You have launched your business, created your Google profile and website, but you aren’t appearing on Google.
Rest assured, this isn’t a fatality. Simple mistakes or technical details often prevent your local SEO from taking off.
Let's look at the common missteps to avoid to put your business on the map.
⚠️ Error #1: Neglecting information consistency
For Google, consistency is paramount. Imagine a customer finding one address on Instagram and another on your website: they will be lost. Google reacts the same way.
If your name, address, or phone number differ across platforms, the search engine hesitates to recommend you. It is one of the most frequent local SEO errors, but also the easiest to fix.
The solution: verify that your contact details are identical everywhere on the web (site, social media, directories, etc.).
🔍 Error #2: An incomplete or “over-optimized” Google profile
Your business profile is the heart of your online visibility. However, two extremes hurt your ranking:
- Leaving too many fields empty: Google needs precise information to understand what you do and rank you.
- No photos: Users need to visualize. A profile without images of your team, premises, or work inspires less trust and gets far fewer clicks.
- Keyword stuffing: Writing “Plumber Melbourne CBD cheap emergency” as a business name is counter-productive and can even get you penalized by Google.
To optimize your Google profile effectively, the key is sincerity.
The solution: be natural. Use your real business name, describe your services clearly, and fill in 100% of the requested information.
đź’¬ Error #3: No strategy for customer reviews
Reviews are digital word-of-mouth. You cannot simply wait for them to arrive: you must collect them regularly to prove your activity to Google. A profile with reviews from 6 months ago will seem “asleep”.
Not replying is also a problem (even to positive comments!). It gives the impression of an inactive or indifferent business. Local SEO is background work based on interaction. Google favors entrepreneurs who take the time to engage with their community.
The solution: establish a small weekly routine. Send a review link to your latest customers and reply to those received. It is a super important signal for Google.
đź“… Error #4: Forgetting to stay active over time
Local SEO isn’t a one-time action at launch. It is a habit to build.
The solution: here are 2 simple actions to keep your profile active:
- Add photos regularly (once or twice a month).
- Publish a post occasionally via the Google Post tool on your profile.
Google sees that your business is alive. And so do your future customers.
📱 Error #5: A non-optimized website
Having a Google profile is good, but your website must take over to turn a visitor into a customer. Two obstacles often block this step:
- The site isn't mobile-optimized: The vast majority of searches are now done on smartphones, in the street, or on the sofa. If your site is unreadable on a small screen or too slow to load, the customer will leave immediately.
- Lack of local content: A simple homepage isn't enough. If you don't have pages dedicated to your services or the cities where you operate, Google will struggle to propose you to users.
The solution: check your site on your phone. Is it easy to read? Is the "Call" button easily accessible? Then create pages to describe your services and service areas.
đź“Š Error #6: Poorly analyzed competition
And if, despite all these actions, you still aren't visible? You might have studied your competitors poorly.
They may have more seniority, collect more reviews, or be better integrated into the local community. Rather than guessing, you can concretely analyze what separates you from them.
The solution: our tool Begonia.pro scans your positioning against your competitors and tells you exactly what points to improve.
Is your business making one of these mistakes?
Begonia.pro audits your online presence in the blink of an eye. Get a clear diagnostic and let yourself be guided step-by-step to climb Google's results.
