Local SEO plays a vital role in increasing traffic to your business website. A business listing on Google helps you gain visibility in local search results and also on Google Maps.
If you’ve searched for your business name on Google Maps and it’s not appearing, it’s likely due to several common and explainable reasons. Keep reading to learn more!
Why doesn t my business show up on google maps
The 3 main reasons for your business not appearing on Google Maps
Google Verification: Does your business have a verified Google My Business listing?
The first thing you need to check is whether you have a verified Google My Business listing. One way to determine your verification status is by searching for your business name on Google Maps.
Go to Google Maps and enter the name of your business.
Look for the red box that says, “Are you the owner of this business?” If this statement appears in your Google Maps search, it means it’s not a verified listing. However, sometimes Google may leave this option even if they’ve already taken your Google My Business listing; so, don’t worry if you are already the owner of this listing.
How do I verify my Google listing for my business?
Without verification, your business cannot appear in Google Maps local search. If your competitors have a verified listing, your unverified GMB listing will likely rank so low in the results that it may not appear at all. Unscrupulous competitors or other individuals may also try to list your business for other purposes. Therefore, claiming your listing and verifying it as soon as possible is crucial.
Business owners can initiate the Google Maps entry verification process by clicking the “You are the owner” option. Subsequently, Google will send a postcard to the listed business address containing a code to verify that you are the owner.
Your business does not have location authorization.
Having a verified GMB listing is essential, but getting it to the top of Google Maps and search results requires additional steps. Of course, non-competitive markets may find examples of businesses appearing at the top of search results without much effort.
However, in major metropolitan areas and highly competitive niches and industries, a company may end up on pages 2, 3, or 4 for their high-value keyword phrases.
What are these businesses missing to achieve successful results in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages)? Improving local organic rankings.
What does this mean in simple terms? It means that when someone is near your business (on their mobile phone), they will see your GMB listing when they search. As they move away from your location, they will no longer see your listing.
As your listing gains positioning power and location authority, your company will appear in search results further away from your business’s location.
Ideally, your business will be positioned in areas distant from its address so that you can reach a wider target audience in search results.
How do you improve your positioning on Google Maps?
Three words, information consistency.
Ensure that the information about your business online is accurate and consistent. This business information, also known as NAP data (Name, Address, and Phone Number), includes:
Business Name Address Business Phone Website URL
The above information should exactly match your GMB listing. If your business is ABCD Company, make sure to list the company name as ABCD Company, not ABC Company.
The same goes for your physical address. If your GMB displays the address as 123 Main Street, ensure that every instance on your website and anywhere online uses only 123 Main Street and not 123 Secondary Street.
By doing this, you will prevent your listing from being suspended and save yourself many headaches.
Online citations (local directories) help local businesses.
Citations on third-party websites are as crucial for your online business presence as backlinks are for organic search ranking. They provide authority and brand awareness that will help improve your positioning on Google and the location authority you need to dominate the Google Maps listings.
Examples of business citation sites include:
- Bing
- Yellow Pages
- Yelp
- Tripadvisor
Your Google listing is suspended or has been suspended.
When the worst-case scenario happens with a GMB (Google My Business) listing or Maps, it can cause panic among business owners! Some business owners have urgently called me for help with a suspended listing.
When a GMB suspension occurs, the business no longer appears in search, the GMB 3-pack, or on Maps. Any previously achieved rankings also disappear.
Google My Business suspends business listings for various reasons, and at first glance, it’s not always evident why a business listing gets suspended.
Common reasons for GMB suspension include:
- Making too many edits or updates to business information, requiring Google to verify the information.
- Google questioning the validity of the location or the authenticity of the listing. They want physical evidence such as lease documents and office photos, documents that prove everything is real.
- Keyword stuffing in the listing name or creating fake listings for lead generation.
- Using virtual offices or P.O. boxes.
Calling Google for help can often be a challenge. Try to contact them directly from your GMB listing panel. If you have a GMB suspension and need assistance, reach out to our team for help.
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