HOW DO I CHECK MY GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE RANKING?
Use two checks together. Open the Performance report in your Business Profile to see the search terms people used to find you, then search those terms yourself, signed out, from where your customers actually are. Your position changes from street to street, so check several spots, not just your shop.
FIRST: THERE IS NO SINGLE RANK
Google says local results depend on three things: relevance, distance and prominence.1 Distance means how far your business is from the person searching. So the same search can show you first for someone two blocks away and nowhere for someone across town.
That is why "what is my rank?" has no one answer. The useful question is: for which searches, and from which places, do we show in the top 3? The steps below answer that.
4 WAYS TO CHECK, IN ORDER
1. Read the Performance report
Open your Business Profile on Google Search and select Performance, pick a date range, then select Apply.2 Two numbers matter here:
- Searches shows the search terms people used to find your business. Google updates it at the start of each month, and it can take up to 5 days to appear.2
- Views, calls, directions and website clicks tell you whether showing up is turning into customers.2
The report does not show a position number. It shows which searches you appear for. Write down the 5 to 10 terms that match the work you want more of. Those are the searches to check next.
2. Search the right way
Searching from your own office on your own phone gives a flattering answer, because you are as close to the business as anyone can be. Do this instead:
- Use a private or incognito window, signed out of the Google account that manages the profile.
- Search the exact terms from step 1, for example "plumber" or "emergency plumber", not your business name.
- Do it from where your customers are: a job site, a client's neighbourhood, the next town over.
- Count only the normal results. Entries marked Sponsored are ads, not ranking.
- Note two things: are you in the top 3 on the results page, and where are you in the list on Google Maps?
3. Check a grid, not one spot
To see your whole service area, check the same search from many points laid out on a map, like a grid over your town. Each point gets a position, and together they show where you are strong and where you disappear. Rank-tracking tools do this automatically; some have free tiers. This is how we track our clients: a grid scan every month, on the same searches, so we compare like with like.
Whatever tool you use, keep the searches, the grid size and the center point the same every month. Change one of them and the numbers stop being comparable.
4. Compare with the top 3
A position number on its own does not tell you what to fix. Look at the businesses that rank above you for your main search and compare their profiles with yours: categories, reviews, services listed, photos and their websites. Google says prominence includes how many websites link to a business and how many reviews it has.1 The gap between you and them is your to-do list.
WHAT YOUR RESULTS MEAN
| What you see | Most likely meaning | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Top 3 near your shop, gone a few miles out | Distance; normal for most businesses | Reviews, links and pages for the areas you serve |
| You show for your name but not for your service | Relevance is weak | Categories, services and description |
| Searches in the report don't match your work | Google files you under the wrong thing | Primary category and website wording |
| Not showing at all, even for your name | A listing problem, not ranking | Verification, suspension or duplicates |
| Views up, calls flat | Seen but not chosen | Photos, reviews, hours, phone number |
For the fixes, see how to optimize your Business Profile, why a business is not showing on Google Maps and how to get more calls from Google Maps.
QUESTIONS OWNERS ASK
How often should I check?
Once a month is enough for most local businesses. The Searches figure only updates monthly,2 and day-to-day moves are mostly noise.
Does Google Search Console show my Business Profile ranking?
No. Search Console covers your website in Google Search. Your profile's numbers live in the Performance report. Both are worth watching; see Search Console for local businesses.
Can I pay Google to rank higher on Maps?
No. Google says there is no way to request or pay for a better local ranking.1 Ads can appear above the results, marked Sponsored, but they don't change your organic position. Be careful with anyone who promises you a set spot on the map.
Does it work the same in the US and Canada?
Yes. The Performance report and the ranking factors are the same in both countries.12 Just check from the cities and neighbourhoods you actually serve.
Can you check it for me?
Yes. We can run a grid check on your main searches, compare you with the businesses above you and show you what to fix first. We can't promise a position; Google decides the order.
SOURCES
- Google Business Profile Help, Tips to improve your local ranking on Google.
- Google Business Profile Help, Understand your Business Profile performance & insights.
KEEP READING
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