Why Doesn’t My Business Show Up on Google?

Are you one of the many frustrated business owners wondering why your business doesn’t show up on Google? Google is the biggest search engine in the game — if you want to boost traffic to your website, you have to play by this tech giant’s rules. The click-through rate of the highest-ranking Google search result is 28.5%, meaning those top sites get the lion’s share of visits.

If your company isn’t number one or isn’t even on the first page of results, it’s time to do some digging. So, why doesn’t your business show up? BKA Content has uncovered the most common issues and how you can fix them.

Reasons Why Your Business Doesn’t Show Up on Google

Google’s algorithm crawls webpages in search of keywords and valuable content, then uses that information to index a site. However, there are ways to get the search engine’s attention beyond waiting for its bots to come to you.

You Don’t Have a Business Profile

One of the easiest ways to get noticed is to create a Google Business Profile. Previously called Google My Business, Business Profile is free software accessible through your company’s Google account. Here, you can directly tell the search engine the most important information about your business:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Web address

This is one of the most critical steps for startups. If you launch your home-based business on Monday and on Friday are asking about why my business is not showing in Google, the answer may be that Google doesn’t know you exist yet. The great news is that you can make it aware with relative ease — and you get to enjoy the benefits of direct messaging, review responses and profile customization.

What if you already have a listing, but your business still doesn’t show up on Google? Creating a Business Profile is just the first step. The next is optimizing your online presence.

Your Business Listing Isn’t Optimized

While you only need basic information to create a Business Profile, you can get better results through optimization. The more information you provide, the better Google can match your company with queries.

In addition to the basics, input your products, services and business hours. Remember to update this information regularly to ensure accuracy. You can also post photos, which Google will feature in your listing.

Finally, take advantage of the post feature. Your posts are visible on your Google listing, signaling your enterprise is operational. You can announce events, deals and adjustments to your products and services. These posts provide additional data for algorithms, boosting the chance of a high search engine results page ranking.

These posts are also excellent for content marketing. A short blurb showcases your business’s personality, professionalism and knowledge, building rapport with viewers.

Google Hasn’t Verified Your Profile

What if you do all of this and still don’t see a change? It may be a verification issue.

Since anyone can make a Business Profile, Google has to verify its authenticity. To do so, the tech giant will send a communication of your choice:

• Mail
• Video recording or live video call
• Email
• Phone call or text message

Each option has its own process and will include the next steps. Keep in mind that Google will re-verify your profile every time you make a change, so look out for a message after every update.

Your Site Isn’t Optimized for the Right Search Queries

Why isn’t my business showing up on Google even though I’ve optimized and verified my Business Profile? If your profile isn’t the problem, it may be the keywords on your website.

Search engines try to offer users the best answers to their queries. All they have to work with is the data you provide on your profile and your website itself. If your business doesn’t show up on Google searches, there may be a mismatch between the content and the target audience.

Fortunately, we’ve got the solution: search engine optimization. To appeal to the almighty algorithm (and potential customers), you must identify the right keywords to include in your content. SEO is the process of creating an audience profile, finding the keywords that perform best and incorporating them into your content:

• Webpages
• Meta descriptions and titles
• Blogs

Keywords should relate directly to your business. For instance, if you run a smoothie shop, you should incorporate phrases that someone looking for smoothies would use:

• Fruit smoothies
• Best fruit smoothies 
• Fruit smoothies in (your City, State)

Unfortunately, SEO isn’t a one-and-done deal. Algorithms update frequently to improve user experience, which means a high-ranking webpage can drop overnight. As a result, you should regularly review keyword performance. If your business doesn’t show up on Google despite using SEO, it may be due to anything from a massive update disrupting the SERP landscape or technical issues on your individual website.

Fortunately, you don’t have to manage SEO by yourself. A dedicated digital marketing agency can handle the entire process, from research to writing to monitoring.

Your Business Isn’t on Social Media

Social media is one of the most powerful tools for small- and medium-sized businesses, as it’s highly accessible and works for any budget. Are you just starting up? You can drum up interest with free posts. Do you have a modest marketing budget? You can boost posts for a tiny fee.

A social media presence will also generate more search results bearing your business name. Using SEO on these platforms ensures your posts find the right audience, so coordinate keywords across your digital marketing campaign. If you adhere to a few rules, the algorithm is more likely to pick up your post:

• Include diverse media such as photos and videos.
• Offer value through entertainment or education.
• Post during a high-traffic time.

Why doesn’t your business show up on Google even after you have profiles on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok? This is a sign to check all your contact information on each listing. If the information isn’t identical, Google won’t make the connection.

Lack of consistency can also be a problem. Social media algorithms reward regular posting. Fortunately, a digital marketing agency can help here as well.

Get Help When Your Business Doesn’t Show Up on Google

Why doesn’t my business show up on Google? The answer could be any or all of the above issues. Fortunately, BKA Content can help you rank high on SERPs with SEO and white hat linking services. Get expert SEO strategy help that boosts your business to the top.