Why Is My Business Not Showing Up on Google? 6 Reasons (+ Proven Fixes)

For most businesses, Google isn’t just a search engine — it’s their primary way of interacting with potential customers. From finding your services through search results to providing directions via Maps, Google’s suite of services has become an essential facet of modern business, regardless of your size, industry, or customer base.

Given this importance, suddenly disappearing from Google’s platforms can be a huge problem. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic. Here are the most common reasons why your business has vanished from the world’s largest search engine and how you can restore your online visibility ASAP.

1. You’ve Not Created, Claimed, or Verified Your Listing

Are you sure you’ve created, claimed, or verified your business on Google? Google knows a lot, but they’re not (yet) all-knowing. If you’ve never gone through the process of claiming or creating a listing on Google, then Google may not yet know you exist, so your business won’t show up.

Try searching for your business name and location on Google. If you don’t see your business in the results or on Google Maps, it’s likely you haven’t created your listing. This may be the case for newer or smaller businesses.

In other cases, you may show up, but the business is unverified. Being unverified means that Google has information about your business, possibly from third-party sources, but you haven’t claimed ownership of the listing. Unverified listings often lack crucial information and don’t have access to the full range of Google Business Profile features.

How to Create a Listing on Google

If you need to create a new listing on Google from scratch, you can follow these instructions. The creation process should take very little time, while the last step of verification might take up to 5 business days.

Here’s how to create a new listing on Google: 

1. Go to Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) and sign in with your Google account.
   
2. Click “Manage now.”
3. Enter your business name.
4. Select your business type.
   
   
5. Select a business category (the kind of business you run).
6. Add your business address and service areas if applicable.
7. Enter your business phone number and website URL.
8. Choose whether you want your business location to appear across Google.
9. Add details like store hours and a description.
10. Select a verification option (usually by video recording).
11. Complete the verification process.

 

How to Claim and Verify a Listing on Google

Even if you never created a profile for your business, there is a chance that Google already knows about you. If a profile for your business already exists, you’ll just need to claim it by verifying that you, in fact, own this business. Then, you should get full access to your property on Google.

Here’s how to claim and verify an existing listing:

1. Search for your business on Google Maps.
2. If you see your business, click on it and select “Claim this business” or “Own this business?”
3. Choose a verification method.
4. Follow prompts to verify ownership.
5. Once verified, you can edit and optimize your listing.

After creating or verifying your listing, optimize your profile by adding photos, business hours, and a detailed description. It may take a few weeks for your verified listing to start appearing prominently in search results.

2. Recent Changes to the Business and Inaccurate Business Information

If you’ve recently made significant changes to your business, such as relocating or changing your business name, this could affect your visibility on Google. Google’s algorithms prioritize accurate and up-to-date information, so any inconsistencies or inaccuracies can affect your search rankings.

Although all your information should be consistent everywhere, focus especially on your NAPWCHD.

This stands for:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Website
• Categories
• Hours
• Description 

If Google finds these data points are inconsistent across the web, it can decrease your visibility and affect people’s ability to find you online.

How to Fix Inaccurate Business Information Online

To fix this problem, roll out any major changes everywhere your business shows up online so that Google can see that your business information is consistent. Here are some steps you should take to make sure you’ve changed your business information everywhere it matters.

1. Update Your Google Business Profile

When making major changes to your site, the best place to start is always Google. In this case, if you are publishing changes to your business, head to Google Business Profile and make the updates there. Here’s how:

• Enter your Google Business Profile account.
• Navigate to the “Info” section.
• Review and update all relevant information that customers may want to know about you, including phone numbers, hours of operation, and more. 
• If you’ve moved, make sure to update your address and service area.

2. Ensure Consistency Across Other Directories

Google may be the most popular directory, but it’s not the only place people look for businesses online. You’ll also want to roll out your changes across these other major online directories. 

Here are some of the biggest ones:

• Yelp
• Apple
• Bing Places for Business
• Facebook Business

3. Update All Citations Across the Web

Any mention of your business online is called a citation. You want to try to make sure these citations are as accurate and up-to-date as possible. 

In some cases, these changes should be easy enough, especially on properties you have control over, like your social media accounts or official business website.

For websites you don’t own, do your best to contact site administrators to ask them to update your information. 

3. Local SEO and Google Maps Optimization Issues

Even if you’ve created and verified your Google Business Profile, that may not be enough to get shown on Google Search and Maps. You need to make sure your listings are optimized correctly for the local market, a practice called Local SEO.

Here are some steps you can take to ensure consumers near you will find your business. 

1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile

To make your GBP as good as it can be, you’ll need to do two things. First, go through and add all the optional information you may have skipped before. 

This can include:

• Adding different kinds of images to your profile
• Posting updates on your business
• Filling in product information

Google asks for this information for a reason. By filling it in, you make it easier for them to connect you with the customers most likely to need your products or services. 

Next, make sure that all of the information you’re including is sending the right signals to Google and potential customers. This means:

• Using relevant, location-specific keywords in your business description
• Choosing accurate primary and secondary business categories
• Keeping your business hours, contact information, and service area up-to-date

For more information on optimizing your Google Business Profile, check out this handy guide from Google. 

2. Optimize for Google Maps

Besides Google Search, many people use Google Maps to discover business options in their area. 

Here are some tips you can use to make your business more visible on Google Maps:

• Make sure your business location is correct.
• Double-check that your address is formatted correctly and consistently.

• Add photos with geo-tags to your Google Business Profile.
• Ask customers to review your business on Google Maps directly.
• Use Google Posts to share updates, offers, or events.

For more tips on optimizing your Google Maps listing, visit Google’s own guide on improving your visibility on Maps.

3. Improve Your Website’s Local SEO

When someone searches for your business, you want both your Google Business Profile and your website to appear. To ensure your website is getting featured prominently on search engines, focus on these main areas:

• Make sure your website looks professional with good design and high-quality images
• Include your city and region in title tags, headers, and content where appropriate.
• Create location-specific pages if you serve multiple areas.
• Help readers find your store by embedding a custom Google Map of your location on your contact page.
• Ensure your website is mobile-friendly so it can be viewed on tablets or phones.

4. Build Local Citations

Local citations are when other local businesses or organizations (like a Chamber of Commerce) mention your website. Especially for local businesses, these citations carry a lot of weight with Google, so you want to get as many as you can.

The best way to get more local citations is to just ask for them. Here are some ideas you can try:

• Reach out to local government or tourist websites asking for a citation.
• Participate in local events to get featured in local news outlets.
• Speak with other businesses who have local business pages and ask them to mention you.

5. Encourage and Manage Reviews

The more people leave positive reviews on platforms like Google, the more Google will see you as a good place to recommend to new customers. To get more reviews, put in place some of these tactics: 

• Ask happy or repeat customers to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile.
• Make it easy to leave a review by providing direct links to your review pages.
• Consider implementing a review generation strategy or software.

If you are getting reviews, make sure to follow best practices to get the most out of these opportunities. This can include: 

• Responding to all reviews in a professional, constructive manner to boost local SEO.
• Incorporating keywords naturally in your responses when appropriate.
• Addressing concerns raised in negative reviews and showing how you’re improving.

For tips on how to respond to reviews, we’ve compiled these handy template responses you can use for both positive reviews and negative reviews.

4. Google Penalty and Suspension

Google penalties and suspensions can severely impact your business’s visibility online. These can occur due to violations of Google’s guidelines or suspicious activity. Understanding these penalties and how to address them is crucial for restoring your online presence.

How to Recover From Different Google Penalties or Suspensions

Google has several different kinds of penalties and suspensions. Here are the main types of penalties or suspensions you could be facing:

1. Manual Penalties

Manual penalties are imposed by Google’s human reviewers for clear violations of their guidelines.

Common reasons include:

• Unnatural links to or from your site
• Thin or low-quality content
• Keyword stuffing
• Hidden text or links

Google will tell you when you get a manual penalty and what they want you to do to fix it. To find this information, simply:

• Check your Google Search Console for manual action notifications.
• Address the specific issue mentioned in the notification.
• Submit a reconsideration request after you’ve addressed what got you penalized in the first place.

2. Algorithmic Penalties

Google is constantly tinkering with its algorithm, trying to encourage some behaviors while discouraging others. Each update is unique, so giving blanket advice is hard, but if you follow Google best practices, you should be safe.

However, if your site suddenly sees major organic traffic loss, it’s worth looking online to see if any major updates have recently rolled out. If so, go to a reputable SEO website or Google itself for advice on how to optimize for that particular update. 

3. Google Business Profile Suspensions

In some instances, Google may decide to suspend your Google Business Profile. In these cases, not only will Google likely not show your business to customers, but it’ll also lock you out of your profile itself. This can be a major blow to a business, so you want to avoid suspensions at all costs. 

Here are some reasons why your GBP might have been suspended:

• Violations of Google’s guidelines
• Suspicious activity or information
• Multiple listings for the same business

Fixing this problem will require you to submit an appeal to Google. When appealing, make sure to include any information Google asks for so that you can get your suspension lifted as quickly as possible.  

4. Soft Penalties

Soft penalties are less severe than other penalties and may only result in ranking drops for specific pages or keywords.

Common causes of a soft penalty include:

• Over-optimization of on-page elements
• Duplicate content
• Poor user engagement metrics

Fixing this issue will probably require an audit by an SEO professional who can tell you what’s gone wrong and what fixes are warranted. The best way to avoid soft penalties is to follow content best practices like: 

• Writing for humans, not bots
• Creating unique content based on your experience and not plagiarizing others
• Avoiding Black Hat SEO practices that are trying to trick Google
• Investing in creating a secure, quick, and mobile-friendly experience for users

Remember, prevention is better than cure. Regularly audit your site, follow Google’s guidelines, and stay informed about best practices to avoid penalties in the first place.

5. Duplicate Listings

Duplicate listings on Google are a big problem for businesses, often leading to confusion for customers and potentially harming your local search rankings. 

These duplicates can occur for various reasons: Perhaps you’ve moved locations, and a new listing was created, or maybe someone else created a listing for your business without your knowledge. Whatever the cause, it’s crucial to address this issue right away to maintain a strong and accurate online presence.

How to Deal With Duplicate Listings

Dealing with duplicate listings involves two main steps: identifying the duplicates and then removing or merging them. Here’s how to approach each step:

1. Identify Duplicate Listings

Start by thoroughly searching for your business on Google. 

Look for:

• Listings with slight variations in your business name
• Old addresses or phone numbers
• Listings with incorrect or outdated information

Pro tip: Use Google’s “site:” search operator to find all of your business mentions on Google. For example, search for “site:google.com your business name” to see all instances of your business name on Google properties.

2. Remove or Merge Duplicate Listings

Once you’ve identified the duplicates, you’ll need to get them removed or merged with your current listings.

For listings you can access through GBP, follow these steps:

• Sign in to Google Business Profile Manager.
• Select the duplicate listing.
• Click the three-dot menu and select “Remove listing.”
• Choose “Duplicate” as the reason for removal.

For listings you can’t access on GBP:

• Find the listing on Google Maps.
• Click “Suggest an edit.”
• Select “Remove this place.”
• Choose “Duplicate” as the reason.

For complex situations:

• Contact Google Business Profile support directly.
• Explain the situation and provide evidence that the listings are duplicates.
• Follow their instructions for resolution.

6. Low-Quality or Thin Content

Content is king in the digital world, and this is especially true when it comes to your visibility on Google. Low-quality or thin content can significantly harm your search engine rankings and overall online presence. 

This issue often arises when businesses focus on quantity over quality or when they neglect to update their website regularly. Google’s algorithms are sophisticated enough to know whether your content is valuable and informative or is doing the bare minimum for users.

If you’ve been guilty of putting poor-quality content up on your website, then addressing this issue can lead to substantial improvements in your search rankings and user engagement.

How to Improve Your Content

Even if you don’t think Google has penalized you for bad content, improving your current content can only help your prospects moving forward. Here are the steps you can follow to improve your local SEO through better content. 

1. Audit Your Existing Content

Start by evaluating what you already have and figuring out which articles or pages are low quality and need to be improved. You can find these pages by:

• Using Google Analytics 4 to identify pages that are not visited or have low engagement rates.
• Looking for pages with outdated information.
• Reading your pages and deciding whether they actually tell readers anything useful.

2. Improve Existing Content

Once you’ve identified problematic pages, it’s time to deal with them. Here’s what you can do:

• Delete pages with no value.
• Merge pages dealing with the same topic.
• Expand thin content with more detailed, valuable information.
• Update outdated facts, statistics, or references.
• Improve readability with better formatting, subheadings, and bullet points.
• Add relevant images, videos, or infographics to improve the user’s reading experience.
• Ensure your content addresses user intent — what people are actually looking for.

3. Create New, High-Quality Content

When rethinking your approach to content, you should also think about the future. For best results, you’ll want to develop a strategy for new content that will educate readers and bring in more traffic to your site. 

Here are some tips when thinking about future blog posts to write:

• Conduct keyword research to identify topics your audience is interested in.
• Focus on providing unique insights or information not found elsewhere.
• Incorporate a mix of content types: blog posts, videos, infographics, and case studies.

4. Implement Content Best Practices 

Writing quality is not the only thing that Google looks at when evaluating your articles. You’ll also need to follow some more technical best practices to make it easier for Google and your readers to enjoy your content. 

This includes:

• Using proper headings (H1, H2, H3) to structure your content
• Including relevant internal and external links
• Optimizing your meta titles and descriptions
• Using alt text for images
• Ensuring your website loads quickly
• Making your content mobile-friendly
• Using a clean, easy-to-navigate design
• Including clear calls-to-action (CTAs) where appropriate

By focusing on creating informative, engaging, and relevant content, you’re not only improving your search engine rankings but also building trust with your audience and establishing your business as an authority in your field. This approach takes time and effort, but the long-term benefits to your online visibility and customer relationships are well worth it.

Get Found on Google With Ease

As we’ve seen in this article, keeping your presence on Google up-to-date (not to mention other directories) is no easy task.

It takes time, effort, education, and no small amount of skill to make sure that you’re getting as much visibility across Google’s properties as possible. 

The benefits are obvious. More customers, more sales, better business. But it can be intimidating for people who may not even know where to start. 

One way to make the process of optimizing your site and listings for the internet a whole lot easier is to try out Chatmeter. Chatmeter is an AI-powered reputation management platform that can help you:

• Create and claim listings on Google and other top directories.
• Spot and deal with duplicate listings.
• Update listings with new information automatically.
• Garner more reviews on platforms like Google.
• Boost your local SEO.
• And so much more.

If you’re interested in getting more business through Google but don’t have the time to do it all yourself, then consider Chatmeter as the ideal partner to make your business the top local result in your area.

To learn more about how Chatmeter can help your business, you can schedule a live demo, check out our case studies, or try out our interactive demo below.

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