Why Your Google Business Profile Isn’t Ranking and How to Rank Higher on Google
If your Google Business Profile isn’t showing up in search results or on Google Maps, you’re missing out on valuable new customers. Whether you’re a service provider, local shop, contractor, or consultant, your profile is one of the most powerful tools to get discovered. But if your business isn’t ranking, you’re essentially invisible on Google.
Ranking on Google Business (formerly Google My Business) involves more than just setting up a profile. There are technical details, strategic decisions, and ongoing management that all play a role in how you rank. While some parts may seem straightforward, getting real results takes expertise, consistency, and a clear strategy. That’s why working with a professional team like Tactycs is crucial. We’ll handle everything from audits to technical fixes and ongoing optimization. Let’s dive into the most common reasons why your Google Business Profile might not be ranking and how Tactycs can fix it.
Quick Easy Ways to Boost Your Google Business Profile Today
Before we dive into the deeper details, here are a few simple, actionable steps you can take right now to improve your Google Business Profile ranking. These are things you can do on your own to get started and if you want to take things further, Tactycs can handle the heavy lifting.
Include your two-word keyphrase in your business title
This is a high-impact move when done properly. For example, instead of just "Westwood," consider "Westwood Landscaping."
Add all relevant services as secondary categories
Make sure your secondary categories match the keywords your audience is actually searching for. This helps Google understand what your business offers.
Update your description with your core service and value proposition
Think of this as your elevator pitch. Clearly state what you do and why someone should choose you over a competitor.
Link to your social media accounts
It shows legitimacy and gives Google more confidence in your business.
Create at least two posts that showcase recent work or offers
Posts signal activity and relevance, both of which help rankings. Keep them current and useful.
Update images to match your actual location, team, and brand
Authentic, high-quality visuals build trust and encourage clicks.
Take a peek at your competitors’ profiles
See what they are doing well and look for gaps or ideas you can apply to your own listing.
These quick wins are a great place to start, but they only scratch the surface of what actually drives consistent, long-term visibility on Google. The reality is, many of the reasons your profile is not ranking go beyond what you can fix in a few clicks. They require a strategic approach and an understanding of how all the pieces work together.
From technical SEO to profile optimisation and content strategy, we go beyond the basics to uncover what is really holding your profile back. Let’s take a closer look at the deeper factors that might be affecting your ranking and how Tactycs can help address each one.
Beyond the Basics: Why Your Profile Still Isn’t Ranking
1. Your Keywords Are Not Optimized for Google’s Algorithm
Your Google Business Profile is more than just a digital listing, it’s like a mini website for your business. Google scans it to understand what your business does and who to show it to. If your profile isn’t optimized with the right keywords, you’re missing out on valuable search traffic.
Tactycs takes care of this by researching, writing, and optimizing your profile with the right keywords. We ensure your description, services, and updates align with what customers are searching for, so Google ranks you higher and shows your business to the right people.
2. Poor Website and Technical SEO Integration
Your website is closely tied to your Google Business Profile’s ranking. If your website has technical issues, such as slow loading times or poor mobile optimization, your GBP ranking suffers. Your website also needs to be optimized for local search. Google checks if your website has local relevance and if the content, like page titles, meta descriptions, and structured data aligns with your Google Business Profile. Your website needs to be easily crawled and indexed by Google to appear in search results. If there are crawl issues or the search engine can’t read your content, your rankings will suffer.
Tactycs doesn’t just optimize your Google Business Profile, we also optimize your website to align with Google’s technical requirements. Our team will improve your site speed, fix broken links or errors, and ensure your website supports your GBP so you can rank higher and appear more credible to potential customers.
3. You’ve Chosen the Wrong Categories
Your primary business category plays a huge role in where you appear and it’s one of the most overlooked factors. If you’ve selected something too broad, too niche, or unrelated, you're seriously limiting your chances of ranking. If you’re a personal trainer but listed as a gym, or a digital marketer listed as a generic consultant, then Google is showing your profile to the wrong people. And it’s not just about your primary category, secondary categories matter too. They help expand your visibility and make sure you show up in more specific, high-intent searches. With hundreds of category options available, knowing which ones to use takes research, experience, and testing. Picking the right ones boosts your relevance and helps you show up for more local searches.
Tactycs will audit your profile, ensure you’ve selected the most relevant categories, and optimize your listing for maximum exposure. We’ll ensure Google understands exactly what your business offers and connects you with the right customers.
4. You’re Not Actively Engaging With Your Profile
Google wants to see that your business is active and engaged. If you haven’t posted in months or you never posted anything at all, then your profile looks abandoned. Regular posts help show that you’re open, engaged, and paying attention. You can post promotions, updates, seasonal offers, or behind-the-scenes content. Most businesses don’t post at all, which means you can get ahead of the competition.
Tactycs handles this by helping you manage your Google Business Profile posts, making sure you stay active and engaged. We’ll create regular updates to showcase promotions, seasonal offers, and behind-the-scenes content that attracts customers and boosts your profile’s performance.
5. Lack of Reviews
Reviews are one of the most powerful ranking factors in local SEO. A profile with few or no reviews signals to Google that your business isn’t as trustworthy as competitors.
Tactycs will help you build a strong review strategy, encouraging satisfied customers to leave glowing feedback and responding to reviews quickly to show Google your business is engaged and trustworthy. We even provide a simple, proven 3-step process to get more Google reviews, so you can start increasing your credibility and visibility right away.
6. Your Photos Are Hurting Your Profile
Google Business Profiles with high-quality, relevant photos consistently outperform those without. Old, blurry, or missing photos damage your credibility and can hurt your ranking.
Tactycs will ensure you have high-quality, optimized images that meet Google’s standards. We’ll ensure that your photos showcase your business and contribute positively to your ranking.
7. You Don’t Fully Control or Manage Your Listing
We see this all the time: business owners who don’t have proper ownership of their listing, or who have no idea who set it up years ago. Incomplete verifications, incorrect contact info, or outdated logins all lead to a poorly performing profile. If your Google Business Profile isn’t verified, it won’t rank in search results. Google requires businesses to verify their profile to ensure authenticity.
Tactycs will help you claim full ownership of your listing, verify all business details, and ensure you have complete access to manage and optimize your profile for the best results.
8. You’ve Been Penalized or Suspended
If your business profile has been suspended or penalized by Google for violations (such as keyword stuffing, fake reviews, or location spoofing), it can result in a major drop in rankings or complete removal from local search.
Tactycs specializes in navigating Google’s policies. We’ll ensure your business is compliant with Google’s guidelines and work quickly to resolve any penalty issues to get your profile ranking again.
9. Your Location Data Is Inconsistent or Missing
Google uses location proximity to determine rankings. If your business is in a competitive area or has a non-local address, it can be harder to rank. You should make sure your address and service area are clearly defined and match your actual physical location.
Tactycs can help by verifying and optimizing your business address and service area settings to ensure they align with Google’s guidelines. We make sure your location signals like your website, citations, and map listings, are consistent, accurate, and strategically positioned to improve local relevance and visibility.
Why Tactycs Is the Best Solution for Fixing Your Google Business Profile
At Tactycs, we specialize in Google Business Profile optimization and local SEO. We help businesses like yours improve visibility, rankings, and customer engagement. From complete audits to ongoing management, we do all the heavy lifting to ensure your business gets found on Google.
We understand that most business owners don’t have the time or technical expertise to optimize a Google Business Profile properly. SEO, algorithm updates, technical fixes, and content strategy can be overwhelming but that’s exactly where Tactycs steps in.
We provide more than just a checklist. We do the work. Our team handles everything from audits to implementation, ensuring your profile is optimized for maximum exposure and ranking. When you partner with Tactycs, you can focus on running your business while we make sure your Google Business Profile brings in more leads, clicks, and customers.
Ready to Rank Higher? Let’s Make It Happen!
Whether you’re a local business owner, franchise operator, or service provider, you need your Google Business Profile working for you, not against you. Tactycs will conduct a complete & free audit of your profile, identify why it isn’t ranking, and make the necessary fixes with measurable results.
Contact us now to schedule your audit and start seeing the growth you deserve.