Why Does My Business Not Appear on Google Maps?
If you’re a business owner who’s recently been thinking “I don’t know how to make my business visible on Google Maps” then this is the article for you.
Showing up in Google Maps, especially in one of the top spots, is incredibly valuable for local businesses with a physical location that clients/customers visit. Businesses without a Google My Business Listing (what you need as a business in order to show up in Google Maps) are missing out on sales opportunities.
Did you know that an average business’ Google My Business Listing shows up in 1,009 searches each month? And, that 5% of those views lead to a conversion?
5% may not sound like a lot, but 5% of 1,009 is about 50 conversions per month!
So, are you interested in learning how to get found on Google Maps by more of your customers?
In this article, we’re going to share what to do if you’re wondering, “Why does my business not appear on Google Maps?” We’ll talk through common issues and solutions related to “my Google local listing is not showing up” and “I can’t see my business on Google Maps.”
Let’s jump on in.
The Importance of Google My Business
Creating and optimizing your Google My Business (GMB) is very important for SEO, especially if you’re a small- to medium-sized business or have a physical location that you want customers to access (restaurant, coffee shop, retail store, medical/dental office, etc.).
However, even if you aren’t reliant on customers visiting your physical location, a GMB page can have many advantages for your business.
So, what makes a GMB listing so valuable to businesses?
Some of the top benefits of a GMB page include:
Acting as a second website that can generate website visitors and phone calls
Providing potential customers with your business’s information (phone number, address, hours, etc.)
Helping you rank higher on Google for local searches
Building greater rapport through online reviews (Did you know that 77% of people read reviews when browsing for local businesses?)
Increasing your brand and name recognition
You can only reap these rewards of a GMB page if it’s actually showing up on Google. But what do you do if your Google My Bussiness is not working or showing up in searches?
Why Is My Business Not Showing on Google Search?
Have you ever searched for your business on Google or Google Maps only to realize “I can’t find my business page on Google?”
If you find that your GMB page is in this situation, there are four main reasons why you search Google Maps, but your Google My Business does not appear in searches:
Your Google Business is unverified
Your GMB address is wrong
Your GMB page is suspended
Your GMB page has low local authority
Here’s a closer look at these four issues and their solutions so you can better understand how to show up on Google Maps business listings.
1. Your Google Business is Unverified
The first thing to check is whether you’ve verified (or claimed) your business on Google. Claiming your business is free and only takes a couple of minutes.
If you’re an established business, chances are that Google has already made you a GMB listing even if you haven’t verified that it’s your business.
The easiest way to tell if you’ve verified your business or not is to:
Sign in to your Google account
Search for your business on Google
Look at the listing that shows up
See the listing has a blue star with a check mark inside that says, “You manage this business profile.” [Left screenshot].
If that note shows up, then you’ve already claimed your business and you can start working on optimizing your GMB page to make it rank better.
Otherwise, you’ll see “Own this business?” next to “Suggest an edit” in the listing [right screenshot]:
Simply click “Own this business” to claim your business and start optimizing your GMB page.
Checking if your Google Business page is unverified is the first (easiest) step to take if you search for your business and wonder “Why is my Google local listing not showing up?”
2. Your GMB Address Is Wrong
Another reason Google My Business might not be working is that your GMB address doesn’t match your physical business address. This happens frequently when a business moves or relocates and forgets to change the address on its GMB listing.
If you can’t see your business on Google Maps or in local searches, take a minute to log in to your GMB account and check the address you have listed. If it’s correct, then you can move on to the next point in this list.
Otherwise, you’ll want to change your GMB to your correct address. When you edit your address, Google may need to verify that this new address is correct and might:
Send you a postcard in the mail to your new address with a code that you’ll have to input once you receive the postcard
Ask to call you/send you a text message with a code to verify your address change
Option number two is faster, so opt for that if you can. Otherwise, be on the lookout for the postcard from Google and enter the code as soon as you receive it.
3. Your GMB Page is Suspended
Once you’ve verified your business and checked that your address is correct, it could be that your GMB page has been suspended.
You’ll know that it’s suspended because you’ll see the word “Suspended” when you log into your GMB account page:
Unfortunately, Google won’t tell you why your listing is suspended. Some of the most common reasons for getting suspended include:
Multiple businesses claim to operate from your address
Your GMB NAP (name, address, phone number) isn’t consistent across all platforms
You have multiple listings for the same business/location
You’re artificially keyword stuffing your listing
Your business doesn’t have a physical location
You’re using a forwarding URL for your GMB website link
There are also different types of suspensions and solutions for resolving the issue:
Soft suspension: Your GMB listing has become unverified. You need to make a new Google account and reverify your business (see point #1 above).
Hard suspension: Your GMB page is ineligible for listing and has been completely taken down. You’ll need to contact Google, find out the reason for removal, and send in a local business reinstatement request.
Whether you’re dealing with a soft or hard suspension, your GMB page will stop showing up in Google searches. So, it’s best to follow Google’s guidelines to ensure you don’t face a suspension. Hiring an SEO company that understands GMB can be a great way to ensure your GMB page is set up, optimized, and managed correctly.
4. Your GMB Page Has Low Local Authority
A final reason for checking your Google Business and realizing that “My Google local listing is not showing up” is that you have a low local authority score.
In order to rank your GMB listing in Google Maps and for local searches, Google needs to “trust” your business—you need to let Google know that you really are a legitimate business in your area.
You can improve your local authority ranking significantly by:
Correcting citations: Citations are listings of your business’ information on reputable directories, like Yelp, Yellow Pages, Four Square, etc. When citations on these directories match your GMB information (name, address, phone number, business hours, etc.), then Google trusts your business more. There are helpful sites, like Brightlocal, that help businesses build and manage their citations.
Reviews: Getting new, high-quality reviews can also boost the authority and trust of your GMB listing. It can also be helpful to actively manage and respond to any reviews that you receive, whether they’re positive or negative reviews.
Photos: Regularly posting new photos of your business, its staff, operations, etc. is another great way to tell Google about your business.
Building up your local authority will take some time and effort, but it’s the most effective way to get your GMB page ranking higher on Google searches.
How to Make My Business Visible on Google Maps
Google My Business is a powerful tool for businesses. It’s an additional way to connect with customers and allows a business to get into the Google Maps rankings.
However, it’s not uncommon for a business to wonder “Why is my business not showing on Google search?”
If you can’t find your GMB listing in Google searches, it might be that:
Your Google Business is unverified
Your GMB address is wrong
Your GMB page is suspended or has been removed by Google
Your GMB page has low local authority
Getting your GMB page up and running is something you should prioritize, especially if you’re a local business looking to get customers in the door.
Want an expert to handle your GMB listing?
At Veivos, we specialize in search engine optimization and marketing for small- to mid-size businesses. Whether you’re in one location or have multiple locations across, the nation we know how important your website and GMB page are. Our team has the tools, resources, and expertise to ensure that your entire website and GMB listing are optimized for Google search. Our process guarantees an increase in search traffic, sales leads, and conversions.
Schedule a discovery call to learn more about how we can help you expand your online presence today.
