Profile and guidelines check
We check verification, categories, service areas, the business name and the address rules, so nothing on the profile puts it at risk of suspension.
SEO pain point
Why isn't your business showing on Google Maps?
Search your business name and town first. If you can't find yourself, the problem is the profile: it may be unverified or suspended. If you show for your name but not for your trade, the profile is live and Google is ranking other businesses above it, which is a different job.
4Common symptoms
3Fix pillars
DoncasterBased in South Yorkshire, UK-wide delivery
GEOAI search included
Symptoms
Does this sound familiar?
- A customer says they looked for you on Maps and could not find you.
- You show up for your own name, but never for "roofer near me" or "electrician Doncaster".
- You appear when you search from home, and vanish when you search from the next town.
- Your profile was there last month and has now gone.
Diagnose it
Four searches that tell you which problem you have
Run these in order on a phone, with mobile data. Stop at the first one that fails.
| Search | What you see | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Search your exact business name and town. | Nothing appears, and you can't see your profile. | Check the profile is verified, then whether it has been suspended. Google says verification reviews take up to five working days. |
| Your trade plus the town you are based in. | You appear for your name, but not for this. | Check your primary category and services. This is relevance: how well the profile matches the search. |
| Your trade plus a town you cover 10 miles away. | You appear at home, but not here. | Probably distance. Listing a town as a service area doesn't guarantee you will show there, so a page on your site for that area is the next step. |
| Your trade near me, standing outside a competitor. | They show, you don't, and they are no closer. | This is prominence. Compare review counts and how recent they are, then look at who links to them. |
Root causes
Why this happens
- The profile is not verified. Google says verifying makes a business "more likely to show up in search results".
- The information is incomplete or wrong. Google says businesses with "complete and accurate info are more likely to show up".
- The customer is too far away. Distance is one of Google's three local ranking factors, and you cannot edit it.
- Other businesses are better known. Google says more reviews and positive ratings can help, and that prominence is partly based on how many websites link to you.
- The profile has been suspended for breaking the guidelines, which hides it from the public.
Fix
How LoudCrowd approaches this
Not a generic checklist: these map to our SEO process and service deliverables.
Reviews and local links
A steady way to ask every customer for a review, plus links from real local websites. Those are the parts of prominence you can influence.
A website page for each area you cover
For Doncaster and Rotherham trades, a page that says what you do and where, so the profile and the website back each other up.
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Who we work with
Who we work with
Trades businesses, Yorkshire
We build local SEO programmes and conversion-focused websites for roofing, flooring and other trades businesses across Yorkshire.
E-commerce, Sheffield
We also work with e-commerce retailers in Sheffield on technical SEO and content.
Not showing on Google Maps, frequently asked questions
Direct answers for business owners researching why SEO is not delivering. And what to do next.
- Why is my business not showing on Google Maps?
- Usually one of five things: the profile isn't verified, it has been suspended, the details are incomplete, the customer is too far away, or better-known businesses rank above you. Searching your exact name and town tells you which group you are in.
- Why do I show for my name but not for my trade?
- Your profile is live, so this is ranking. Google uses relevance, distance and prominence. Relevance comes from your categories and services, and prominence from reviews, links and how well known you are.
- How long does it take to show up on Google Maps?
- Google says verification reviews take up to five working days. It gives no timescale for ranking, and nobody can honestly promise one.
- Can I pay to rank higher on Google Maps?
- No. Google says: "There's no way to request or pay for a better local ranking on Google."
- Do I need a shop or office to appear on Google Maps?
- No. A trade that visits customers can run a service-area profile with the home address hidden. Our guide to Google Business Profile for home-based trades covers the set-up and the rules.
Get started
Ready to grow your business?
Get a free marketing review: no hard sell, just an honest conversation about SEO, GEO or web design for your trade.
