You might have a Google business listing set up and people might even be searching for it. However, Google doesn’t seem to want to show it to them. Why is this?
This is a question many business owners have asked themselves upon searching for their company, only to discover several competitors on Maps instead of themselves.
You might be pleased to know that this is a common issue that can easily be resolved. For example, there might be an issue with your listing, or you might just be struggling to appear in the results for certain searches.
The first question to ask would be…
Has your Google Business Profile been verified?
Having a website doesn’t automatically mean your business will have a fully functioning Google Maps listing.
You’ll need a Google Business Profile, and Google will usually ask you to verify that you’re genuinely operating from the location you’ve provided.
If you’ve recently registered your business, check whether you’ve completed this process. Until it’s finished, your listing might not be visible to customers. It’s also worth checking for any messages from Google asking for additional information.
Is Google showing the right information?
Businesses change over time. You might have moved offices, changed your opening hours or expanded the services you offer. Unfortunately, your Google listing won’t always keep up with those changes.
Say you originally registered as a general building contractor, but now specialise in roofing. If your profile still focuses on general building work, Google may not consider you as relevant when somebody searches for a roofer.
Your primary business category is particularly important here, so make sure it reflects what you actually do. You could be appearing – just not where you’re looking.
Try searching for your exact business name on Google Maps
If your listing appears, but you can’t find it when searching for your services, the problem is more likely to be your visibility rather than your listing being missing.
Google doesn’t show the same businesses to everyone. Somebody searching in the centre of Chester might see different results from somebody searching a few miles outside the city.
Distance plays a part, but so do relevance and the prominence of your business.
That’s why you might find a competitor appearing above you, even when you feel your business is a better match.
Has Google suspended your listing?
Sometimes, a business disappears from Google Maps because its profile has been suspended.
This can happen if Google believes the listing doesn’t meet its guidelines. Using an ineligible address, creating duplicate profiles or adding promotional keywords to your business name can all cause issues.
If your listing has vanished unexpectedly, sign into your Google Business Profile and look for any warnings.
How do you get your business to appear on Google?
First, establish whether your listing is missing altogether or simply ranking poorly.
If it’s missing, check your verification status, business details and any account restrictions.
If it’s appearing but not attracting much attention, there are other things you can work on. Keep your information accurate, add useful photographs and encourage customers to leave reviews about their experience.
Your website is important too. Make sure it explains your services clearly and includes relevant information about the locations you serve.
There isn’t a quick fix that guarantees a top position on Google Maps. However, identifying what’s stopping your business from appearing is a sensible place to start.
If you need any help optimising your Google Business Profile to enhance local SEO (search engine optimisation) performance, please get in touch with us at Engage Web.
