Common Mistakes Businesses Make with Google Maps Listings
So, you’ve claimed your Google Business Profile (GBP). Congrats! But if you think just ticking that box is enough to dominate the Map Pack, think again. Google Maps listings are a powerhouse of local visibility—but only when done right.
Let’s talk about the not-so-sexy side of Local SEO: the common, facepalm-inducing mistakes businesses make with their Google Maps listings. Mistakes that could be keeping you out of the top results—and out of your customers’ line of sight.
Ready to learn, laugh, and maybe cringe a little? Let’s go.
🚨 Mistake #1: Not Claiming or Verifying Your Profile
This one’s the SEO equivalent of showing up to a marathon without signing up. If your GBP isn’t claimed and verified, Google won’t take you seriously.
📌 Fix it: Head to Google Business Profile Manager, search for your business, and claim it. Then verify it via postcard, email, or phone. Easy win.
🔀 Mistake #2: Inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone)
We’ve said it once, we’ll say it a hundred times: NAP consistency is sacred in Google Maps SEO.
Inconsistencies across your website, social media, and directories confuse Google and sabotage your credibility.
📌 Fix it: Update your business name, address and phone number across all the above platforms to be identical to one another.
😬 Mistake #3: Choosing the Wrong Business Category
Google lets you pick a primary category for your business. Choose wrong, and you’re showing up in irrelevant searches—or worse, not at all.
📌 Fix it: Pick the most accurate primary category, then add secondary categories that reflect your services.
💡 Pro Tip: Check what top competitors in your niche are using.
💤 Mistake #4: Leaving Your Profile Half-Empty
Would you visit a store with no signboard, dusty windows, and zero info? Didn’t think so.
📌 Fix it: Fill in every field—hours, description, services, FAQs etc. Use keywords like “Google Maps marketing,” “SEO services near me,” or “local dentist in [location].”
📸 Mistake #5: No Photos (or Bad Ones)
No photos = no trust. Stock photos = no authenticity. Blurry photos = no thanks.
📌 Fix it: Upload high-quality, geo-tagged images regularly. Show off your products, storefront, team, and events.
🗞️ Mistake #6: Ignoring Google Posts
Google Posts are your secret weapon for engagement, promotions, and events. Ignoring them is like having a megaphone and never using it.
📌 Fix it: Post 1–4 times per month. Keep them short, keyword-rich, and action-driven.
❌ Mistake #7: Ignoring Reviews (Especially the Bad Ones)
Not responding to reviews—good or bad—screams “we don’t care.”
📌 Fix it: Respond promptly and professionally. Use keywords naturally in your responses to boost Google Maps SEO.
📉 Mistake #8: Creating Multiple Listings for the Same Location
This might seem like a clever hack, but Google sees it as spammy. Multiple listings confuse searchers and dilute your SEO juice.
📌 Fix it: Stick to one listing per location. Merge duplicates where necessary.
🤖 Mistake #9: Using a Virtual Office or PO Box as Your Address
Google wants to promote real businesses in real locations. Virtual addresses? Not so much.
📌 Fix it: Use a legitimate, commercial address. Home-based businesses can still show service areas—but skip the PO box.
⏳ Mistake #10: Set It and Forget It
The biggest mistake of all: thinking your Google Maps listing is a one-time setup.
📌 Fix it: Treat your GBP like a living, breathing part of your digital strategy. Update hours, respond to reviews, post weekly, and refresh your images.
Final Thoughts: Avoid the Oops, Embrace the Optimized
Google Maps listings are not a “set it and forget it” deal. They’re dynamic, competitive, and central to your local SEO success.
Avoid these mistakes and your business won’t just be found—it’ll be chosen.
Need help getting it right? Geo Growth turns mediocre listings into map-dominating machines. Let’s clean it up, optimize it, and keep it shining.
Because in the world of local search, your listing isn’t just a detail—it’s the destination.
