Are you frustrated because your home care agency isn’t appearing in search results? If your business name isn’t showing up, it’s not being seen by potential clients, and that can be a very bad thing. You can test if your website has been indexed through a simple search of its exact URL or domain name. Don’t use any other words. So, for example, try: http://www.yourdomain.com. If you’re still not seeing anything or you’re experiencing lower quality results as the weeks and months wear on, it’s time for a reality check.
With Google now handling at least two trillion searches per year, according to Search Engine Land, failure to show up in those searches can be devastating to a local business like yours. There are several reasons why you may not be showing up, but we offer these three main ones to get you started.
1. You’re Not Listed on Google My Business
This is by far the most common reason for not showing up in search. First, head to Google My Business Help which outlines all the many reasons this could be happening to you. Next, go about getting your business listed there. It can be a somewhat lengthy process to get it done right, but it’s worth it by far. Be aware, Google is strict on its guidelines so you have to follow them step by step in order to successfully create your local home care agency listing.
You must have a mailing address and not a PO box, and you have to follow the quality guidelines to a T. Make sure your business is listed in exactly the same way every time, down to the agency name and phone number. Uniformity is key here. Once your business information is listed, it should then appear in Maps, Search, and other Google properties.
2. You Aren’t Verified
If you created your listing but you’re still not appearing on Maps and Search, it could have to do with the verification of your business. You will need to add or claim your business. If you’re showing up in Maps but not search, that thing we mentioned above — the one where you have to have accurate, comprehensive information — may have come back to haunt you. To achieve optimal ranking, go back and make sure your info is up to date. Google can only provide basic information to searchers unless you add in the details. For example, your home care agency may not appear in local search (“think: home care agencies near me”) if you don’t add in exact location and hours.
It could also be that you’re not in compliance with Google’s guidelines.
Eligible businesses must have a physical address as part of a company that makes face-to-face contact with its customers, applying to both single-location small and medium businesses (SMBs), national brands, and chains, says Moz. You are considered a local business if you meet with your customers directly — which you certainly do as a home care agency.
If your listing isn’t in line with Google’s rules, you should get an alert to your Google My Business dashboard that shows your information has been suspended or disabled. There could be many reasons for this. The biggest one is trying to claim an ineligible business: You are considered ineligible if your business is under construction or hasn’t yet opened to the public; you have a rental or for-sale property such as a model home, vacant apartment or vacation home; or you hold classes and meetings at a location that is not yours.
3. You Recently Edited or Added Information
Be patient. It can take up to three days for your updated information to appear. Until then, you may not show up in local search. That’s because Google’s search results are based on algorithms that factor in many components. Making changes to your agency information can shift the balance just a tad. Visit Google Help if it’s been far longer than a few days and you’re still not seeing the results you want.
Be sure to populate your listing with valid, comprehensive information that shows what you do. Include details on when it was established, what you offer, what your passion is and why you started it. You also should include photos to add character and bring your business to life. Then, you can regularly share to your Google+ Page. Bonus: Clients can upload their own photos of your company’s services and tag you in them.
Contact A Servant’s Heart Web Design and Marketing
If you would like to know more about how Google My Business listings work and how to manage them, we can offer insight into how your elder care business can benefit. Contact us at (760) 227-2720. A Servant’s Heart Web Design and Marketing, specializing in SEO and online marketing, helps you retain prime position ahead of your competition.
