See what your customers see
Open Google Maps on your phone and search for your business name. Then search for what you do, such as a plumber or a guest house. Add your town. Do it again from a different suburb or ask a friend in another part of town to try. The results change with where the searcher is.
Write down what you find: whether you appear, what the listing shows and which businesses appear above you.
Is there a listing for you?
If nothing appears under your business name, you may not have a listing yet. If you find one you did not create, it may be an old or duplicate one. Claim it rather than starting a second.
Is it verified?
A listing that has not been verified may not appear as it should. Google asks you to prove the business is real, often with a short video. Check your listing for a message asking you to verify.
Has Google suspended it?
Google can suspend a listing that breaks its rules, for example a business name stuffed with keywords or an address that is not a real place of business. Look for a notice on your listing and fix what it names.
Is it complete and correct?
Check your category, hours, phone number, website and address or service area. A missing or wrong category often means Google does not show you for what you do. Add real photos of your own and a short description.
If you close for holidays or seasons, set special hours. A listing that says it is open when it is not costs you reviews.
How far away is the searcher?
Google shows people the businesses closest to them first. You may be missing for someone who is far from you and appearing for someone near. Search from where your customers are, not from where you sit.
Duplicates and old listings
A previous owner, an old address or a second listing for the same place can split your reviews and confuse customers. Find each one and decide which one is yours. Claim yours. For the others, use the option on the listing to suggest an edit or report a problem.
If you have moved, update your address on your own listing instead of creating a new one.
New listings and changes
A new listing, or one you have just changed, may take time to show. Google decides how long. Check again in a few days before you change things again.
Reviews and trust
A listing with a few genuine reviews and replies looks more trusted than one with none. Send one neutral request for honest feedback to every customer. Do not offer anything in return, and do not ask only the happy ones.
What to do next
Get your free score. It shows how complete and competitive your listing looks and what each part may be costing you. If you want help fixing it, Setup is R1,500 once-off.