Google Maps not showing your business

That means Google knows the business exists but does not see it as a match for the service people type. Google says local results depend mainly on relevance, distance and how well known a business is, and relevance comes from complete, detailed information. A precise primary category, your services listed on the profile and a page on your site for each one all tell Google what you do.

Google says a verified business is more likely to show up in search results, so an unverified profile starts behind. Google suspends profiles that break its guidelines, and a suspended one stays off Maps until an appeal succeeds. A second profile for the same business causes problems with how the information displays, so keep one.

Google asks for as few categories as possible, each as specific as possible, and never categories used as keywords. A business that travels to customers should hide its address and set a service area, which Google says should reach no farther than about two hours of driving from its base. And Google warns that a profile with inaccurate details might not show up for relevant searches.

A single page listing every service gives search one page to match against many different searches, and it answers none of them fully. Metro Detroit Maids has a page for each of 18 cities it serves, and Wayne County Traffic School has pages for 40 district courts and 17 violations, so each search lands on a page written for it. We build pages like these, one per service and place.

Start by checking which part is missing: the Business Profile, which puts you on Maps, or the website, which search results list. Search your business name. If no profile appears, claim or add one and verify it. If the profile shows but your site does not, the site may not be indexed yet, which a site: search reveals.

It may be hidden on purpose: Google asks businesses that travel to their customers to hide the address and show a service area. If customers do visit you there, check that the address is filled in, precise and not a PO box, which Google does not accept, and that the profile is verified.

Usually because Google suspended or disabled the profile for breaking its guidelines, or an edit changed the name, address or category. Adding marketing words or a city to the business name can get a profile suspended, Google warns. Check the profile's status, fix the cause, and appeal with evidence such as a business license. Do not create a new profile while the appeal is under review.

It may not be indexed yet: search site: followed by your domain, and if nothing comes up, Google has not added the site. Google says a new page can take a day or two, or a few weeks, to be crawled and indexed. If an older site is still missing, check for a noindex tag or a robots.txt block, and use Search Console's URL Inspection tool to see what Google knows about each page.

If it is indexed but sits low, it usually lacks a page that matches the search, or other sites say little about it. For local results, Google counts links from other websites and reviews toward how well known a business is. Give each service its own page in the words customers use, keep it fast and readable on a phone, and earn mentions from local and trade sites.

Claim and verify your Google Business Profile, complete it, and give your website a page for each service you sell. Then submit a sitemap in Search Console so Google can find every page, and ask each customer for a review. Google says there is no way to request or pay for a better local ranking; ads are a separate, labeled placement.