showing up in the map pack for 'family doctor McAllen.' Our new patient calls tripled.
3× increase in new patient calls
Google Maps Optimization — McAllen & RGV
Get your business into the top 3
on Google Maps.
The Map Pack is where local searches convert. When someone in McAllen searches for your service, the top 3 results get most of the clicks. We build the signals that put you there.
4.8 rating · Trusted by McAllen & RGV business owners
best dentist near mcallen tx
1
Your Business Here
★★★★★ 4.8 · Dentist · McAllen, TX
2
Competitor A
★★★★ 4.1 (19) · HVAC
3
Competitor B
★★★ 3.8 (7) · HVAC
40%
Of local clicks go to Map Pack
Top 3
Our ranking goal for every client
60–90
Days to first meaningful movement
0
Long-term contracts required
What is the Google Map Pack — and why is it everything?
The Google Map Pack is the block of 3 local business listings that appears at the top of Google search results for local queries — above all organic results, above paid ads on mobile, above everything. It includes a map, business name, star rating, phone number, and address or service area.
Studies consistently show the Map Pack captures roughly 40% of all clicks for local searches. The 3 businesses shown get the overwhelming majority of calls. Everyone below them — on the map or in organic results — fights over what's left.
In the RGV, most Map Pack positions are held by businesses that haven't actively optimized anything. They're ranking on age and proximity alone — not because they're the best option. That's a gap a properly optimized profile can close in 60–90 days.
Google search: "dentist near mcallen tx"
1
Your Business Here
With RankRGV
2
Competitor A
3
Competitor B
The Map Pack captures ~40% of all local search clicks
What we optimize in your Google Business Profile
Your GBP is the most important ranking factor in local search — and most McAllen profiles are leaving rankings on the table.
Business Category Selection
Your primary category is the single most important field in your GBP. Getting this wrong means Google never shows you for the searches that matter. We identify the exact categories that match how your customers actually search.
Service Area Configuration
For service area businesses, Google needs to know exactly which cities you serve. We configure your service areas to cover every city you want to rank in — McAllen, Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, Mission, and Pharr.
Photo Optimization
Profiles with 10+ photos get significantly more views and clicks than those with 1–2. We audit your current photos, identify gaps (exterior, interior, team, work examples), and implement a photo strategy that signals active business health to Google.
Review Generation Strategy
More reviews = higher Map Pack position. We set up automated systems that request Google reviews from customers at the optimal moment after each job. Most businesses see their review count double within 60 days of implementation.
GBP Posts & Q&A
Regular GBP posts signal an active, engaged business to Google. Q&A responses (including proactively adding and answering your own questions) add keyword-rich content directly to your profile. We maintain both on a consistent schedule.
Citation Consistency
Inconsistent business name, address, or phone number across directories actively hurts your Maps ranking. We audit 50+ directories, clean up inconsistencies, and build new citations on high-authority sites — the foundational trust signal for Map Pack eligibility.
How we get your business into the Google Map Pack
A proven process built for RGV businesses — from audit to top 3.
01
Google Business Profile Audit
We audit your current GBP setup: business category accuracy, service area configuration, photo quality and quantity, Q&A completeness, post frequency, and the backend signals Google uses to determine Map Pack eligibility. Most profiles we see are missing 3–5 critical signals.
02
Category & Service Area Optimization
Your primary GBP category is the single most important field in your entire profile. We identify the exact categories that match how your customers search — not just what sounds right. We also configure your service area to cover all the cities you actually serve.
03
Citation Cleanup & Building
Inconsistent business information across directories (Yelp, Apple Maps, Bing Places, industry directories) confuses Google and suppresses rankings. We audit your existing citations, correct any inconsistencies in your name/address/phone, and build new citations on high-authority directories.
04
Review Generation System
We set up an automated system that requests Google reviews from customers at the optimal moment — right after a completed job or service. Most businesses that implement this see their review count double within 60 days. More reviews = higher Map Pack position.
05
Website Keyword Alignment
Your website must reinforce the same keyword and location signals as your GBP. We build or optimize city-specific pages that directly support your Map Pack rankings — each page targeting the searches your GBP profile claims to serve.
06
Monthly Monitoring & Push
We track your Map Pack position for every target keyword monthly and keep applying the signals that move rankings: fresh GBP posts, new photos, review growth, and any algorithm-specific adjustments. Rankings compound — we keep pushing.
Why most McAllen businesses don't show up on Google Maps
We audit Google Business Profiles for McAllen businesses every week. The same five problems show up every time: wrong primary category, missing service areas, no photos posted in the past 6 months, fewer than 10 reviews, and a website that doesn't mention the city once in its content.
Each of these is a ranking suppressor. Each one is fixable. And because most businesses in the RGV have all five, fixing even a few moves you ahead of competitors who haven't touched their profile in years.
The Map Pack is not a lottery. It's an optimization competition — and in most McAllen, Brownsville, and Edinburg categories, the bar to clear is remarkably low. The businesses that optimize now will own these positions for years.
Wrong primary GBP category
Invisible for main keyword searches
Service areas not configured
Can't rank in cities you serve
Fewer than 10 Google reviews
Outranked by less qualified competitors
No photos posted in 6+ months
Signals inactive business to Google
Inconsistent NAP across directories
Confuses Google, suppresses ranking
Website never mentions city name
No location signal for Maps algorithm
Client Results
RGV businesses getting real results
Real clients, real outcomes. No made-up metrics.
The website they built loads in under a second and looks better than anything in our industry. But more importantly — it actually shows up when people search for car repair in Brownsville. Our Google traffic doubled in the first month.
2× Google traffic in first month
Summer is our busiest season and we were losing jobs to competitors who showed up on Google and we didn't. RankRGV fixed that. We're now in the top 3 for 'AC repair Mission TX' heading into this summer. Game changer.
Top 3 Map Pack for AC repair Mission TX
I was skeptical about digital marketing — but RankRGV showed me exactly which searches my clients were using and built pages targeting every single one. We now rank #1 for 'personal injury attorney Edinburg.' Worth every dollar.
Ranking #1 for primary keyword
I had a website but nobody could find it. RankRGV built out our McAllen and Edinburg pages, cleaned up our Google Business Profile, and within 60 days we were getting calls from Google Maps. First time ever.
First Google Maps calls in 60 days
We switched from a national marketing company that never understood the RGV market. RankRGV is local — they knew exactly what Harlingen patients search for. Our new patient inquiries from Google went up 4× in three months.
4× new patient inquiries from Google
Google Maps optimization across the Rio Grande Valley
Google Maps optimization questions from RGV business owners
What is Google Maps optimization and how does it work?
Google Maps optimization (also called Google Business Profile optimization or local SEO) is the process of improving your business's visibility in Google Maps and the local Map Pack — the 3 business listings that appear at the top of Google search results for local queries. It works by optimizing your Google Business Profile (categories, service areas, photos, posts, Q&A), building consistent citations across directories, generating customer reviews, and creating location-specific website content that signals local authority to Google's ranking algorithm.
How long does it take to get into the Google Map Pack in McAllen?
For most McAllen business categories, meaningful movement in Google Maps rankings happens within 60–90 days of proper optimization. Some lower-competition categories and cities like Pharr and Mission can see top-3 results in 30–45 days. The timeline depends on your category's competition level, how complete your Google Business Profile is today, how many reviews you have vs. competitors, and your website's current technical health. We assess all of these in a free audit before giving you a realistic timeline.
Why does my business show up in Google Maps for some searches but not others?
Google shows different Map Pack results based on search query, searcher location, and your relevance to the specific search. If your business shows up for your exact business name but not for category searches like 'plumber near me' or 'dentist in McAllen,' that means your profile isn't optimized for those keyword categories. The fix is ensuring your GBP categories match exactly how customers search, your service areas are set correctly, and your website content reinforces those keyword signals.
What is a Google Business Profile and why does it matter for local rankings?
A Google Business Profile (GBP, formerly Google My Business) is the free business listing that powers your appearance in Google Maps and the local Map Pack. It includes your business name, category, phone number, website, hours, photos, reviews, and service areas. It's the single most important factor in local Map Pack rankings. Most RGV businesses have a GBP that is incomplete, in the wrong category, or missing key information — which directly suppresses their rankings even when their website is solid.
Do I need a physical address to show up on Google Maps?
No — service area businesses (contractors, consultants, agencies, mobile services) can rank in Google Maps without a physical storefront address. Google has a specific 'Service Area Business' setting where you set the cities you serve instead of a physical address. RankRGV is itself a service area business — we serve McAllen, Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, Mission, and Pharr without a public office address and are fully eligible to rank in all six cities' Map Packs.
How important are Google reviews for Maps rankings?
Very important — reviews are one of the top 3 Map Pack ranking factors. Google uses review quantity, recency, and average rating as direct signals of business quality and local authority. A business with 50 reviews rated 4.8 will almost always outrank a competitor with 5 reviews at 5.0, all else being equal. More importantly, recent reviews matter more than old ones — a business that generated 10 reviews last month outranks one that got 50 reviews two years ago. We set up automated review request systems so new reviews come in consistently.
Ready to show up where your customers are searching?
Get a free audit of your Google Business Profile — we'll show you exactly what's holding you back from the Map Pack.