We’ll break down eight possible reasons your business might be missing and what you can do to fix each one. Let’s get started!
Google Business Profile
You’ve set up your business, added it to Google, and waited. Yet it’s still not showing up on Google Maps. It can be frustrating, especially when you know potential customers are searching for services like yours nearby.
In most cases, it comes down to a few common issues. Google Maps rankings aren’t random—they rely on a mix of algorithms, just like regular search results. If your business isn’t showing up, it’s often due to how your profile is set up. Even small issues in your listing can affect whether or not Google includes you on the map.
Below, we’ll break down eight possible reasons your business might be missing and what you can do to fix each one. Let’s get started!
Sometimes your business doesn’t appear on Google Maps simply because the search term doesn’t match what you offer.
For instance, if someone types “wedding photographer near me” but your Google Business Profile only mentions “portrait photography,” your listing may not come up—even if you do offer wedding photography.
In this case, your profile exists but isn’t optimized for those keywords. To test relevance, search Google Maps directly for your business name without any keywords. If it appears, that means it’s online, but the wording isn’t matching searches.
To fix this, update your Google Business Profile so it clearly describes all your services. Include target keywords naturally in your business title (if allowed), your business description, and your list of services.
For example, if you offer wedding photography, explicitly mention “wedding” in your description or service list. Be sure to choose the most accurate business category (e.g. “Wedding Photographer” instead of just “Photographer”).
It helps Google understand exactly what you do. Also, add any specialties or sub-services you provide. When your profile includes the words people actually search for, Google is much more likely to show it for those queries
Google Maps is designed to show the most relevant businesses nearby, which means location plays a major role. If you’re searching from too far away, your business might not show up even if it’s listed and verified.
For example, imagine you run a yoga studio in downtown Sanford, but you’re searching from a suburb 25 miles out using the term “yoga classes.”
Google will likely show studios closer to your current location first. Unless someone zooms out or changes their location filter, your studio may not appear in their results at all. So, always consider how proximity affects your visibility.
Keep this in mind when testing: use Google Maps’ location filter or manually center the map on your business’s neighborhood and try the keyword again.
If you see your listing then, distance was the issue. There’s no quick fix for location itself, but you can improve your presence by proving relevance in other ways so Google still considers showing you even if the search isn’t right next door.
Google uses something called “prominence” to decide which businesses show up first on Maps. In simple terms, it means how well-known or established your business appears online.
Let’s say you run a small independent bookstore. If someone searches “bookstore near me,” Google is more likely to highlight larger or more established chains in the area—like Barnes & Noble—because they have more reviews, online mentions, and foot traffic.
It doesn’t mean your business isn’t good; it just means you need to build more visibility through things like customer reviews, local articles, and consistent engagement to climb higher in the results.
Encourage happy customers to leave reviews (more on that below), and respond to every review to show engagement. Ask local bloggers or newspapers to write about you or your events.
List your business on authoritative local directories (Chamber of Commerce, industry associations, local tourism sites). Every quality mention or link increases Google’s confidence in your business. Over time, these signals will make your profile more prominent. In short, more positive mentions = more prominence = higher Google Maps ranking.
Related: Are Relevance, Distance, & Prominence Google Ranking Factors?
Even with verification, missing or inconsistent information can hold you back.
Google compares your Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) across the web to ensure accuracy. If your website says “123 Main St.” but your Google profile lists “123 Main Street,” that slight difference can confuse Google’s system.
Likewise, if you skipped adding your hours, services, or photos, Google has less information to match you to searches. Google warns that profiles lacking complete, accurate info may not show up for relevant local searches.
This often happens when businesses move or rebrand. Maybe you updated your website with a new address but forgot to edit your Google listing.
Or perhaps you have two Google listings for the same location by accident. These inconsistencies make Google doubt which one is correct.
If your profile suddenly disappeared, it may have been suspended by Google. A suspension is like Google waving a red flag: your business is removed from Maps until you fix the issue.
Suspensions happen when a listing violates Google’s guidelines or has confusing info. Common triggers include:
On suspension, your dashboard will typically show a notice explaining that the profile is suspended. If this happens, first review Google’s Business Profile guidelines to identify the violation.
Check that your business name is exactly as registered (no extra keywords), your address is a real storefront, and your chosen category accurately reflects your services.
Remove any duplicate listings by merging or deleting extras in the Google My Business support interface.
Once you’ve corrected the errors, you can appeal for reinstatement. In your Google Business dashboard, there should be an option to “Request reinstatement.”
When you submit the form, include proof documents to show your business is legitimate. Good evidence includes a business license, a lease agreement, utility bills in the business name, or clear photos of your storefront and signage.
Explain what you corrected (e.g., “Updated address to the correct street address” or “Removed keyword from business name”).
Google will review your appeal, which can take a few days to a couple of weeks. In the meantime, don’t make any further drastic edits; Google often re-suspends profiles that keep changing too quickly.
Once approved, your listing will reappear on the map. While it’s a setback, a careful reinstatement process can get you back online. If you find the process confusing, consider getting help from a local SEO specialist or reaching out to Google support for guidance.
Related: Why Your Google Profile Got Suspended (and How to Fix It)
Sometimes the problem isn’t just Google Business Profile, but your overall local SEO. If your website and online presence don’t emphasize your local area, Google may rank competitors higher.
For example, if your site never mentions your city name or lacks location pages, Google won’t recognize that you serve that area. Likewise, if you have very few local citations (mentions of your business name and address on other websites), Google has less evidence of your existence in the community.
So first up, optimize your website for local search. Make sure your city and region appear in key places: page titles, meta descriptions, headers, and page content. For instance, use phrases like “Best property managers in Sanford” on your home page or a services page.
Make sure to implement LocalBusiness schema markup on your site so Google clearly understands your address and offerings. If you serve multiple areas, create dedicated landing pages for each location (with unique content and contact info).
Also, build local citations and backlinks. For this, list your business on well-known directories and industry sites, always using exactly the same business name, address, and phone. Each citation boosts Google’s confidence in your existence and location. Also, earn links from local organizations: join your city’s Chamber of Commerce, sponsor a local event, or partner with non-profits.
Getting your business mentioned on local news sites, blogs, or community pages not only provides backlinks but also reinforces your local relevance.
Pro tip: Keep your Google Business Profile active. Regularly post updates, news, or special offers on your GBP. Update your services and add new photos when you can. Respond to customer questions and encourage customers to upload photos of their own.
Online reviews are powerful social proof for your Google listing. Google explicitly factors reviews into prominence – more reviews and higher ratings help your ranking.
A listing with just a couple of stars or very few reviews will not rank as well as one with dozens of positive reviews, and customers may hesitate to click.
In short, having good reviews not only boosts your Google Maps position, but also makes customers more likely to choose you. To improve this, encourage satisfied customers to leave Google reviews.
After a service or sale, send a friendly follow-up email or text thanking them and providing a direct link (or QR code) to your Google review form. You can generate this link from your Google Business dashboard.
Monitor and grow your reputation. You can use tools like ReviewTrackers or Google’s own notifications to know when new reviews arrive. If your overall rating dips below 4 stars, consider asking more of your happy customers to add reviews to bring the average up.
Ocean Sky is where we make Google Maps and local SEO feel simple—and effective. Based in Sanford, NC, we specialize in helping local service businesses get noticed online through both Local SEO and Technical SEO strategies that drive real growth
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Review our SEO plan Feel free to contact us at services@oceanskyweb.com or call us at (919) 352-9727 to learn how our SEO services can help your busines stay ahead of the curve!
