Nanaimo SEO in Action: How 5 Businesses Rank on Google Maps
August 25th 2025
Who’s earning top visibility on Google Maps in downtown Nanaimo—and who’s missing easy local SEO wins?
In this Mini SEO Showdown, we took a close look at how five top-ranking Google Business Profiles are performing across local-dependent industries in downtown Nanaimo. From dentists to gift shops, we reviewed the #1 result in the Google Map Pack for each category—scoring them for profile completeness, clarity, and the key signals that influence real-world local rankings.
If you’re wondering what it actually takes to rank in Google’s local results, this quick audit reveals what the best-performing businesses in Nanaimo are doing—and what others could fix in minutes.
Winner: Norm’s Plumbing, Heating, & AC
Scoring 10 out of 12, Norm’s nailed the basics and then some. With a completed profile, videos, service listings, and a recent Google Post, they’re a strong example of how service-based businesses can dominate local visibility.
TL;DR: Top Google Maps SEO Tips (Straight From the Showdown)
✅ Respond to your reviews
All five businesses had solid review counts. Only one—Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group—was actively replying. This is the lowest-effort, highest-impact improvement any business can make today.
✅ Don’t ignore your Q&A section
Customers are asking questions right on your profile. Even better—ask and answer your own, especially for things like parking, holiday hours, or appointment availability.
✅ Use Google Posts
Most businesses in this showdown haven’t posted in months (or years). One business had a fresh post from the week we did our review—and it showed in their score. You can learn more about using Posts here.
✅ List your services properly
Two businesses skipped service listings or entered unrelated domains. Fill this in accurately—it's a boost for both SEO and user experience.
How We Selected and Scored The Google Business Profiles
In July 2025, we searched Google for:
- “Dentist Nanaimo”
- “Coffee shop Nanaimo”
- “Plumber Nanaimo”
- “Hair salon Nanaimo”
- “Gift shop Nanaimo”
We reviewed the #1 Map Pack result for each and scored them using the same 12-point framework we outline in our How To Optimize Your Google Business Profile guide. The same tips we recommend to clients every day—just tested live in downtown Nanaimo.
Industry Breakdown: Who Showed Up and How They Scored
| Industry | Business Name | Score | Notable Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Norm's Plumbing, Heating, & AC | 10 | Recent post, high-quality content, video, services listed |
| Dentist | Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group | 9 | The only one responding to reviews—huge trust factor |
| Coffee Shop | White Rabbit Coffee Co. | 8 | Stylish photos, consistent info, but no responses or posts |
| Hair Salon | Salon Muse | 7 | Nice visuals, but missing services and review/Q&A responses |
| Gift Shop | Newfoundland To Nanaimo | 6 | Local charm, but incomplete info and missing basics |
Why Review Responses Matter
If customers are leaving public reviews and you're not replying, you're missing a chance to:
- Show appreciation
- Build trust with new visitors
- Shape your online reputation
A quick “Thanks, we’re glad you enjoyed your visit!” can go a long way—and for negative reviews, a professional reply can actually improve conversions.
Shoutout to Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group for doing this well.
And Don't Forget Q&A
Several businesses had public questions visible—some basic (“Where do I park?”),others more specific.
Here’s a tip: you can ask and answer your own questions in the Q&A section. It’s a simple way to address common phone inquiries and increase keyword relevance. Parking, pricing, booking policies—all fair game.
What This All Means for Local Businesses
This Mini Showdown proves something we see all the time: most businesses are almost optimized—but they leave easy wins untouched.
- Not responding to reviews
- Letting outdated posts sit for years
- Leaving Q&A unanswered
These are fixable in minutes. And when your competitors aren’t doing it, even one or two improvements may push your business onto the Map Pack.
Want to Fix Yours?
Whether you’re in trades, retail, or services, your Google Business Profile might be what gets someone through the door—or sends them elsewhere.
Check out our Google Business Profile Optimization Guide
Or talk to us about a Mini SEO Showdown in your area—we do full SEO audits, too.
Explore more Mini SEO Showdowns, discover our full SEO Showdown series, or contact us for information on SEO services.
For more Nanaimo, check out Tourism SEO Tips: Lessons from Nanaimo Bars in Nanaimo
