If you want your business to show up higher on Google Maps in 2025, there’s more to it than just setting up a profile. Google is constantly evolving, and right now it’s giving more weight than ever to two powerful signals:
✅ Locally relevant backlinks
✅ Fresh, consistent Google reviews
In this post, I’ll explain why both matter, how they affect your Google Business Profile ranking and how tools like PiNGCARD’s Google review plates make it easier than ever to keep things consistent without chasing customers.
🔗 What Are Local Backlinks?
Local backlinks are links to your website from other businesses or websites in your local area. These could include:
-
A supplier who adds your logo to their site
-
A local football club or charity you sponsor
-
A blog post on a local website mentioning your service
-
Local directories or business associations
It’s not about getting links from huge national websites - Google wants to see that you’re trusted locally.
📍 Why Local Links Boost Your Google Maps Ranking
Google uses hundreds of signals to decide who ranks first on Maps.
Local backlinks tell Google two things:
-
Other local websites know and trust your business
-
You’re active and visible in your community
This local relevance helps you rank both in Google Maps and in normal search results, especially when those links are from nearby, well - regarded websites.
Even one or two genuine local links can make a big difference over time - especially if your competitors have none.
🌟 Why Google Reviews Still Matter in 2025
Alongside backlinks, Google reviews remain one of the strongest local ranking factors.
But here’s the key:
It’s not just about how many reviews you have - it’s how recent and consistent they are.
Google wants to see that customers are still choosing and trusting you. A business with 200 old reviews and no activity in 6 months may lose ground to one with 10 new reviews in the last month.
That’s why we always recommend:
-
Aim for 1 new review every week
-
Respond to all reviews - good or bad
-
Make it easy for customers to leave feedback
⚙️ Tools That Help: Google Review Plates by PiNGCARD
We created Google Review Plates, Google Review Cards and now our Google Review Stands to make this part easy.
Customers can simply tap or scan a PiNGCARD review plate and leave you a Google review in seconds. No searching, no awkwardness - just instant feedback while your service is still fresh in their mind.
You can mount them at your till, put them on the counter, or hand them out with orders. We also now offer automated links and NFC cards to help you collect reviews without needing to ask.
If you’re trying to stay consistent with Google reviews, this is the easiest way to do it.
💡 5 Easy Ways to Get Local Backlinks (Without Being Pushy)
-
Ask partners or suppliers to link to you on their website
-
Join your local Chamber of Commerce or online business directory
-
Sponsor a local team or event that lists supporters online
-
Collaborate with a nearby business on a blog or social post
-
Get featured in a local article or publish helpful local content on your own site
📊 How We Help
We run detailed audits and reports for our clients every month. These cover:
-
Review activity and response rates
-
Google Business Profile completeness
-
Citation accuracy across directories
-
Local backlink health and opportunities
If you’d like us to check how your listing is performing or where you could improve, just get in touch and we’ll take a look.
✅ Final Tip
You don’t need 50 links or 500 reviews. You just need consistent effort and a few smart tools.
With local backlinks, regular Google reviews, and a well-managed profile, you’ll build trust with Google - and stay ahead of your competition.
📬 Want help improving your local SEO?
Explore our Google Review Tools or contact us for a free audit today.