Are you facing trouble getting your website to show up on the Google search page even after optimizing all the basic SEO strategies? Worry not! We are here to help you identify the reasons and solutions to fix it. Google is the most dominantly used search engine for local searches.
This makes it important to have your business listed with Google Business Profile to get visibility on the search page. However, just having a business profile doesn’t guarantee that your website will show up in top local searches.
To improve the visibility on Google search results, you must optimize your website effectively and identify the reasons behind it. Read along to learn more about the possible reasons for your business to not show up on Google and the solutions to address them.
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1. Your Business Website Isn’t Verified on Google My Business
If your business is not visible in the local search that may be because you have not claimed your GMB till now. Until you verify your business profile on Google Business Profile, the business information you provide won’t be visible on Google.
To show up on the local search and Google Maps, your business needs to be verified by Google. You can check this by searching for your business on Google. If there is an option like “Own this business?” That means your business is not claimed yet.
Verifying your business in GBP will help people find your business easily on Maps, allowing your business to grow locally and get higher rankings online.
How to Solve if Your GMB is Not Verified
Although Google My Business can be verified through email or phone, mail is the most common option used by many businesses. Here’s how you can do this:
Sign in to your Google My Business.
Enter your Business name and Business category in the below marked boxes
If you have a physical Business you need to click on yes and then click on next button
Now, you need to properly fill in your business address. First, select your country, then add your street address, city name, and postal code. Finally, select your state. Before clicking the “Next” button, make sure everything is correct. Once you’ve confirmed all the details, click “Next.”
Fill in your phone number and website. If you don’t have a website, you’re still eligible for a GBP profile.
The next step is to verify your GMB. You have two options for verification. The first is to receive a code on your phone number, and the second is to make a video of your business and upload it to Google. For example, if you choose the phone code option, click “Next,” then enter the code in the designated section.
Next, you need to add your business hours. For example, if your business is open from Monday to Friday, click on the tabs for those days. Then, Google will ask you to select the opening and closing times for each day. After you’ve entered everything, click “Next.
On the next step you need to add a business description. After filling the description click on next
The final step is to add images of your business. Make sure to upload high-quality images that are real and not AI-generated or copied from Pinterest or similar sites.
Follow the process to register your Google Business Profile. Once completed, your company will appear in search results for both you and your clients when they look for businesses like yours in your city or search for location-specific keywords.
2. Not Optimized Google Business Profile
In the case where Google verifies your business but is still not visible on local search results, it is possible that your profile is not optimized. Google does not show the businesses that are either incomplete or not optimized well. Only the optimized websites are shown on local searches which is why many verified businesses don’t get visibility on Google’s search results.
Also Read | What is Local 3 Pack and How to Rank for Local 3 Pack
How to Optimize Your GBP
To know if your business website is optimized or not, check for the following things:
- Check your business name- An incorrect business name might be the issue that your business is not visible to you and your customers on Google.
- Check the business location- Having an incorrect or outdated business location is another reason your business is not showing up on Google.
- Check for your phone number- Check if your business phone number is accurate and updated as every person who sees your profile wants to connect with you. Additionally, the Google algorithm also checks for the NAPL (name, address, phone number, and location) before ranking businesses on local searches.
- Check for your service area- Check for the area of your service. For instance, if you want to target Texas but in your service area you are not mentioning Texas then it may be an issue and your business may not be visible in Texas.
- Check for the graphics and images- Regularly updating the images is important for business. Make sure to add relevant and latest images in the image section so that new customers will get to know about your services.
- Check your reviews- Reviews are one of the most important things in GBP. make sure to address any negative reviews and customer complaints so that your business looks credible to new visitors.
3. Inconsistent Business Information (NAP) Across Platforms
Inconsistent or incorrect information about your business on various online platforms might hinder your ranking on Google search pages. Information such as name, address, phone, and business working hours, should be accurate and up to date every time.
If the NAP (name, address, and phone number) of your business is different on various listing sites it negatively affects your business as Google considers each listing different which does not contribute to your business.
How to Make Sure to have Correct NAP
- Manage and sync your business information across numerous platforms, consider investing in online tools such as SEMrush listing management, yext, brightlocal, gosite.
- Regularly check your web presence for errors or inconsistent information. You can also hire an SEO agency to handle the work for you, as well.
4. Your Business is Newly Launched
If you are a new business or just launched your business website, the likelihood of your business showing up on local search is low.
For a new business, the web presence is naturally limited. Competing with well-established businesses in the area is not an easy task for a newly established business.
Search engines will eventually identify and index your website as it grows along with your online presence. This procedure requires work and time.
How to Improve Your Presence
Start by doing the following to assist your company get some footing and eventually compete with other local businesses:
- Leverage call-to-action to encourage customers to review your business online.
- Create backlinks for your website by collaborating with established websites.
- Keep your Google Business Profile updated.
- Make sure that you have your business on every listing site like. Yelp, trustpilot, manta, yellow pages etc.
- Promote your business by partnering up with small businesses in the local market.
- Take help from local seo company to increase your presence
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5. You Might Be Using Wrong Keywords
Not using the right keywords on your website may hinder your ranking on Google. Keywords play a significant role in ranking your website higher on local Google searches. Using the wrong keywords, or too many keywords affects your business ratings as the user will never be able to find your business in local search. Plus, overusing the keywords harms the user experience and the search engine rankings.
Solution
- Do proper keyword research and use only the relevant keywords in your content.
- Do not over-stuff keywords into website content or blogs.
- Keep your website data updated at all times.
6. Your Business Information Is Not Updated
Not updating your business information in all your online accounts such as Google Business Profile, Social Media platforms, online directories, and review sites on Google, is a major reason for not showing up in local searches. Your business information includes everything such as an address, year of registration, phone number, URL, working hours, and more.
How to Optimize your Online Content
- Make sure your Google My Business profile is up to date and accurate, with information about your company’s address, phone number, website URL, and business hours.
- Update listings on social media, review sites, and other online directories.
7. Too Much Competition In Local Market
It might be difficult for new or small firms to appear in Google search results in highly competitive local marketplaces. Newer businesses find it challenging to effectively compete with established businesses that have a strong online presence and ample resources, as they frequently dominate search rankings.
How to Compete with the Competition
- Highlight the value you offer and set your company apart from the competition.
- Focus on specialized markets and your target audiences.
- Partner with like-minded companies to increase your visibility.
8. Not Managing Online Reviews
Online reviews can affect your company’s visibility on Google. Your business may receive lower search ranks if there are negative reviews or no reviews at all, which discourage potential customers from interacting with you. Customers’ trust and interest in your business are greatly influenced by the general impression of the company, which is represented in online reviews and directly affects how your business appears in search results.
How to Get More and More Positive Reviews
- Motivate happy customers to post positive feedback on social media, and Google My Business and on other listing platforms
- Resolve any issues mentioned by consumers in a timely and professional manner in response to all reviews.
9. You Are Not Optimizing Your Online Content
Improving your business on Google search results requires optimizing the content you post online. Poorly optimized blogs, website copies, and other digital media can harm search engine results and organic visitors. Low-quality content might have a negative impact on visibility and fail to draw in organic visitors. When the content is not properly optimized, search engine algorithms may not be able to understand it, which makes it more difficult for customers to find your company through search results.
How to Get More and More Positive Reviews
- Include target keywords in headings, meta tags, and content on your website naturally.
- Create valuable and high-quality content that resonates with your target audience.
- Be consistent with posting blogs, guest posts for other websites, and the social media pages of your business.
10. Your Sitemap is Outdated or Not Present
Having a sitemap allows the visitors a smooth experience while exploring your website. If the sitemap of your website is outdated or not present, it can greatly affect the rankings of your business website. The absence or the outdated version of a sitemap leads to incomplete indexing on Google making it difficult for your business to show on search results.
Do this to update your sitemap
- To ensure correct indexing, create and upload a sitemap and list on your Google Business Profile.
- Update your sitemap frequently to reflect any modifications or additions you make to your website.
- You can use a sitemap generator online for creating sitemaps.
- Make sure that every web page is included in your sitemap for better search engine results.
The Bottom Line
Optimizing your business to show up on the local Google searches has become extremely important in the competitive business environment. So if you are worried about your online visibility on Google, you can follow the strategies mentioned above and improve your digital presence.
Contact our team at WillShall to learn about our SEO services to help your business appear on top Google searches today!
I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to WillShall Consulting with two decades of expertise in Website Design, Development, and Digital Marketing, My journey has been marked by a passion for creating innovative web solutions that not only meet but exceed client expectations. As an avid analyst, I dedicate myself to understanding each customer’s unique needs, ensuring that our web solutions are not just functional but exceptional.