Why Isn't My Google Business Profile Showing Up on Google Maps?

You set up your Google Business Profile, but when you search for your business on Google Maps, it isn't there. Or it shows up when you type your exact name, but never when someone searches for what you do.

Those are two different problems. Here's how to tell which one you have.

Test 1: search your exact name and city

Open Google Maps in a private or incognito window (so you're not signed in) and search your business name plus your city, like "Joe's Plumbing Kissimmee".

• It shows up: your profile is live. You have a ranking problem, not a broken profile. Skip to "If it's a ranking problem" below.
• It doesn't show up: something is keeping the profile hidden. Keep reading.

Why a profile doesn't show up at all

It isn't verified. Google says the information on a profile isn't eligible to show on Google until the profile is verified. Sign in to the account that owns it and look for a Get verified button. This is by far the most common cause, and it's why so many owners see their profile when they're signed in but customers don't. More on that in why your profile is only visible to you.

It's suspended. A profile that breaks Google's guidelines gets disabled or suspended and won't show to anyone until the issue is fixed. Google notifies you in the Google account that manages the profile, so check that inbox. Common causes are showing a home address customers don't visit, keywords stuffed into the business name, and duplicate profiles.

It was just edited. Google says changes can take up to 3 days to appear. Changing your name, address or category can also send the profile back into review.

It was just reinstated. Profiles coming back from a suspension can take a few days, sometimes a couple of weeks, to show again.

You're looking at a duplicate. If two profiles exist for the same business, you may be checking the one that isn't verified.

If it's a ranking problem

If you show up for your name but not for "plumber near me", the profile works; Google just doesn't rank it for those searches yet. Google says local results come down to three things:

• Relevance: how well your profile matches the search. Your primary category matters most here.
• Distance: how far you are from the person searching. You can't change this one.
• Prominence: how well known you are, including reviews.

It also says there's no way to pay for a better local ranking. What you can do:

1. Pick the most specific primary category that fits what you mainly do.
2. Fill in everything: services, hours, attributes, description, photos.
3. Ask every happy customer for a review. Never pay for them.
4. Make sure your name, address and phone match on your website and other listings.

Our Google Business Profile checklist walks through all of it.

Still not showing?

If your profile isn't verified and you're stuck, that's exactly what our done-for-you setup is for. We handle verification, including Google's manual review, and set up the profile so it can rank.