Why Your Business Isn’t Showing on Google? Top Reasons and Quick Fixes

Appearing on Google is important for any business to attract customers and grow online.

Whether through Google Search or Google Maps, being visible on the world’s most popular search engine can significantly impact your business’s success.

However, you might find it frustrating if your business isn’t showing on Google, leading to missed opportunities and decreased customer reach.

If you’re wondering why your business is not showing up on Google, you’re not alone. Several factors can affect your site’s visibility on Google.

From setting up and verifying your Google Business Profile to optimizing your SEO and ensuring consistency across online listings, there are actionable solutions to get your business back on the map.

In this post, we’ll discuss the top reasons why your business is not showing up on Google and the steps you can take to fix these issues.

So, without any further ado, let’s get started.

1 Why is It Important for Businesses to Show Up on Google?

According to Statista, Google has over 82% of the global search engine market share, and most consumers start their search for products, services, and local businesses on Google.

If your business is not showing up on Google, you’re missing out on a massive pool of potential customers.

Customers are more likely to trust businesses that appear in Google search results, particularly on Google Business Profile and Google Maps. Having your business visible and verified adds legitimacy.

In fact, according to Google data, 76% of people who conduct a local search on their phone visit a business within 24 hours.

If your business is not showing up on Google, you’re losing local customers to competitors visible in search results and Google Maps.

Visibility on Google leads to increased website traffic, directly influencing sales and revenue. Also, if your competitors are showing up on Google and you’re not, you’re missing out on a significant market share.

Google visibility gives you a competitive edge by allowing you to capture potential customers before they move on to other options.

2 Possible Reasons Why Your Business Isn’t Showing on Google

Let us now discuss the possible reasons along with its fixes to understand why your business isn’t showing on Google.

2.1 Google Business Profile Not Set Up or Verified

One of the most common reasons your business is not showing on Google is that your Google Business Profile is neither set up nor verified.

Visit the Google Business Profile website and sign in using your Google account credentials.

Next, click on the Manage now button to begin adding your business to Google.

Enter your business name and select your business category. Choosing the correct category is essential for helping Google understand your business type.

Next, add your business details like address, phone number, working hours, etc., and ensure these details are up-to-date.

Once done, verify your business. Typically, verification is completed by phone or text. Google sends a code to your registered mobile number, which you enter to verify your business.

Alternatively, you can receive a postcard with the code at your registered business address. Once you enter the code, your business is successfully verified.

Once you have done this, complete your Google Business Profile and regularly view it to ensure your contact details, hours of operation, and other important information are accurate.

Refer to our dedicated tutorial on setting up a Google Business Profile to ensure your business has a strong visibility on Google.

2.2 Google Business Profile Not Optimized

Even if your Google Business Profile is set up and verified, failing to fully optimize it can significantly limit your business visibility on Google.

To maximize your profile’s effectiveness, providing accurate and detailed information is important.

For instance, missing business hours or a vague business description can make your listing less appealing or lead to confusion.

Write a concise, engaging description highlighting your services or products, location, and unique selling points.

Add high-quality images to your storefront, interior, products, and services. Google prioritizes profiles with visuals, and they help customers get a feel for your business before they visit.

Upload short videos to showcase key aspects of your business, like the service experience, product highlights, or behind-the-scenes content. This helps boost customer engagement and trust.

Always keep your operating hours up to date. If your hours change for holidays or special events, update your profile accordingly.

2.3 Incorrect or Inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) Information

One of the important factors influencing your business visibility on Google is the consistency of your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) details across the web.

Inconsistent or incorrect NAP information can confuse Google’s algorithm, leading to lower search rankings or even preventing your business from appearing in local search results.

For instance, if your business is listed with different phone numbers on Google, Yelp, and Facebook, or if your address varies slightly across online directories, Google’s search engine may have difficulty determining which information is accurate.

This inconsistency signals a lack of trust, potentially causing your business to be omitted from local results. Maintaining consistent NAP details is essential for both search engines and customers to accurately find and contact your business.

To ensure your NAP details are consistent across the web, start by auditing the most important places where your NAP details appear, such as Google Business Profile, social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), your website, and online directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, or Bing Places.

Look for any discrepancies in your business name, address, or phone number. Even minor differences in spelling, abbreviations, or punctuation (e.g., ‘St.’ vs. ‘Street’) can impact how search engines interpret your information.

Correct any incorrect or outdated information on all platforms. Ensure your business name, address, and phone number are formatted exactly the same everywhere.

2.4 Your Website Isn’t Indexed by Google

Another reason why your business isn’t showing on Google search results is that your website isn’t indexed by Google.

If Google hasn’t crawled or added your website to its index, it simply won’t show up when your audience searches for your business or services.

Indexing is the process by which Google discovers and stores your site’s content in its database. Without indexing, even a perfectly optimized website won’t rank or appear in search results. This can occur if Google is unaware of your site’s existence or if technical issues prevent it from crawling.

2.5 Low SEO Visibility

Low SEO visibility can significantly affect whether your business appears in relevant search results.

One major factor is keyword relevance – if your website isn’t optimized with the right keywords that match user queries, your business might not show up in searches, or it can rank too low to attract traffic.

Additionally, factors like poor on-page SEO (e.g., missing or improperly optimized meta tags, title tags, and headers) can negatively impact your visibility.

Write clear, engaging content that incorporates the identified keywords naturally. Ensure that each page serves a specific purpose and provides value to your audience.

You can use Rank Math’s Content AI to create engaging and highly optimized SEO content.

Google also considers technical aspects like page load speed and mobile friendliness, and failing to meet these criteria can result in your website being ranked lower in search results.

Optimize your website’s load time using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. Compress images, reduce code bloat, and consider using a content delivery network (CDN) to enhance speed.

Also, optimize your local citations to enhance your local search presence.

2.6 Google’s Hidden Manual Review Triggers

Google’s Hidden Manual Review Triggers occur when a business makes frequent or significant changes to its Google Business Profile (GBP), leading to an automatic review by Google.

The listing might suddenly disappear after updating details like their business category, address, or name multiple times without any clear notification.

This happens because Google flags excessive modifications as potential suspicious activity, prompting a manual review to verify the business’s legitimacy.

Additionally, changing the business category or address too often can place the listing in a continuous verification loop, where Google repeatedly requests verification documents or phone confirmations, delaying the profile’s visibility.

To avoid this issue, limit major edits, ensure the information remains consistent across all platforms, and only make necessary changes at well-spaced intervals.

2.7 Too Many or Too Few Categories

Choosing the correct business categories on Google Business Profile (GBP) is essential for visibility in search results. Some businesses make the mistake of selecting too many categories, including ones not directly relevant to their services.

This can confuse Google about the business’s primary focus, weakening its ranking for essential searches. On the other hand, failing to include enough relevant categories can lead to the business not appearing for searches it should be ranking for.

To strike the right balance, choosing three to five highly relevant categories that accurately represent the business is recommended.

A good strategy is to analyze top-ranking competitors in the same industry and select similar categories to improve search visibility while maintaining accuracy.

To improve your Google Business Profile (GBP) visibility, optimizing both your business categories and description is essential. Your business description should include keywords that potential customers are likely to search for.

If you’re unsure how to write an effective business description, you can use Google’s suggested description feature or leverage Rank Math’s Content AI tool called Company Bio. This tool helps you create an optimized business description using relevant keywords.

Add all the relevant details, and within seconds, you’ll have a professionally written, keyword-optimized business description ready to be added to your Google Business Profile.

2.8 “Near Me” Search Visibility Issues

Many businesses struggle to appear in “near me” searches even after fully optimizing their Google Business Profile (GBP).

Google prioritizes businesses that have relevant keywords and categories and receive high engagement, such as clicks, calls, and direction requests.

For instance, a local bakery might have a well-optimized profile with the right keywords, but if few customers interact with it—such as clicking for directions or leaving reviews—Google may rank it lower in search results.

To improve visibility, you should encourage customers to engage with your listing by asking them to leave reviews, check in, or use Google Maps for directions.

Running geo-targeted ads can also help increase engagement and improve search rankings.

2.9 Lack of Reviews and Online Engagement

A lack of customer reviews or unverified reviews and online engagement can hurt your business’s visibility, especially in local search results.

If your business has few or no reviews, it is less likely to appear prominently in local search results, which means fewer people are likely to discover your business.

In addition to reviews, online engagement such as interaction through Google Business Profile posts, Google Maps, questions, and answers – can enhance your visibility.

You can encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google Business Profile, Yelp, or social media.

Respond professionally to any negative feedback and try to resolve issues. This helps build trust with potential customers and shows Google that you engage with your audience.

You can use our Comment Reply AI tool to create personalized & professional replies and build an engaging community.

2.10 Soft Suspension

A soft suspension occurs when your business listing suddenly disappears from Google search results without any warning or notification. One of the most common reasons for this issue is inconsistencies between the information on your Google Business Profile (GBP) and your website Schema markup.

Google relies on accurate and consistent data across various sources to verify business legitimacy. Even minor discrepancies, such as a slight variation in your business name, address, or phone number, can cause issues.

For instance, a dental clinic that rebranded from Smile Dental Care to Smile Dentistry but failed to update its business name consistently across its website, social media, and business directories. Even though the rest of the details might be accurate, Google may identify the name inconsistency and temporarily remove the listing from search results.

To check and fix these inconsistencies, you can use Semrush’s free Local SEO tool. By signing up and navigating to the Local tab, you can scan your business details across multiple platforms. The tool highlights discrepancies, allowing you to manually update incorrect details on various directories.

For Rank Math users, fixing Schema markup inconsistencies is even easier.

By enabling the Local SEO module in Rank Math’s dashboard, you can directly update your business name, address, and phone number in the Titles & Meta settings.

These updates automatically reflect in the Schema markup, ensuring consistency without needing to edit code manually.

By maintaining NAP consistency and regularly monitoring business listings across various platforms, businesses can prevent soft suspensions and improve their visibility in Google search results.

2.11 Business Operating in a Highly Competitive Industry

If your business is operating in a highly competitive industry in densely populated locations, then there is a chance that your business will not show up on Google.

When many businesses compete for the same keyword or audience, ranking well in search results can be challenging. This is particularly true for industries like restaurants, law firms, or retail, where local search competition is fierce.

Without a strong SEO strategy, your business may struggle to stand out, making it harder for customers to find you.

Instead of competing for broad, highly competitive keywords, focus on long-tail keywords that are more specific to rank. For instance, instead of ‘restaurant in New York,’ target ‘vegan restaurant in Brooklyn’ to attract a more focused audience.

Use location-based keywords in your content and meta description to improve your chances of appearing in local searches.

To quickly gain visibility in competitive markets, consider running Google Ads campaigns. Paid search ads allow your business to appear at the top results for specific keywords, bypassing organic competition. This is especially helpful if you’re trying to increase visibility in crowded markets.

2.12 Competitor Spam Listings

Google constantly works to prevent spam, but sometimes, fake listings and keyword misuse slip through the cracks.

Unscrupulous competitors may create fraudulent business listings or overuse keywords to manipulate local search rankings and push legitimate businesses lower in search results. If you come across such cases, you should report them to Google to ensure fair visibility for all businesses.

If you suspect a fake listing, you can report it to Google by following simple steps.

First, click on the suspicious business listing and scroll down to find the Suggest an edit button. If this option is not visible, you may need to log into your Google account.

Once you have access, click Suggest an edit, then select Report a legal issue.

Next, choose Google Maps and Related Products, followed by selecting No under legal reasons.

Then, select Local Listings and proceed with Report inaccurate information on local listings.

Finally, report a data error and use the Remove an incorrect or fraudulent listing link to submit a complaint.

To maintain a fair search environment, it is essential to regularly monitor competitors for spammy practices, especially for important search terms related to your business.

However, it is essential to only report listings that are genuinely fraudulent or misleading. Unfairly reporting legitimate competitors can backfire and damage your own business reputation.

2.13 Duplicate Business Listings

If you suspect that certain business listings are duplicates of your own and not a competitor’s, you can request a merger.

Having multiple listings for the same business can confuse Google, making it unclear which one to rank. This can lead to your business being flagged for manual review, potentially affecting its visibility on Google.

To resolve this issue, visit the Google Business Profile support page. Once there, describe your issue by selecting the option to Merge profiles and click Next.

Choose the appropriate option that best fits your situation, then follow the on-screen instructions. Google provides detailed guides and additional resources to help you complete the process smoothly.

2.14 Low-Quality Citations

Low-quality citations can negatively impact your business’s visibility on Google.

Citations refer to mentions of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) across online directories, websites, and social media platforms.

While having citations in authoritative directories can improve search rankings, listing your business on low-quality, spammy, or irrelevant directories can do more harm than good.

Google evaluates the credibility of sources when determining rankings. If your business is listed on outdated, untrustworthy, or poorly maintained directories, it may signal inconsistency or spam-like behavior, causing Google to suppress your listing.

To avoid this issue, focus on high-quality citations from reputable directories relevant to your industry and location.

Refer to our dedicated tutorial on building local citations and further enhance your local search presence.

2.15 Violating Google’s Guidelines for Businesses

Violating Google’s guidelines to represent your business on Google can result in penalties or reduced visibility.

Google prioritizes authentic and relevant business listings, and any deviation from these guidelines can hurt visibility on Google.

Double-check that all your business information is truthful, including your business name, address, and phone number.

Ensure that there is only one listing per location unless it’s for separate departments within large organizations.

If your listing violates any guidelines, fix the issues by editing your Google Business Profile to provide accurate and truthful information, improving visibility on Google.

3 Conclusion

If your business isn’t showing on Google, it’s likely due to common issues such as an unverified Google Business Profile, incorrect or inconsistent information, or low SEO visibility.

Addressing these problems is important for improving your business visibility on Google.

Regularly updating your information and monitoring performance through tools like Google Search Console will improve your business visibility on Google.

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