Guide to Optimizing Your Charging Station Listing - Help Center

Optimizing Your Charging Station Listing

A well-optimized listing ranks higher in search results, gets more views, and converts more visitors into users. This guide shows you how to maximize your location's visibility and performance.

Why Optimization Matters

Impact of optimization:

📈 3-5x more page views - Optimized listings rank higher ⭐ Higher ratings - Clear expectations = better reviews 💰 More usage - Visibility directly increases traffic 🎯 Better targeting - Reaches drivers looking for your specific features 🏆 Competitive advantage - Stand out from incomplete listings

Algorithm factors: SpotCharge's search algorithm considers 20+ factors including completeness, accuracy, engagement, and recency.

Optimization Checklist

Essential (Must-Have)

[ ] Location name - Clear, descriptive, includes landmark if helpful
[ ] Complete address - Street, city, state, ZIP
[ ] GPS coordinates - Accurate pin on map
[ ] Access type - Public, semi-public, or private
[ ] Hours of operation - Specific hours or 24/7
[ ] At least 1 station - With manufacturer and model
[ ] At least 1 port - With connector type and power output
[ ] 3+ photos - Location, stations, connectors
[ ] Verified ownership - Claim approved
[ ] Contact information - Verified email

Completion level: 40% - Minimum to appear in search

Recommended (Should-Have)

[ ] 5+ high-quality photos - Multiple angles, amenities
[ ] All stations documented - Every physical charging unit listed
[ ] All ports configured - Accurate connector types and power
[ ] 5+ amenities - Restrooms, WiFi, food, etc.
[ ] Pricing information - Per-kWh or session fees
[ ] Payment methods - How drivers pay
[ ] Access instructions - How to find/use chargers
[ ] Business profile - Logo, description, website
[ ] Response to recent reviews - 50%+ response rate
[ ] Updated within 90 days - Keep listing fresh

Completion level: 75% - Ranks well, competitive

Optimal (Nice-to-Have)

[ ] 8+ professional photos - Comprehensive visual tour
[ ] All amenities listed - Complete picture of facilities
[ ] Custom amenities - Unique features (Premium tier)
[ ] Detailed descriptions - Parking instructions, landmarks
[ ] Network integration - Real-time availability if possible
[ ] 80%+ review response rate - Highly engaged
[ ] Verification badge - Owner or Premium verified
[ ] Recent updates - Within 30 days
[ ] Complete business profile - All fields filled
[ ] No out-of-service ports - All equipment operational

Completion level: 100% - Maximum visibility and conversions

Location Information

Name Best Practices

Good location names:

✅ "Whole Foods Market - Downtown Oakland"
✅ "Hilton San Francisco Union Square"
✅ "City Hall Parking Garage - Main St"
✅ "Tesla Supercharger - Highway 101 Exit 12"

Poor location names:

❌ "Charger" (too generic)
❌ "Location 1" (not descriptive)
❌ "Best EV Charging!" (spammy)
❌ "123 Main St" (address, not name)

Naming formula:

[Business/Landmark] - [Neighborhood/Identifier]

Character limit: 100 characters

Address & GPS

Ensure accuracy:

Verify address matches physical location
Test GPS pin by viewing on map
Include unit/building number if multi-tenant
Note entrance location if large property

Common issues:

GPS pin in wrong parking lot
Address points to building, chargers in back
Mall address, chargers in specific garage level

Solution: Add access instructions: "Chargers located in North Garage, Level 2, near elevator"

Hours of Operation

Be specific:

Good:

"Monday-Friday: 6am-10pm, Saturday-Sunday: 24 hours"
"24/7 - Open daily"
"Business hours: 9am-9pm (Mon-Sat), Closed Sunday"

Not helpful:

"Varies" (drivers can't plan)
"Usually open" (ambiguous)
Blank (drivers assume restricted)

Special cases:

Note if charger access differs from business hours
"24/7 access, but restrooms only during business hours (8am-8pm)"
Update for holidays or temporary closures

Station & Port Details

Complete Station Information

For each station, include:

✅ Manufacturer - ChargePoint, Tesla, Clipper Creek, etc. ✅ Model number - If visible on unit ✅ Network affiliation - ChargePoint Network, EVgo, etc. ✅ Pricing - Per-kWh rate or session fee ✅ Payment methods - App, RFID, credit card, etc. ✅ Access requirements - Network membership, customer-only, etc.

Why it matters:

Drivers filter by network
Pricing helps plan charging costs
Payment methods affect usability

Accurate Port Specifications

Critical fields:

✅ Connector type - J1772, CCS, CHAdeMO, Tesla ✅ Power type - AC or DC ✅ Max power output - In kW (7.2 kW, 150 kW, etc.) ✅ Operational status - Working, out of service, etc.

Common mistakes:

❌ Guessing power output (look it up!)
❌ Wrong connector type (check physically)
❌ Not marking broken ports out of service
❌ Confusing station count with port count

Verification:

Check station nameplate for specs
Look up model number in manufacturer docs
Use network app to verify power output
Test charger to confirm operational status

Photos That Convert

Photo Priority

Upload in this order:

Wide location shot (primary photo)
- Shows building/entrance
- Helps drivers recognize from street
- Include signage if visible
Charging stations clearly visible
- All chargers in frame if possible
- Individual photos if many stations
- Shows layout and quantity
Connector close-ups
- One photo per connector type
- Close enough to see pins/shape
- Confirms compatibility for drivers
Signage and wayfinding
- "EV Charging" signs
- Directional arrows
- Entrance markers
Parking area
- Marked EV spaces
- Shows how many spots
- Indicates covered/uncovered
Amenities
- Restroom entrance
- Waiting area
- Food/shopping nearby
Access points
- Parking entrance
- Gate/barrier (if any)
- Payment kiosk

Photo Quality Standards

Technical requirements:

Minimum 1080p resolution
Good lighting (avoid dark/blurry)
Sharp focus (no motion blur)
Landscape orientation for wide shots
No heavy filters or editing

Composition tips:

Clean lenses before shooting
Hold camera steady or use tripod
Shoot during golden hour (morning/evening) for best light
Avoid midday harsh shadows
Include context (nearby landmarks)

What NOT to Photograph

❌ Avoid:

People's faces (privacy)
License plates (blur if visible)
Clutter or trash (clean area first)
Broken equipment (fix or mark out of service first)
Misleading angles (show reality)

Amenities Strategy

High-Impact Amenities

Prioritize these if available:

Restrooms - Top driver need
WiFi - Popular for working while charging
Food/drinks - Essential for 30+ min charging
24/7 access - Critical for travelers
Covered parking - Weather protection

Why these matter:

Most commonly filtered by drivers
Heavily weighted in search algorithm
Differentiate from basic listings

Complete Amenity List

Aim for 8+ amenities if possible.

Categories to check:

Facilities (restrooms, WiFi, waiting area)
Food & beverage (restaurant, café, vending)
Accessibility (wheelchair accessible, ADA parking)
Parking features (free parking, covered, secure)
Access & hours (24/7, public, reservation)

Custom amenities (Premium): Use for unique features not in standard list:

"Private EV owner's lounge with refreshments"
"Complimentary Tesla adapters available"
"Valet charging service available"

Guide to amenities →

Pricing & Payment

Clear Pricing Information

Be transparent:

Good:

"$0.30/kWh" (clear rate)
"$2.00 per session + $0.20/kWh" (all fees shown)
"Free for customers" (state requirement)
"$0.40/kWh (or $15/month membership for $0.25/kWh)" (options shown)

Not helpful:

"Varies" (drivers can't budget)
"Contact for pricing" (adds friction)
Blank (drivers assume expensive or unknown)

Payment Methods

List all accepted methods:

ChargePoint app
RFID card
Credit/debit card at terminal
Tesla account
Apple Pay / Google Pay
Cash (rare but possible)

Note requirements:

"ChargePoint account required"
"Tesla app only"
"No payment - free for hotel guests"

Description & Instructions

Access Instructions

Help drivers find and use your chargers:

Include:

Entrance location ("Enter via Main St, not Oak St")
Parking instructions ("Level 2, near elevator B")
Activation steps ("Tap ChargePoint card on unit")
Restrictions ("Customer parking only - validate inside")
Contact info ("Call front desk if issues: 555-1234")

Example:

Enter parking garage from Main St. Chargers are on Level 2,
north side, near the elevator. Look for green EV parking signs.
Use ChargePoint app to activate. Free for customers with
validation from restaurant (show charging receipt).

Business Description

Tell your story:

What makes your location special?
Why did you install EV charging?
What amenities complement charging?
Any partnerships or affiliations?

Example:

Downtown Oakland's premier EV-friendly parking garage.
We installed 8 ChargePoint stations in 2023 to support
our community's transition to electric vehicles. While you
charge, enjoy our on-site café, free WiFi, and secure
covered parking. Validated parking for restaurant patrons.

Character limit: 500 characters

Engagement & Maintenance

Respond to Reviews

Target response rate: 70%+

Priority:

All negative reviews (address concerns)
Detailed reviews (reward engagement)
Questions in reviews (provide answers)
Recent reviews (show activity)

Benefits:

40% higher search ranking
Improved review scores over time
Shows active management
Builds community trust

Response guide →

Keep Information Current

Update triggers:

📅 Quarterly review (every 3 months)

Verify hours still accurate
Check amenities haven't changed
Update photos if seasonal changes
Review pricing for accuracy

⚡ Immediate updates (within 24 hours)

Port goes out of service → mark it
New equipment installed → add it
Pricing changes → update it
Hours change (holiday, renovation) → note it

🔧 After repairs (same day)

Port fixed → mark operational
Remove temporary closure notes
Update photos if equipment replaced

Why recency matters:

Algorithm favors recently updated listings
Drivers trust current information
Shows active management

Fix Reported Issues

When drivers report problems:

Acknowledge quickly (within 24 hours)
Investigate (test equipment, check claim)
Fix if possible (repair or replace)
Update listing (mark out of service or working)
Respond publicly (show you took action)

Example response: "Thank you for reporting Port 2 issue. We tested it and confirmed the problem. Technician repaired it yesterday—now fully operational. Appreciate you letting us know!"

SEO Best Practices

Keywords in Name & Description

Include relevant terms drivers search for:

Location identifiers (city, neighborhood, landmark)
Charging types (DC fast, Level 2, Supercharger)
Network names (if applicable)
Business type (hotel, shopping, parking garage)

Examples:

"Tesla Supercharger - Gilroy Premium Outlets"
"DC Fast Charging - Oakland City Center Garage"
"Level 2 ChargePoint Stations - Hilton San Francisco"

Avoid keyword stuffing:

❌ "EV Charging Stations Electric Vehicle Chargers DC Fast Tesla CCS CHAdeMO"
✅ "Downtown Parking Garage - DC Fast & Level 2 Charging"

Local Relevance

Mention local landmarks:

"Near Oracle Park" (San Francisco)
"Next to BART station" (Bay Area)
"Highway 101 Exit 12" (regional)

Benefits:

Appears in landmark searches
Helps drivers recognize location
Improves local SEO

Monitoring Performance

Track Key Metrics

Watch these indicators:

📊 Page views - Are you getting traffic? ⭐ Average rating - Are drivers satisfied? 💬 Review count - Are people using your chargers? 📸 Photo engagement - Do drivers view your photos? 🔍 Search ranking - Where do you appear for key searches?

Set goals:

Month 1: 50+ views, 3+ reviews
Month 3: 100+ views, 8+ reviews, 4.0+ rating
Month 6: 200+ views, 15+ reviews, 4.3+ rating

Analytics guide →

A/B Test Improvements

Try changes one at a time:

Test 1: Photos

Add 3 new high-quality photos
Monitor views for 2 weeks
If views increase 20%+, keep and add more

Test 2: Amenities

Add missing amenities from standard list
Check if reviews mention them
Monitor search traffic

Test 3: Description

Rewrite with better local keywords
Track search impressions (coming soon)
Refine based on performance

Common Optimization Mistakes

Avoid These Pitfalls

❌ Incomplete information

Leaving fields blank
Missing photos
No pricing shown

❌ Inaccurate data

Wrong power output
Outdated hours
Broken ports marked operational

❌ Poor photos

Dark, blurry, or low-quality
Misleading angles
Outdated images

❌ Ignoring reviews

Zero responses
Defensive or arguing responses
Not addressing reported issues

❌ Set and forget

Never updating
Not monitoring analytics
Missing broken equipment

✅ Instead:

Complete all fields
Verify accuracy
Upload high-quality photos
Respond professionally
Update quarterly

Optimization Roadmap

Month 1: Foundation

[ ] Complete all essential fields
[ ] Upload 3 minimum photos
[ ] Add 5+ amenities
[ ] Verify hours and pricing
[ ] Claim and verify ownership

Month 2: Enhancement

[ ] Add 5+ more photos (total 8+)
[ ] Complete business profile
[ ] Respond to all reviews received
[ ] Add access instructions
[ ] Test listing from driver perspective

Month 3: Refinement

[ ] Request verification badge
[ ] Add custom amenities if Premium
[ ] Optimize description with keywords
[ ] Update photos seasonally
[ ] Monitor analytics and adjust

Ongoing: Maintenance

[ ] Respond to new reviews within 48 hours
[ ] Update immediately when equipment changes
[ ] Quarterly review of all information
[ ] Annual photo refresh
[ ] Monitor competitors and improve

Need Help?

Questions about optimizing your listing? We're here to assist.

Contact Support or check our Help Center