How come your business is off Google Maps?
Weronika
October 3, 2024
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You have read several guidebooks, written pages of insightful memos, and spent hours analyzing your competition—all this to provide your business with an outstanding Google Maps business listing.
Initially, all goes as planned, and you happily observe the growing number of comments and positive reviews under your business listing. Yet, as time goes by, you no longer keep track of your listing until, one day, you decide to check it out again. To your utter surprise, there appears to be one major problem: your business listing is missing.
May this novel-like introduction help you realize that no Google My Business listing is forever. It takes constant effort to rank truly high continuously.
In this post, you will learn where to find the missing listings and, perhaps more importantly, how never to lose track of them again. Let’s get started!
Optimizing your Google Maps listing is your responsibility
First, let’s tackle the low search visibility of your listing. It need not be gone. It may have simply been ranked low.
You must factor in your competition unless you are an absolute trailblazer and a market leader. Your competitors incessantly work to maintain their high ranking, and so should you.
Just because your listing came first in search results yesterday doesn’t guarantee success tomorrow. However, the situation has advantages. To solve this problem, all you need to do is focus on optimizing Google Maps.
Yet, if you think your business positioning has been set optimally if only for a short while, be patient. You may not be able to reach the top three from the start, but your efforts should yield satisfactory results in time.
Here now, gone tomorrow – keep an eye on your listing
As business listings are re-ranked constantly, you will need to monitor your listing on a regular basis. It only takes a few minutes a week. Consequently, you will be able to react quickly should trouble arise.
Occasionally, Google will delete or block a listing. The reasons behind such actions vary. Most often, a listing is removed due to any activity violating the terms of use. Sometimes, though, a listing is deleted because the user failed to verify it correctly.
Avoid bans on Google My Business listing
Google suspends or, in extreme cases, deletes listings to protect its users. Often, the decision is connected with the nature of the business, as Google will occasionally decide to ban a user, revoking their right to access the service.
The section All Google My Business policies contains a detailed set of rules governing Google My Business and business listings.
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Google account — where it all begins
Let us say a few words, first, to all of you who just assumed that a business listing would magically appear on Google Maps. It is possible, although unlikely, unless another internet user, your customer, or an avid service consumer adds your business as a new location.
Should this happen, though, you will be unable to manage such a listing, which is hardly advantageous. To control such a listing, you must request to claim it directly from Google. You are better off moving ahead and creating a listing yourself. First, you manage the listing from the very start, and second, you control its content to a high degree.
How to create a Google Maps business listing?
Creating a Google listing is not complicated. Actually, it’s quite intuitive. To start, you will need a Google account and then use Google My Business. We will soon post a detailed guide to help you set up a business listing.
Google My Business and a verification code
We have already mentioned that you will need to verify your Google listing. Truthfully, this is the only difficulty you will need to face. Verification is conducted via traditional post, which has always been inconvenient and currently is more than problematic.
Be aware that the parcel bearing your verification code may be delayed. Sometimes, it takes up to a few weeks. However, the issue is imperative enough not to be neglected.
The older, the better — listing history
Listing history is one factor that influences listing visibility. Remember that the older a listing is, the better its visibility. Moreover, any changes to your address, business category, or name will reset your listing history.
Avoid changing such data unless it’s absolutely necessary. Choose your initial content wisely and stick to it!
Continued optimization drives your business listing
You now realize that the question of visibility in Google Maps is a complex issue. How you manage your SEO affects your visibility in Google Maps.
Ranking your business higher and higher is a never-ending battle. For this reason, it’s advisable to prepare an SEO strategy encompassing both local and general activities. Likewise, a clear plan for optimizing Google Maps is equally recommended.
Here are a few tips to help you get your listing to the top of the search results. You might also want to check out our comprehensive post on optimizing your business listings. Having gained new insights, you are ready to start.
Business listing category
Your business listing should be in a specific category. Google is responsible for the list of available categories, which can sometimes make it difficult to find a category suitable for a given business.
If you find the categories puzzling, feel free to research your competition to see which categories they have chosen. This is a fast and easy method; after all, you will race against your competitors to appear in the local top three pack in search results.
NAP and its accuracy
Make sure you first enter NAP data or your name, address, and phone information. This is not only a question of credibility but also a possible means of contact for your prospects.
Please make sure your data is accurate. Regardless of place, it’s essential that you always enter consistent information. Not only does it promote confidence in your brand, but also it has a positive influence on your listing SEO.
Health & safety attributes
The pandemic has affected not only the physical but also the online world. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Google has introduced new health and safety attributes. Their number varies depending on the business sector. You can choose which attributes we recommend to add to your listing. Certainly, your customers will appreciate the information on pandemic restrictions, such as a facial mask requirement.
Pay attention to verify any attributes added by your customers. Such attributes need not be factual; surely, you wouldn’t like to be accused of misleading your customers or perpetrating falsehoods.
Posts & Services functionalities
Google has enabled its users to publish posts as part of their GMB functionalities. By using this functionality, you create positive content for your listing and help build a community for your brand. Some content is better than no content at all—this simple rule applies to SEO, too. That’s all, and that’s it.
The other functionality, Services, gives you the power to state specific services that your business can render. This allows you to showcase your offer in an exact way. Let’s assume you run a car garage. Using the Services functionality, you can quickly specify whether you repair cars, lorries, or perhaps only French-brand cars. Make use of it as much as you can!
Last but not least — Your customer reviews
Be mindful not only of collecting positive reviews on your listing but, above all, of interacting with users who wrote them. Comment and respond to queries. If you have received a positive review, thank its author; if you were reviewed critically, accept it and respond. Don’t argue; just draw conclusions and implement new solutions in your following projects/products.
The sum of all your actions
Frankly, it’s (almost) all up to you. Lost listings are most often just a result of neglect. If you comply with our suggestions, pay attention to your listing, provide good content, and wait patiently, you will achieve positive results. Trust us, it’s worth it.
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