Yiğit CENGİZ
WyvUP
Updated:
2 min read
You opened a Google Business Profile and entered your details, but your customers can't find you on the map. We see this very often. Usually the cause is one of a few known settings or rules. Check the list below in order.
1. The profile hasn't been verified yet
An unverified profile doesn't show on the map, or shows only to a very limited extent. If there is a "Verify" prompt in the profile manager, complete it first. Depending on the business, Google offers different ways to verify, such as a video call, phone or email.
2. The profile has been suspended or restricted
If you see a red warning in the profile manager, the profile may have been suspended. The most common causes: adding keywords to the business name (such as "Ahmet Cam Balkon İzmir En Ucuz", meaning "Ahmet Glass Balcony İzmir Cheapest"), an address that isn't eligible, or more than one profile for the same business. You need to fix the problem and apply through Google's appeal tool.
3. Wrong or missing category
What decides most which searches you appear in on the map is your primary category. If you want to appear for someone searching for "glass balcony", your primary category has to match. Add secondary categories for the other work you do.
4. Address setting: storefront or service area?
If you go to your customers yourself (installation, renovation, cleaning and the like), the right choice is to hide your address and choose a service area. In that case no pin appears on the map, but you can still appear in searches for districts and cities. If customers come to your address, the address needs to be visible and correct.
5. You are far from the person searching
Google ranks results on the map by three things: how relevant you are to the search, how close you are to the person searching, and how well known your business is. Not showing up for someone on the other side of the city isn't an error; it may be down to distance.
6. The profile is too empty
A profile with no photos, description, opening hours or reviews falls behind on the "how well known" part. Add real photos of your own work, keep your opening hours up to date and ask happy customers for reviews. Buying reviews, on the other hand, breaks the rules and puts your profile at risk.
7. Your details differ from place to place
Your business name, address and phone number should be written the same way on your site, on your profile and in business directories. Even small differences, such as "Cad." in one place and "Caddesi" in another (both mean "Street"), can make it harder for Google to recognise you as a single business.
8. Your site isn't linked to the profile
Put your website address on the profile, and on your site write the same name, address and phone number as on the profile. Describe the areas you serve on your site through real work you have done there.
9. It's newly opened or newly edited
New profiles and big changes (name, address, category) can stay under review for a while. Making frequent changes during that time can make the review take longer.
In short
First check verification and suspension status, then fix the category and address settings, and then fill the profile with real photos and reviews. To set the listing up within the rules and with the same details as your site, see our Google Business Profile setup service; Google decides the ranking on the map, and we make no promises about it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Google Business Profile paid?
No, opening and managing a profile is free. It isn't possible to pay Google to rank higher on the map either; ads on the map are a separate thing and are marked 'Sponsored'.
How long after opening a profile will I show up on the map?
There is no fixed time. It starts showing once verification is complete, but new profiles and new edits can stay under review for a while. The waiting time varies from profile to profile.
Can I open a profile with a virtual office address?
Under Google's rules, virtual offices aren't eligible unless someone works at that address and receives customers there. If you go to your customers yourself, you can hide the address and choose a service area.
Cover photo: AS Photography / Pexels
