How do I add my business to Google Maps?

Nowadays, appearing on Google Maps is a must for any local business wishing to amplify its online presence. It’s the easiest way to stand out where it matters most and grab the attention of internet users looking for your services in their local area. Adding your establishment or outlet to Google Maps maximises your chances of being seen and found. Partoo explains all you need to know in this article!

Why list your business on Google Maps?

Google Maps is a free tool that will display your business in local search results. A local search is when a user asks the search engine to list nearby businesses or services.

Statistics show that 76% of people who perform local searches visit the outlet within 24 hours. So, getting your business listed on Google Maps is a sure-fire way to drive customers to your door and boost your establishment’s online presence.

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How do I add my establishment to Google Maps?

Adding your establishment to Google Maps is a cinch. You can add your business directly via Maps or your Google Business Profile (previously called Google My Business).

You must, however, have claimed ownership of your business for it to appear on Google Maps. There are two ways to add your business to Maps:

1. You don’t have a Google Business account

If you don’t have a Google profile, you can create one directly on Google Maps. But don’t worry, Google will guide you through the steps to set up your profile. You’ll need to enter the following information when setting up your profile:

• Your company name
• Address
• The main business category
• The establishment’s phone number

Be as specific as possible when entering information. Once Google has this information, it will be able to confirm where you are based and then display your listing in that area.

2. You already have a Google Business account

If you already have a Google profile, you can select your listing and confirm ownership by simply looking up your business name in the Google Maps search bar.

Whatever step you follow, once you retrieve the profile, you’ll then need to verify your establishment’s listing. Google provides several ways to verify your listing:

• Phone or SMS
• Email
• Video recording
• Video call
• By post

If you choose to verify your listing by post, Google will send a letter with a validation code to the address you provided. Once received, you must enter the code in the dedicated section of your Google Business Profile to verify your listing.

How to optimise your Google Maps listing?

Creating or claiming ownership of your establishment’s listing may not be enough to ensure you appear in local searches. Your listing must be complete and up to date to increase your chances of appearing in Google Maps search results.

To optimise your listing, add as much information as possible: categories, opening hours, attributes, photos, etc.

You can also add a contact number to display on your Google listing. This “chat” feature lets people send you an SMS or a WhatsApp. Allowing users to ask questions or get information about your establishment forges a closer bond with potential customers.

To add this feature, simply go to the Contact tab of your Google profile, then go to the “Chat” section. Note that if you add both options (WhatsApp and SMS), only the SMS option will show up on the listing.

You can also add specific opening hours if your outlet closes for holidays, meaning your customers always have up-to-date information.

Finally, feel free to add keywords to your listing. This will help your business appear in appropriate search engine results. However, do not add keywords to the company name on your listing, as this goes against Google’s rules.

Why isn’t your listing showing up on Google Maps?

There are several reasons why your business may not appear on Google Maps. The most common ones are:

1. Google hasn’t verified your listing

As mentioned above, Google needs to verify your listing before adding it to Maps. If you search for your business on Google and see the link “do you own this business?” on your listing, it means that it hasn’t been verified.

If, despite your various attempts, you still can’t get your listing verified, you should contact Google to find out why.

2. Your Google listing has been suspended

Check that your listing hasn’t been suspended. Google reserves the right to suspend a listing that goes against its rules. So remember to pay close attention to the setup instructions and the reasons why a listing may be suspended.

3. You lack location authority

‘Location authority’ is a ranking metric that Google Maps uses when deciding how to rank a business in its local results. It lets users find your business on Google Maps using broader search terms. Without it, your listing will only appear if your customer taps in your business’s precise location.

A high location authority will boost your credibility and help you stand out to potential customers. If, on the other hand, you let this slide, your listing will be harder to find.

Want to go further?

You may need to tweak essential details in your Google listing to boost your location authority and secure a place in Google Maps results.

You may need to tweak essential details in your Google listing to boost your location authority and secure a place in Google Maps results.

4. Google Maps won’t “accept” your address

A problem with your address may explain why your Google listing doesn’t appear on Google Maps. Several factors can cause this:

• A recent change of address: Google has yet to verify the change. There’s nothing you can do about this – patience is a virtue!
• You haven’t entered an address: If you only enter your service area, but not your establishment’s address, your listing may not appear in search results. Plus, it’s wise to narrow the number of service areas so the ones that really count become more visible.
• Too far away: The establishment is too far from the user’s search area.
• A conflict with another listing that has the same address: Having two business listings at the same address can negatively impact the visibility of one of them. However, if these establishments provide different services, this shouldn’t pose a problem. If not, you’ll need to optimise your listing to boost its visibility.