What is a Google local listing?
Google local listing is a free listing on Google that appears when potential customers are searching for your business name or a service you offer. It is sort of like a hub that allows customers to quickly find all of your contact info in one place directly on Google’s search page. Your website can, and should, be linked to your Google Local Listing [1]. It can appear in the Local Pack (under the “more places” link), the Organic results section, or on the right-hand side of the Google search. Your listing should be filled out as completely as possible to avoid being penalised by Google’s ranking algorithm [1].
A Google local listing shows various information about a business, including:
- Business name
- Address
- Phone number
- Business category
- Reviews and ratings from customers
- Website URL
- Hours of operation
- Photos of the business
- Directions to the business location
- Popular times when the business is busiest
- Questions and answers about the business
- Attributes such as wheelchair accessibility, outdoor seating, etc.
- Products or services offered by the business
- Posts from the business with news, updates, and special offers.
These listings appear when someone searches for a business or related keywords on Google Maps or Google Search. They are an important tool for businesses to improve their online presence and help potential customers find them easily.
Google makes this very simple for you and we would struggle to make this any easier. So we advise following this link to Google business profiles to get started. But before you do…
The most common mistakes of Google local listings / My Business listing
There are several common mistakes that businesses make when filling in their Google local listings / My Business listing. Some of the most common mistakes include:
- Inaccurate information: One of the most significant mistakes businesses make is providing inaccurate information. This includes incorrect business name, address, phone number, website URL, hours of operation, etc. It can lead to confusion for customers and negatively impact a business’s online presence.
- Using inappropriate categories: Businesses often choose the wrong category for their business, which can make it harder for potential customers to find them. It’s essential to choose the most relevant and specific category that accurately describes the business.
- Neglecting photos: Including high-quality photos of the business, products, and services is essential for attracting customers. Neglecting photos or using low-quality images can make the business appear unprofessional and untrustworthy.
- Ignoring reviews: Reviews and ratings from customers are critical for building trust and credibility. Ignoring reviews or not responding to them can give the impression that the business doesn’t care about customer feedback.
- Not optimising for SEO: Optimising the Google local listing for search engines is essential for improving the business’s visibility in search results. Neglecting SEO can result in the listing being buried in search results, making it harder for potential customers to find the business.
- Not updating information regularly: Businesses need to keep their Google local listing up-to-date by regularly updating information, such as hours of operation, contact information, products or services offered, etc. Neglecting to update information can result in potential customers being misled and negatively impact the business’s online reputation.
By avoiding these common mistakes, businesses can ensure their Google local listing is accurate, up-to-date, and optimised for attracting potential customers.

References:
[1] What is a Google My Business Listing and Do I Need One?
[2] Google Business Profile – Get Listed on Google
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