We had a bit of a surprise from Apple last week, with the unexpected launch of Apple Maps on the web in beta.
While Apple Maps has been available to iOS users since 2012, it's had its fair share of problems over the years, causing many iPhone and other iOS device users to delete the app (or leave it in some forgotten corner of their device's home screen) and default to using the Google Maps app for all their map and navigation needs.
However, there have been recent indications that iOS users are starting to give Apple Maps another shot, largely due to a steady stream of updates and improvements that Apple has been making to the Apple Maps app over the years, which finally seem to have brought it into competition with the Google Maps app on iOS.
Until now, Google Maps has enjoyed a virtual monopoly on browser-based navigation app traffic, only giving up a very small percent of the market share to other web-based platforms like Bing Maps, MapQuest, and Waze.
Apple Maps launching on the web will likely shake this status quo up a bit, as iOS users who are already inclined to use Apple Maps over Google Maps might start using it from their browsers as well, and other non-iOS users will now have the option to use Apple Maps on the web for all their navigational queries.
What Does the Launch of Apple Maps on the Web Mean for Local Search?
Google Maps still dominates the local search market, and we don't anticipate this to change anytime soon. The reality is that Google is the king of local search, but that doesn't mean that the launch of Apple Maps on the web in beta isn't significant for local search.
Now users can access Apple Maps on the web from any device to search for businesses and check out their Place Cards to see detailed business information, get directions, look at photos, take 360-degree virtual tours, read/leave ratings and reviews, order food, and more.
Since Apple Maps is now accessible to a much wider audience (read: anyone), it gives Apple a chance to capture a larger market share of local search traffic, meaning that claiming and optimizing Apple Business Connect listings (Apple's answer to Google Business Profiles) and rank tracking for Apple Maps will become more important than ever.
For some perspective, consider that Google Maps currently has close to 2 billion monthly users, whereas Apple Maps only has approximately 500 million monthly users.
If we look at these navigation app market share numbers as if they're Share of Local Voice (SoLV) scores, it means that Apple now has an opportunity to increase their share of the local search market by more than a billion users! Of course, with Google Maps being so dominant in local search, it will be hard for them to actually do this, but the opportunity is there.
In short, Apple Maps launching on the web puts Apple Maps in more direct competition with Google Maps, which has been available on browsers since 2005. This makes Apple Maps and Apple Business Connect much more relevant to local SEO, which is largely focused around Google Business Profile optimization.
What Can Businesses and Local SEOs Do To Stay Ahead of the Competition on Apple Maps?
So, what, if anything, should businesses and local SEO professionals do to get ahead of the curve and factor the launch of Apple Maps on the web into their local SEO strategies?
Well, for starters, if you haven't done so already, claim your Apple Business Connect listing and optimize your Place Card to start ranking on Apple Maps.
Not only will this allow you to reach a larger share of the local search market, which now includes people who are using Apple Maps on their mobile devices OR browsers, but it also provides additional opportunities to engage with these customers to generate and convert more leads.
Once you've done this, it's crucial to start tracking your local search rankings on Apple Maps for different keywords and areas you're targeting. This will help you analyze your competition, identify opportunities, implement optimizations, and track your performance over time.
But how can you track your ranking on Apple Maps? With Local Falcon, of course!
How To Track Rankings for Apple Maps on the Web and Mobile with Local Falcon
Getting started with local rank tracking for Apple Maps with Local Falcon is easy — it works exactly like tracking your Google Business Profile rankings.
Simply start by importing the Apple Maps location(s) you want to track local search rankings for to your Local Falcon account, then you're free to run Quick Scans or Campaign Scans, take advantage of Falcon AI's analysis and optimization recommendations in Scan and Trend Reports, conduct competitive analysis using Competitor Reports, and more.
Here's a brief step-by-step to help you start tracking your Apple Maps ranking in minutes:
Import Locations from Apple Maps to Local Falcon:
- Go to your "Saved Locations" from your account dashboard.
- Click the "Text Search" button next to "Add Locations."
- Toggle the platform selector to "Apple Maps."
- Search for a business location by name or address.
- Click the business location to add it to your saved locations.
Run a Quick Scan for an Apple Maps Location:
- Go to "Quick Scan" from your account dashboard.
- Open the locations drop-down at the top of the map.
- Search for the Apple Maps location you want to run a scan for.
- Click on the location name to select it.
- Choose your Scan Settings (Radius, Grid Size, Keywords).
- Click the "Run Scan" button.
Final Thoughts
With the launch of Apple Maps on the web, it's an opportune moment for businesses and local SEO professionals to optimize their Apple Business Connect listings and start tracking their local search rankings on Apple Maps (if they're not doing so already).
As Apple Maps becomes more accessible to a broader audience, we're likely to see Apple capturing a larger share of the local search market from Google, and using Local Falcon for Apple Maps ranking insights, competitive analysis, and more will be crucial for staying ahead in the local search game.
So, what are you waiting for? Start tracking Apple Maps rankings today to get a step ahead of the competition and help your business reach and engage more potential customers in the hyper-competitive local search market!