Are you wondering, ‘Why is my business not showing up on Google?’ Well, in this blog post, we will teach you how to optimize your website for better visibility and attract more customers.
Google is widely regarded as the top choice for local search engine queries. Therefore, it is crucial to optimize your website to enhance accessibility and convenience for customers seeking to discover and book your services.
1. Your Google My Business Isn’t Claimed and Verified
Simply opening a Google My Business (GMB) account is not sufficient to ensure your presence in search results. The first crucial step towards increasing your chances of appearing on Google Maps is to verify your business. If you’re unsure whether your business has been verified, a quick Google search can provide the answer. If you see “Own This Business?” below your listing, it means that you have not yet been verified.
When someone searches for your business on Google Maps, it will be displayed accordingly. By providing more information, you can improve your business’s visibility in search results. Enhance your website by adding pictures, videos, and a concise description. Engage with those who leave reviews and address any questions they may have.
How to Fix It:
Verify a GMB listing via email, phone, or mail. Some businesses may also be eligible for bulk or instant verification.
You should take the following steps if you are requesting verification via mail.
- Sign in to your GMB account.
- Select the listing you wish to verify and click on “Verify Now.”
- Request your postcard, which will arrive within 14 working days.
- Once you receive the postcard, log in to your GMB account and click on “Enter Verification Code.”
- Enter the five-digit code from the card and click “Verify” when prompted.
Please note that it may take a few moments for the verification process to be completed. To avoid any delays, refrain from making changes to your business name, address, or category. If you haven’t received the postcard after 14 days, please contact support.google.com/business.
You can take extra steps to ensure that your business is properly set up.
- Ensure that your address and telephone number are up-to-date and accurate.
- If you have multiple locations, you will need to check each one individually.
- If you haven’t received your postcard within two weeks, you can request another one.
- In some cases, it may be possible to verify your business through phone or email instead of using a postcard.
2. Your Business Information Is Incorrect or Inconsistent Across the Web (Nap Citations)
NAP, as utilized by SEO specialists, is an acronym that pertains to the most up-to-date Name, Address, and Phone Number listed on your website.
To assist Google in locating, categorizing, and ranking your company for relevant search queries, ensure you use the correct category and description in your GMB account. Additionally, it is important to verify the accuracy of your business citations on other websites and directories. This includes ensuring that your company’s address, website, and phone number are consistent across all local directories and apps. Don’t forget to review other listings, such as Yelp and Apple Maps.
How to Fix It:
Checking and updating all the listings and directories can be a time-consuming task.
Maintaining up-to-date business information across the internet is not an easy feat. That’s why the businesses that rank highly in Google searches are considered the best. If you have a substantial marketing budget, it is worth investing in a local SEO tool such as Uberall or Moz. Alternatively, you can enlist the services of an SEO agency to handle this for you.
For small business owners with limited budgets and teams, a tool like GoSite can be immensely helpful. It allows you to quickly and easily establish your website presence and address NAP citations. By utilizing this tool, you can save both time and money.
3. Your Website Domain Is Not Optimized for Search Engines
Both Google Maps and Google Search can be influenced by the content on your website. The information you provide on your website not only informs Google about your existence but also showcases what you offer, ultimately helping you gain visibility in your local area. If your website is not optimized for Google, it could potentially impact your ranking negatively.
How to Fix It:
Connect your website to Google Search Console. This will assist Google in understanding and discovering your website. If you’re unsure, you can seek assistance from your webmaster.
To perform this re-crawling, you can utilize a tool called the Google URL Inspection Tool. Ask the person responsible for managing your website for guidance on how to use it.
The content of your website should include essential elements that help both people and Google comprehend your business. On the homepage (or the initial page visitors see), provide a clear description of your company and its offerings.
Make an effort to regularly update your website with any new and important information relevant to you and your customers. Regular updates indicate to Google that your business is active, potentially increasing your visibility in search results.
4. Your Business Is New and Has a Very Small Web Presence
Patience is crucial when it comes to newly established domain names or GMB listings (less than a year old). You will be competing against well-established companies that possess a strong location authority on Google Maps. These companies are likely to have numerous positive reviews and citations across various listings, apps, and relevant websites.
How to Fix It:
Start by:
- Ask as many customers as possible for reviews.
- Join a local business association to gain links to your website.
- Cross-promote your website with a non-profit local organization or another small company.
- Regularly update your GMB and website with fresh content.
- Utilize relevant keywords to describe your business online.
5. You’re Using Too Few, Too Many, or the Wrong Keywords
Keywords are words or phrases that people use to search for information on Google. For instance, if you are a roofer in Florida, your keywords could include “roofer,” “roofing services,” “Florida roofer,” and so on.
Using relevant keywords on your Google Business profile, directory listings, and website is essential for Google to display your business in search results.
However, it is important to avoid using an excessive number of keywords or stuffing them unnaturally into your website or profile. Google can recognize such attempts to manipulate the system and may lower your ranking in search results.
Using the wrong keywords is akin to misclassifying a book in a library. If you are a roofer but use keywords that are more relevant to electricians, people searching for roofing services may not find your business.
It is crucial to ensure that both Google and your potential customers can understand the nature of your business. Choose keywords based on the services and areas you provide. By doing so, your business will have a higher likelihood of appearing in search results when someone looks for services within your locality.
How to Fix It:
You can perform most of these tasks if you have built your site yourself. If you work with a web designer or agency, consult them on how to improve your website.
- How to Choose the Right Keywords: Think about the words that your customers would use when searching for similar products or services. Search online for frequently used words in your industry. You can utilize free tools like Google Ads and Google Ads Keyword Planner to assist you.
- Use Keywords Naturally in Your Google Listing: Once you have identified the appropriate words, incorporate them organically throughout your Google Business profile and directory listings. Include them in your company description, services provided, and any other relevant information. Avoid overusing the same words, as Google penalizes this practice known as “keyword stuffing.”
- Update Your Website: If you own a website, ensure that your keywords are present in your text, page titles, headings, and meta descriptions. Meta descriptions are the brief descriptions that appear in search results. If you are unsure about how to do this, you can seek assistance from a digital marketer or web developer.
- Monitor Progress and Make Adjustments as Necessary: After implementing these changes, keep track of your website’s performance over time. Don’t give up too soon, as it may take some time to observe improvements. To achieve successful SEO, you need to invest a considerable amount of effort. Periodically check your keywords to ensure they are still relevant and help your site appear in search results.
6. Your Business Has Moved or Changed, but You Haven’t Updated Your Information Online
If you have recently moved but have not updated your GMB (Google My Business) or other online listings, this could be another reason why you are experiencing difficulties in ranking. Online searchers and customers can be proactive in identifying inaccuracies in your address, contact information, or operating hours, and they may flag it. If Google detects such discrepancies, it may suspend your listing or remove it from search results.
How to Fix It:
Update your GMB (Google My Business) listing promptly whenever you make any changes, such as modifying the business name, address, phone number, website URL, or hours of operation. It is also advisable to generate a new local listing report to update all your listings simultaneously.
If you change your business’s address or name, you may need to go through the verification process on Google again.
7. You’re Not Growing Your Google Reviews
Google reviews are among the most critical factors that people take into consideration when selecting a business partner. Google recognizes this and rewards businesses that have a substantial number of authentic reviews.
Small businesses sometimes resort to using fake reviews, but Google is highly sophisticated in detecting them. Additionally, Google users themselves can identify fake reviews and report them. Businesses that engage in this deceptive practice of fake reviews violate Google’s Terms of Service and may face consequences such as demotion in search results or suspension.
How to Fix It:
If you ask, most customers will be happy to provide you with a positive review. Asking for reviews can be done without feeling embarrassed if you have an automated system in place to facilitate the process.
Take a moment to graciously and professionally respond to reviews, whether they are positive or negative.
As you accumulate more reviews and actively engage in responding to them, Google will give preference to your local search results.
8. Google Is Penalizing Your Account for Violating Terms of Service
Google can penalize a listing for many reasons. Also, Google will not tell you the reason for suspending your listing. In this situation, it is best to avoid common mistakes.
Avoid these mistakes to avoid a suspension.
- Use keywords in the field for your business name. In this section, do not include services, hours of operations, or location.
- If your customers are unable to visit, list a business location. For example, you can use a P.O. Box or virtual office.
- Verify multiple listings of the same business.
- Use a forwarding address. You should list your website’s domain, not a landing page.
If you have followed the above list and are still unable to get your listing running, check out These Guidelines and Contact Google.
9. You’re Not Keeping Your Online Presence Fresh With New Content
Google will be able to tell if your online presence is stale if you don’t publish quality, relevant content. It will prefer companies that produce new content, as it wants to make its search engine more useful to people.
How to Fix It:
You can enhance your Google Business Profile by adding photos and publishing them online. Additionally, you can incorporate interactive features like calling, messaging, booking, and more. Consistently posting fresh content on your website will improve its overall appearance.
The same principle applies to your website. Consider regularly publishing a few informative blog posts each month or creating a YouTube vlog that links back to your site. Google values high-quality content, so investing effort in this area will yield positive results.
10. Your Local Market Is Highly Competitive
When aiming to achieve a high ranking on the internet, it is crucial to take into account the number of local providers offering similar services or products. Even if you follow all the correct practices, your ranking may not reach the desired level.
It’s natural to feel frustrated, especially if you have already put in a significant amount of effort. However, it’s important not to give up. By persevering, working a little harder each day, and being patient, you can ultimately achieve success on Google.
How to Fix It:
You can focus on several different things to beat your competitors if your market is saturated.
- Recognize That You Are Not Alone: If you are feeling frustrated, remember that you are not alone. By adopting a growth mindset, you can persist and outlast your competition.
- Be Specific About Your Ideal Client: The more precise your keywords and content are, the more effective they will be. Identify niche markets to target and be passionate about serving them.
- Produce High-Quality Content: Quality content doesn’t have to be overly polished. Authentic and useful content, such as homemade videos or accurate and informative blogs, can be highly valuable. Don’t overthink it; start by creating great content for your ideal customers.
- Incorporate Social Media Posts Into Your Content Strategy: Social media provides an effective way to reach potential customers interested in your products or services. Regularly post engaging and interesting content to keep people interested. You can save time by utilizing services like GoSite, which automates posting to both Google and Facebook.
- Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly: As the majority of people use mobile devices for web searches, it’s crucial to ensure that your site looks and functions well on mobile. Failure to do so may result in penalties from Google.
Conclusion
It can be frustrating not to see your business listed on Google. However, don’t worry! You can improve your chances of appearing in search results by following the steps outlined in our blog.
Remember to choose the appropriate keywords and incorporate them naturally into your website and social media content. Additionally, monitor your progress over time. With patience and effort, you can discover potential customers online.
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