Top Reasons Map Listings for Local Businesses Won’t Appear in Search Results
By: T Guard
Tags: Local Seo, Internet Marketing, Google, Maps, SEO

Top Reasons Map Listings for Local Businesses Won’t Appear in Search Results T Guard May 20·3 min read

It’s inevitable that business owners will search for their business and the second a business owner does not show up in maps for a local search, they’ll ask…

“Why won’t my map listing rank for my keywords?”

Top Reasons Why Your Business Does Not Show up in Google Maps.

You’re a greedy bastard. — Yep I said it. When you set up your Google My Business profile you probably added all kinds of categories based on your services and then some. You might have made your service area cover an entire state or more than two hours of driving distance away.

The mindset of more is better does not equate well with Google. Google is smart. If you can see it, so can Google.

For example, if you are Cleaning products supplier that should be your category, period. Category is what the business IS, not necessarily what it does. What is your business known for?

The greedy bastard mindset will add all kinds of categories to their GMB profile. Uninformed business owners would probably add some of the following categories and then wonder why they are getting calls for laundry pick up and maid service.

· House cleaning service

· Window cleaning service

· Commercial cleaning service

· Carpet cleaning service

· Janitorial service

· Cleaning service

· Upholstery cleaning service

· Dry Cleaners

Want a better calls and customers looking to pay for your services? Use Specific Categories Based on the Category of your business.

Your GMB service area says, “I’m not a local business.”

The ranking for business on Google is based on the physical location of your business — the address that you used to verify your listing.

Rankings have nothing to do with the service areas you select. The areas provide a visual for the user by generating a shaded area over the map (if the address is hidden) and can also be seen by the user on App.

If you are not showing up in maps for a city you service, it could be because you verified your GMB profile using an address too far away from your target or “money” location.

The service area locations you add in your GMB profile should be congruent with the areas on your website, social networks and directories.

What does Google Say About Service Areas?

You can’t set your service-area as a distance around your business. If you previously set up your service area in this way, you can’t edit it. Instead, you must specify your service -area by city, postal code, or another type of area. Keep in mind: You can have up to 20 service areas. The boundaries of your overall area should not extend farther than about 2 hours of driving time from where your business is based. Source: GMB Guidelines

Google’s Local Map Secret Algorithm Revealed

Google’s search engine algorithms factors are kept secret although they do provide guidelines that will help your business rank. However, Google gives straight up tells you how to get your business to get better placement in local searches.

The biggest Google maps SEO tip in the world.

How Google determines local ranking

Local results are based primarily on relevance, distance, and prominence. A combination of these factors helps us find the best match for your search. For example, our algorithms might decide that a business that’s farther away from your location is more likely to have what you’re looking for than a business that’s closer, and therefore rank it higher in local results.

Google Maps Rankings Factors are based on:

Relevance: Categories, Services, Name (Brand)

Distance: Proximity to verification address

Prominence: Citations, Review count, Sentiment, Updates, Engagement, Organic position

In summary practice the following.

Don’t be greedy.

Determine the best category for your business

Keep your service area local.

Provide information your customers need or are looking for and they will find you.

Happy Map Rankings

Tom Guard

My craft is the practice of optimization.

I optimize platforms like websites, social networks, maps, and so on. Some call it SEO but that’s an outdated term.