The Google Map Pack is the new first page. When a homeowner types “water damage restoration near me” or “mold removal emergency,” they almost never scroll past the three local listings at the top. Those three spots get 60–70% of the clicks. The rest of the page? Mostly ignored.
Getting into that top 3 isn’t about luck—it’s about signals Google cares about:
- Fresh photos and weekly posts
- Consistent review velocity (not just total count)
- Keyword-rich service descriptions
- Response rate to messages and reviews
- Category accuracy and service area settings
Most owners try to do this themselves and stop after the initial setup. They add a logo photo in 2022, get 5 reviews, and call it good. Google sees an inactive profile and drops it. Meanwhile, the companies that treat their GBP like a living, breathing asset climb—and stay—on top.
When you’re in the Map Pack, the phone rings before the customer even visits your website. That’s not a “nice to have”—that’s the difference between a full schedule and an empty one. An agency doesn’t just “manage” your profile; they actively manage the signals that keep you ranked. DIY usually means stuck on page 3. The right help means you’re the one getting called first.