The short answer
Start by checking two things separately: your website and your free Google business listing. If customers can find you by name but not by service, you may have a visibility problem rather than a missing website. Work out which problem you have before spending money.
First, what can’t you find?
You’ve searched for your business and a competitor is there instead. Frustrating? Absolutely. But “I’m not on Google” can mean a few different things.
Try your exact business name first. Then try the service and suburb a customer would search for, such as “hot water repairs Chermside”. Write down what appears.
- No business listing beside a map? Check your Google Business Profile.
- No website result when you search your name? Check whether Google knows about your website.
- You appear by name, but not for your services? Look at how clearly your website and listing explain what you do.
Check the basics before buying more marketing
Your Google Business Profile is the free listing with your hours, phone number, photos and reviews. Make sure you can access it, the verification is complete and the details are right.
For your website, ask the person who looks after it to check Google Search Console. That’s Google’s free tool for seeing how your site appears in search. Ask them: “Can Google read my main pages, and are any accidentally blocked?”
A new site can take time to appear. Sending Google a page to check is not a promise that it will be listed or reach the top.
Missing on Google? Start here.
Say what you do, in the words customers use
“Complete solutions for your needs” doesn’t tell someone whether you fix their leaking tap. Your main pages should name the service, the area you cover and how to get help.
Think about the questions you answer on the phone. Those are often the questions your website should answer too.
Fix one clear problem first
If Google can’t read your website, sort that out first. If your listing has the wrong details, correct them. If the basics are fine but your pages barely explain your services, start there.
Google says local results depend mainly on relevance, distance and prominence—how well you match the search, how close you are, and how well known your business is. There isn’t one magic setting that puts every business first.
Check useful enquiries as well as search positions. Appearing for the wrong jobs or the wrong suburbs won’t help you fill your diary.
Common questions
Do I need to pay Google to show my business?
No. A Google Business Profile is free, and you don’t pay Google to appear in ordinary unpaid search results. Google Ads is a separate paid option.
Why can I find my business by name but not by service?
Your name is a much more specific search. A service search puts you alongside other businesses. Your location, the match to the service and your wider online presence can all affect what appears.
Will a new website fix my Google listing?
Not necessarily. Your website and your Google Business Profile are separate. A listing access or verification problem needs its own fix.
Can anyone guarantee that I’ll be first?
No. A provider can improve your website and listing, but cannot control every search result or guarantee the top unpaid position.
ONE THING TO TRY
Start here.
Search your business name and your main service plus suburb. Save both results and note whether the missing piece is your website, your map listing or your position.
If you’d like to read more
Official guidance behind this guide. The examples and practical suggestions are ours.
