Here’s What’s Actually Happening
Someone in your town right now is searching “best tacos near me” or “emergency plumber” or whatever it is you do. Google shows them a map with three businesses at the top. If you’re not one of those three, you don’t exist. Game over.
But even if you ARE in those top three, if your profile looks like amateur hour, they’re still calling the other guy.
I tested this last week. Needed a locksmith at 10 PM. Found three on Google Maps. First one had no photos and a phone number that went to voicemail. Second one had photos of random stuff and reviews from 2019. Third one had current photos, recent reviews, and answered on the second ring. Guess who got my $200?
Why This Matters More Than Your Fancy Website
Nobody goes to your website anymore to find your phone number. They Google you, see your business pop up on the map, and either call you right there or keep scrolling.
Your Google My Business profile IS your storefront now. If it looks good, people call. If it doesn’t, they don’t. It’s really that simple.
The Mistakes That Are Killing You
I’ve looked at thousands of these profiles. The same stupid mistakes over and over:
Your Info is Wrong
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to call a business and the number was disconnected. Or shown up at an address and it’s an empty lot.
Google checks this stuff. If your information is wrong, they don’t show you to anyone.
Your Photos Are Terrible
Went to a pizza place last week because their Google photos made the pizza look amazing. Got there and it was nothing like the photos – which were clearly stolen from some other restaurant.
But most of you have the opposite problem. Your photos are so bad they make people NOT want to visit. Blurry shots of an empty restaurant, pictures of your parking lot, photos taken at night with terrible lighting.
You Never Respond to Reviews
Had a bad experience at a hotel. Left a honest review explaining what went wrong. Never heard back from them. Know what message that sends? “We don’t care about our customers.”
Compare that to a restaurant where the owner responds to every single review, even the bad ones. Which business would you trust more?
You Picked the Wrong Category
If you fix air conditioners, don’t list yourself as just “contractor.” People searching “AC repair” won’t find you because Google doesn’t know what you actually do.
How to Actually Fix This Mess
Stop making this harder than it needs to be. Here’s what you need to do:
Claim Your Profile (If You Haven’t Already)
Go to business.google.com right now. Find your business. Claim it. Google will mail you a postcard with a code. Yes, actual mail. It’s annoying but just do it.
If you already claimed it, great. Now let’s make it not suck.
Get Your Basic Info Right
Business name: Use your real name. Don’t stuff “best pizza Chicago deep dish” in there. Google will punish you and customers will think you’re spam.
Address: Make sure it’s exactly the same everywhere online. Your website, your Facebook page, everywhere. Google notices when things don’t match.
Phone number: Use a local number if you can. And make sure someone actually answers it during business hours.
Hours: Keep these updated. Especially holidays. Nothing pisses people off more than driving to a closed business.
Write a Description That Doesn’t Suck
Most business descriptions are useless. “We provide quality service to our customers” – what does that even mean?
Instead, tell people exactly what you do and why they should choose you.
Bad: “Family-owned restaurant serving the community since 1995.”
Good: “Authentic Mexican tacos and burritos made fresh daily. Open late, delivery available, catering for parties. Best salsa in downtown Portland.”
See the difference? The second one tells me what they sell, what makes them different, and where they’re located.
Add Photos That Don’t Look Like Garbage
Take new photos with decent lighting during business hours. Show people actually using your business. If you’re a restaurant, show people eating. If you’re a shop, show customers browsing.
What to photograph:
- Your storefront (so people can find you)
- Inside your business during busy times
- Your products or your work
- Your team actually working
Don’t photograph:
- Empty rooms
- Your parking lot
- Random stock photos
- Blurry garbage from your phone
Pick the Right Categories
Your main category tells Google what you do. If you’re a plumber, pick “plumber,” not “contractor” or “handyman.”
You can add more categories, but don’t go crazy. A pizza place doesn’t need to be listed as Italian restaurant, family restaurant, delivery service, and catering company. Pick the ones that actually matter.
Deal with Reviews
Ask customers to leave reviews. Not in some automated email – ask them in person when they’re happy with your service.
“Hey, if you have a minute, a Google review would really help our small business.”
Most people will do it if you just ask.
When you get reviews (good or bad), respond to them. Keep it short and genuine.
Good response to positive review: “Thanks Maria! Glad you loved the chicken sandwich. See you next time!”
Good response to negative review: “Sorry about the wait time, John. That’s not normal for us. Call me at 555-1234 and I’ll make this right.”
Don’t write essays. Don’t get defensive. Just acknowledge and fix problems when they happen.
The Advanced Stuff (That Actually Works)
Once you’ve got the basics down, try these:
Post Regular Updates
Google lets you post updates directly to your profile. Use this to share specials, new products, events, whatever.
Most businesses never use this feature. Which means you’ll stand out if you do.
Turn on Messaging
Customers can text you directly through your Google profile. It’s convenient for them and gives you another way to get business.
Just make sure someone actually responds to the messages.
Answer Common Questions
There’s a Q&A section most people ignore. But questions and answers show up in search results, so use this space wisely.
Have someone ask common questions about your business, then write helpful answers. Like “Do you deliver?” or “What forms of payment do you accept?”
Stop Doing This Dumb Stuff
These mistakes will kill your local rankings:
Don’t Stuff Keywords in Your Business Name
“Joe’s Best Pizza Chicago Deep Dish Italian Restaurant” looks like spam. Google will penalize you.
Don’t Use Fake Addresses
Google knows if you’re using a mailbox store or your cousin’s house. If you work from home, you can hide your address but you still need a real one for verification.
Don’t Ignore Google’s Rules
Google has guidelines for business profiles. Break them and they’ll suspend your listing. Then you’re invisible until you fix it.
Don’t Set It and Forget It
Check your profile regularly. Customers can suggest changes. Sometimes competitors or trolls try to mess with your information.
How to Know If This Actually Works
Google shows you stats about your profile:
- How many people saw it
- What they searched for
- Whether they called, visited your website, or got directions
If you’re getting lots of views but no calls, maybe your phone number isn’t obvious enough. If people are calling but not visiting your website, maybe your website sucks.
Use this data to figure out what’s working and what isn’t.
The Real Results
When you fix your Google My Business profile, here’s what happens:
Your phone rings more. People find your website. They show up at your store. You get more reviews (hopefully good ones). Google shows you to more people.
It’s not rocket science. It’s just that most businesses are too lazy to do it right.
Look, I Get It
You’re busy running a business. You don’t have time to figure out Google’s constantly changing algorithm. You just want more customers without having to become a marketing expert.
That’s exactly why businesses work with us at DigiZaro. We handle all this local SEO stuff so you can focus on what you’re actually good at.
We optimize your Google My Business profile, build citations, manage reviews, and make sure you show up when people in your area search for what you do. Our clients see real results – more calls, more customers, more money.
Stop Losing Customers to Competitors Who Figured This Out
Every day you wait is another day your competitors are answering phones and making sales while you’re invisible online.
Your Google My Business profile is free. Fixing it takes some work. But the customers you’ll get from showing up in local search are worth way more than the effort it takes.
Want to see what’s wrong with your current profile?
Get a free local SEO audit and we’ll show you exactly why people aren’t finding your business online. We’ll tell you what’s broken, what opportunities you’re missing, and how to fix it.
Stop letting good customers go to your competitors just because they can’t find you on Google.