Why isn't my business showing on Google Maps?

It's one of the most common frustrations for Teesside businesses: you've got good reviews and happy customers, but search for what you do in your own town and you're nowhere on the map.

How Google decides who to show

Google says local results are based mainly on three things: relevance (how well your listing matches what someone searched), distance (how far you are from them) and prominence (how well known you are, including reviews and how often you're mentioned around the web). You can't change where you are, but you can do a lot about the other two.

The usual reasons

The wrong main category. If you're a roofer listed as a 'Contractor', you'll struggle to show for 'roofer'. Your main category matters more than almost anything else.

No website, or a weak one. Google uses your website to understand what you do and where. A Facebook page or a one-page site with no mention of your town gives it very little to go on.

Different details in different places. If your name, phone number or address differ between Google, Facebook, Yell and your website, Google trusts each of them a bit less.

Two listings for one business. Duplicates split your reviews and confuse Google. It's more common than you'd think, especially after a move.

Not many reviews, or none recently. A steady trickle of new reviews helps more than a burst three years ago.

Hours or details that don't match. If your listing says you're closed when people search, you may not be shown at all.

What to do first

Check your main category, make sure your details match everywhere, and look for duplicate listings. Then make sure you have a website that says clearly what you do and which towns you cover.

If you'd rather someone looked at it for you, Oakpress Studio, a web designer from Teesside, does a free check of how a business shows up on Google, Maps and ChatGPT.