8 Common Google My Business Mistakes to Avoid (And What to Do Instead)

Most Businesses Don’t Rank Because of These Avoidable Mistakes

I’ve worked with dozens of business owners who were stuck wondering why their competitors were showing up on Google, while their profiles were barely visible.

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This is my agency ranking for local SEO services below.

9 times out of 10, it’s not because the competition is better.
It’s because of avoidable mistakes in their Google Business Profile.

In fact, according to Whitespark’s Local Ranking Factors Survey, Google Business Profile factors account for 36% of local pack rankings.

But most businesses only complete a fraction of what’s needed, or worse, break Google’s basic rules.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the most common Google My Business mistakes that silently kill your visibility and how to fix each one step-by-step.

Let’s make sure you’re not one of them.

Mistake #1: Choosing the Wrong Primary Category

Google uses your primary category to decide what searches your business should appear for.

If your category is too broad or just plain wrong, you could be invisible to the people who need your services.

Example:
“Consultant” is vague.
“Marketing Consultant” or “Business Management Consultant” is specific and ranks better.

Fix It:

Go to your Google Business Profile and edit your primary category.
Use GMB Everywhere to see the categories your top 3 competitors are using instantly.
Match the most relevant one, or choose one that better describes your service.

Mistake #2: Leaving Your Profile Incomplete

Your Google Business Profile should never look like an unfinished form.
Yet so many businesses leave out:

Business hours
Services
Products
Business description
Photos
Special hours and holiday updates

Google assumes: if you don’t care to finish your profile, you may not care to serve your customers either.

How To Fix It:

Complete every section in your GBP dashboard, especially categories, description, services, and hours.
Add photos, update special hours, and ensure your business information matches your website.

If in doubt, use a Google Business Optimization Checklist to audit your profile from top to bottom.

Mistake #3: Using the Wrong Business Name (Keyword Stuffing)

Many business owners are tempted to sneak in keywords like “Best Plumber in Lagos” into their Google Business Profile name to boost rankings.

It might work for a while, but Google cracks down hard on this.

According to Google’s official guidelines, your business name must reflect your real-world branding and signage. Violations can lead to profile suspension or a permanent ban.

Example of Keyword Stuffing (Bad):

“CoolTech – Best AC Repair in Abuja”

Correct Format (Good):

“CoolTech Air Conditioning Ltd.”

Fix It:

Use your registered business name exactly as it appears on signage, your website, and legal documents.
If your name legitimately includes keywords, that’s fine, but don’t fake it.
If you’ve already violated this, change it now before you get flagged.

Mistake #4: Not Posting Regularly

Google Business Posts are like free ads on your profile. Yet, most businesses either never post or only post when they remember.

The problem?
Google sees inactivity as a sign that your business may not be operating.

BrightLocal found that businesses that post at least once per week see higher engagement and more profile actions (calls, directions, website clicks).

How To Fix It:

Post something once a week: an offer, a tip, a testimonial, or even a team photo.
Posts expire after 7 days, so consistency matters more than volume.
Use a reminder system or content calendar to make it a habit.

Learn more about posts that drive sales: How to Use Google Posts to Drive Local Sales

Mistake #5: Not Responding to Reviews

Here’s a mindset shift for you:
Your review section is not a scoreboard. It’s a conversation.

If people are leaving feedback, and you’re silent, it shows potential customers (and Google) that you’re not paying attention.

How To Fix It:

Respond to every review, not just the positive ones.
Thank happy customers by name.
Address negative reviews professionally (never argue).
Mention service keywords naturally:
“Thanks for trusting us with your Lagos plumbing emergency!”

If you want to know more about getting more views, check out: How to Get More Google Reviews (And Respond Like a Pro)

Mistake #6: Inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number)

Your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) details must be consistent everywhere your business is listed, not just on Google.

Even a small variation like:

“Suite 12” vs “Ste 12”
“Co.” vs “Company”
Different phone numbers for different directories can confuse Google’s algorithm and hurt your local trust signals.

According to Moz’s Local SEO Ranking Factors, citation consistency is a critical component of your local pack visibility.

How To Fix It:

Use a master NAP format and stick to it across your website, directories (like Yelp, Bing, Facebook), and GBP.
Check for discrepancies using tools like BrightLocal or Whitespark.
Manually update old listings if needed.
Ensure your GMB Everywhere audit shows clean, matching data across your competitor comparisons.

Also read: How to Fix Inconsistent NAP Citations Across Directories

Mistake #7: No Photos or Old, Low-Quality Images

Google knows when your profile looks outdated.

If your competitor has 60+ recent photos and you only have your logo and a blurry shot of your office from 2021, you’re not going to compete.

Businesses with photos receive 35% more clicks and 42% more direction requests, according to Google.

How To Fix It:

Upload high-quality images of your storefront, interior, team, and work in action.
Add a new photo every week (Google favors freshness).
Use real images, not stock photos, and label them clearly.

Bonus: With GMB Everywhere, you can see how many photos your competitors have and how often they’re uploading.

Mistake #8: Not Monitoring Competitor Profiles

The best local businesses treat competitor research like a habit, not a one-time thing.

If your competitors suddenly change their category, start running posts, or generate 40 reviews in a month, and you don’t notice? You’ll fall behind.

How To Fix It:

Set a reminder to audit your top 3 competitors monthly.
Use GMB Everywhere to track:
- Their categories
- Review growth
- Photo count
- Post frequency
Then adjust your strategy to match or outdo them.

Also read How to Spy on Local Competitors in Google Maps

Conclusion

These Small Mistakes Can Cost You Big Visibility

Most local businesses aren’t failing on Google because they’re bad at what they do they’re just making quiet, invisible mistakes that slowly kill their rankings.

Let’s recap what to avoid:

Choosing the wrong primary category
Leaving your profile incomplete
Stuffing keywords into your business name
Ignoring Google Posts
Not replying to reviews
Having inconsistent NAP details across the web
Forgetting to upload fresh, real photos
Failing to monitor your competitors

The good news? You can fix all of these today.

If you want a Smarter Way to Audit and Fix These Mistakes?

Instead of manually guessing what you’ve missed, use the tool I recommend to all my clients:

👉 Install GMB Everywhere (Free Chrome Extension)

It shows you:

The exact categories your top competitors are using
Their review volume, photos, post frequency, and profile completeness
What you’re missing and how to fix it fast

No guesswork. No overwhelm. Just clear insights to help you rank better in Google Maps.

If you want a done-for-you local SEO services setup, Google local map ranking, GBP optimization, GMB auditing, and lots more… contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common mistakes on a Google Business Profile?

Some of the most common Google Business Profile mistakes include:

Choosing the wrong primary category
Incomplete business information
Ignoring reviews
Posting infrequently
Using an inconsistent business name, address, or phone number across platforms (NAP)
Using fake business names with keywords
Forgetting to upload updated photos

Does keyword stuffing in your Google Business name help?

While keyword stuffing can give a temporary boost, it’s against Google’s guidelines. Using extra keywords in your business name (e.g., “Best Plumber in Lagos”) can lead to suspension unless those words are part of your legal business name.

Why does my Google Business Profile not show up in search?

The reason your Google Business Profile isn’t showing up on Google might be due to:

Unverified profile
Wrong or vague category
Low activity (no posts, photos, reviews)
Incomplete information
NAP inconsistency
Violation of Google guidelines

Fixing these can improve your visibility in Google Maps and the Local 3-Pack.

How do I fix inconsistent business information across platforms?

Start by creating a standard format for your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP).
Then:

Update your website footer and contact page.
Use tools like BrightLocal, Moz Local, or Whitespark to identify inconsistencies.
Manually fix your listings or use citation services to clean them.

Do you need to post on Google Business regularly?

Yes. Posting weekly helps keep your profile active, builds trust with Google, and gives customers a reason to engage. Google Posts expire after 7 days, so consistency matters.

Keep Optimizing:

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Faith Amaole

A Digital marketer and Web Design Expert with over 6years experience in digital entrepreneurship. I have helped an ecommerce brand build an online store that has generated ₦50Million profit in 5days.

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