Why isn’t my business showing up when I Google it?
Why businesses fail to appear in Google search results varies, but the most common reasons include lack of Google Business Profile optimization, insufficient online presence, incorrect business information, or not being indexed by Google yet.
New businesses typically take 2-4 weeks to appear in Google search results. If your business is older than a month and still not showing up, you likely have fixable issues preventing visibility.
Let’s explore why your business isn’t appearing and how to fix it.
Your Business Isn’t Verified on Google Business Profile
The number one reason businesses don’t show up is missing or unverified Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business).
Create Your Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile is free and essential for local search visibility. Without it, your business won’t appear in Google Maps or local search results.
Visit business.google.com and create your profile. You’ll need:
- Business name and category
- Complete address
- Phone number
- Business hours
- Website URL
Complete the Verification Process
Google must verify you own the business before showing it in search results. Verification methods include:
- Postcard with verification code (most common)
- Phone call verification
- Email verification
- Video verification for some businesses
The postcard typically arrives within 5-7 days. Enter the code to activate your profile. According to the Small Business Administration, 46% of all Google searches are local, making verification crucial.
Optimize Your Profile Completely
Incomplete profiles rank lower in search results. Add:
- High-quality photos (businesses with photos get 42% more requests for directions)
- Detailed business description
- Services or products offered
- Attributes (wheelchair accessible, outdoor seating, etc.)
- Regular posts and updates
Your Website Has Technical Problems
Google can’t show your business if it can’t properly index your website.
Your Site Isn’t Indexed
New websites take time to appear in Google’s index. Check if you’re indexed by searching “site:yourwebsite.com” in Google.
If nothing appears, your site isn’t indexed. Common causes:
- Robots.txt file blocking Google
- “Noindex” tags preventing crawling
- Website too new (under 2 weeks old)
- No sitemap submitted to Google Search Console
Submit Your Website to Google
Use Google Search Console to submit your sitemap. This free tool helps Google find and index your pages faster.
Steps to submit:
- Create a Google Search Console account
- Verify your website ownership
- Submit your XML sitemap
- Request indexing for important pages
Most websites get indexed within 1-2 weeks after proper submission.
Fix Technical SEO Issues
Technical problems prevent Google from understanding your site. Common issues include:
- Slow loading speed (pages taking over 3 seconds)
- Not mobile-friendly
- Broken links or error pages
- Duplicate content
- Missing title tags or meta descriptions
Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights and Mobile-Friendly Test tools to identify problems.
Your Business Information Is Inconsistent
Google shows businesses with consistent, accurate information across the web.
NAP Consistency Matters
NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. These must match exactly everywhere online:
- Google Business Profile
- Your website
- Social media profiles
- Online directories
- Review sites
Even small differences (like “Street” vs “St.”) confuse Google and hurt your ranking.
Update Directory Listings
Your business information appears on dozens of online directories. Inconsistent listings hurt visibility.
Key directories to update:
- Yelp
- Yellow Pages
- Bing Places
- Apple Maps
- Facebook Business
Research from Moz shows that NAP consistency accounts for 13% of local search ranking factors.
Claim All Your Listings
Someone may have already created listings for your business with wrong information. Search for your business name and claim every listing you find.
Update incorrect information immediately. This improves both accuracy and search visibility.
You Have Weak Online Presence
Google ranks businesses with strong online presence higher in search results.
Build Quality Backlinks
Backlinks from other websites signal authority to Google. Focus on:
- Local chamber of commerce websites
- Industry associations
- Local news websites
- Business directories
- Partner company websites
According to BrightLocal, backlinks remain one of the top three ranking factors for local search.
Get Customer Reviews
Reviews dramatically impact search visibility. Businesses with more positive reviews rank higher.
Encourage customers to leave reviews by:
- Asking directly after positive interactions
- Sending follow-up emails with review links
- Making the review process simple
- Responding to all reviews (positive and negative)
Businesses with 40+ reviews typically appear in the top search results.
Create Regular Content
Active businesses rank higher. Update your:
- Google Business Profile posts (weekly)
- Website blog (monthly minimum)
- Social media accounts (2-3 times weekly)
- Business hours and special offers
Fresh content signals to Google that your business is active and relevant.
Final Thoughts
Your business not showing up on Google usually stems from verification issues, technical problems, inconsistent information, or weak online presence. Start by creating and verifying your Google Business Profile, then ensure your business information matches everywhere online.
Check your website’s technical health using Google Search Console, and actively build your online presence through reviews and content.
Most businesses see improved visibility within 2-4 weeks after addressing these issues. For expert help optimizing your online presence and ensuring your business ranks well, WDMC Technologiesoffers professional digital marketing services to boost your visibility.