10 Google My Business Mistakes That Kill Your Local Rankings (And How to Fix Them)
- Kavisha Thakkar
- 7 days ago
- 11 min read
Introduction: The Invisible Business Problem
You've claimed your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). You've added your address and phone number. Now you wait for the customers to roll in... but they don't.
Your profile is buried on page 3 of Google Maps. Competitors with fewer reviews and a less-established business are outranking you. You feel invisible.
What's going wrong?
The problem isn't that GMB doesn't work. The problem is that you're likely making one or more common but costly Google My Business mistakes. These errors, while seemingly small, are silent killers of your local search ranking, telling Google that your business is less relevant, less active, and less trustworthy than your competitors.
These mistakes are expensive:
Lost Customers: Every time a competitor ranks above you, you lose a potential customer.
Damaged Credibility: An incomplete or neglected profile signals unprofessionalism.
Wasted Opportunity: You're leaving free, high-intent leads on the table.
At Jigsawkraft, we've audited hundreds of GMB profiles for businesses in Ahmedabad and across India. We see the same critical errors over and over again.
This guide exposes the 10 most damaging GMB mistakes and provides clear, actionable steps to fix each one. By correcting these errors, you can significantly improve your local search visibility, attract more customers, and turn your GMB profile into the powerful lead generation tool it's meant to be.
Let's find and fix what's holding your business back.
Mistake #1: NAP Inconsistency Across the Web
The Mistake:
Your business Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) are different across various online platforms (your website, Facebook, Justdial, etc.).
Example: "Jigsawkraft Agency" on GMB, "Jigsawkraft" on your website, "Jigsawkraft Pvt Ltd" on Facebook.
Example: "1st Floor" on GMB, "Floor 1" on your website.
Why It Happens:
Typos, using different business names, or forgetting to update old listings after a move or phone number change.
The Real Cost:
This is the #1 killer of local rankings. Google relies on consistent NAP information across the web to verify that your business is legitimate and located where you say it is. Inconsistencies create confusion and signal untrustworthiness, causing your ranking to plummet.
How to Fix:
1. Establish a Single Source of Truth: Decide on one, exact format for your NAP.
2. Audit Your Online Presence: Search for your business online and list all platforms where your NAP appears.
3. Correct Every Listing: Manually update every single listing to match your official NAP. This includes your website, social media profiles, and local directories.
4. Use a Citation Management Tool (Optional): Tools like BrightLocal or Yext can help manage this, but a manual audit is essential first.
This is a tedious but non-negotiable step for local SEO success. Our Google My Business service includes a full NAP consistency audit.
Mistake #2: Choosing the Wrong Business Category
The Mistake:
Selecting a primary category that is too broad (e.g., "Restaurant") or incorrect (e.g., "Marketing Consultant" instead of "Marketing Agency").
Why It Happens:
Business owners either rush through setup or don't realize how specific the categories are.
The Real Cost:
Your primary category is one of the most important ranking factors. It tells Google what your business is. If it's wrong or too broad, you won't show up for relevant customer searches. If a customer searches for "Italian restaurant" and your category is just "Restaurant," you are less likely to appear.
How to Fix:
1. Be Hyper-Specific: Always choose the most specific primary category that accurately describes your core business.
Not "Doctor," but "Pediatrician."
Not "Salon," but "Hair Salon" or "Nail Salon."
Not "Shop," but "Clothing Store" or "Jewelry Store."
2. Add Secondary Categories: Use secondary categories for other services you offer. An "Italian Restaurant" can have "Pizza Restaurant" and "Bar" as secondary categories.
3. Research Competitors: See what primary category your top-ranking competitors are using.
You can change your category anytime in your GMB dashboard. Getting this right can produce an almost immediate boost in relevant search visibility.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Customer Reviews (Positive & Negative)
The Mistake:
Never responding to customer reviews, or only responding to negative ones.
Why It Happens:
Business owners are busy, don't have notifications turned on, or are afraid of engaging with negative feedback.
The Real Cost:
Lost Ranking Signal: Google sees review responses as a sign of an active, engaged business.
Damaged Trust: 94% of consumers say a bad review has convinced them to avoid a business. A professional response can mitigate this.
Missed Opportunity: Positive reviews are free marketing. Responding amplifies their impact.
Example:
A hotel in Ahmedabad had several 1-star reviews about "dirty rooms" with no responses. Potential guests saw this, assumed the management didn't care, and booked elsewhere. After starting to respond professionally ("We are so sorry... We have retrained our staff... We'd love to make it right"), their booking rate from GMB increased by 20% because customers saw they were responsive.
How to Fix:
1. Respond to Every Review: Set a goal to respond to all new reviews within 24-48 hours.
2. Respond to Positive Reviews: Thank the customer by name. Mention the specific positive point they made ("We're so glad you enjoyed our paneer tikka!"). Invite them back.
3. Respond to Negative Reviews Professionally:
Apologize for their experience.
Do not get defensive.
Take the conversation offline ("Please email us at manager@... so we can resolve this.").
Show other potential customers that you care and take feedback seriously.
4. Actively Solicit Reviews: Use a direct link to ask every happy customer for a review.
Our GMB optimization guide covers review strategy in more detail.
Mistake #4: Never Using Google Posts
The Mistake:
Optimizing your profile once and then never adding new content through Google Posts.
Why It Happens:
Business owners either don't know what Google Posts are or don't see the value in creating content for them.
The Real Cost:
Lost Ranking Signal: Consistent posting signals to Google that your business is active and relevant.
Missed Engagement: Posts appear directly in your GMB panel, allowing you to promote offers, events, and updates to high-intent searchers.
No Freshness: An inactive profile looks stale and untrustworthy compared to a competitor who posts weekly.
How to Fix:
Post at Least Once a Week:
What to Post:
Offers: "20% off all pizzas this week."
Updates: "We've launched a new website!" or a summary of your latest blog post.
Events: "Live music this Friday night!"
Best Practices:
Use a high-quality, eye-catching image or video.
Write a compelling headline.
Keep the description concise (100-300 words).
Always include a Call-to-Action (CTA) button ("Learn More," "Book," "Call Now").
Link back to your website.
Pro Tip: Repurpose content from your social media profiles for easy and efficient Google Post creation. Plan it in your content calendar.
Mistake #5: Having an Incomplete or Unoptimized Profile
The Mistake:
Only filling out the basic NAP and leaving other sections blank (description, services, attributes, etc.).
Why It Happens:
Rushing through the initial setup and never returning to complete it.
The Real Cost:
Lower Rankings: Google prioritizes complete profiles.
Lost Customers: Customers choose competitors who provide more information.
Missed Keyword Opportunities: Sections like services, description, and Q&A are places to include relevant keywords.
Example:
A spa left their "Services" section blank. When users searched for "deep tissue massage Ahmedabad," they didn't rank, even though they offered the service. After adding all their services to their GMB profile, they started appearing for these specific, high-intent searches.
How to Fix:
Achieve 100% Profile Completeness:
Go through every single tab in your GMB dashboard and fill it out:
✅ Business Description (750 characters)
✅ All relevant Services/Products
✅ All applicable Attributes (Wi-Fi, parking, payment types)
✅ Appointment links
✅ Business hours (including special hours for holidays)
A complete profile is a fundamental requirement. Our GMB optimization guide provides a full checklist.
Mistake #6: Low-Quality or No Photos
The Mistake:
Having only a few blurry, poorly lit photos, or worse, only the default Google Street View image.
Why It Happens:
Underestimating the impact of visuals on customer decisions. Thinking "good enough" is acceptable.
The Real Cost:
Lost Trust: Low-quality photos signal a low-quality business.
Lower Engagement: Businesses with 100+ photos get 520% more calls.
Competitors Win: Customers will choose the restaurant with appealing food photos over one with no photos.
How to Fix:
Upload High-Quality Photos Regularly:
Exterior: Your storefront and entrance.
Interior: The ambiance of your space.
Products/Services: Professional shots of what you offer.
Team: Humanize your brand.
Videos: A 30-second tour can be very effective.
Best Practices:
Aim for at least 20-30 photos to start, and add more over time.
Use professional photography if budget allows. Modern smartphone cameras also work well if you focus on good lighting.
Geo-tag your photos.
Name files descriptively (e.g., best-cafe-ahmedabad.jpg).
Visuals are what sell your business before a customer ever steps inside.
Mistake #7: Neglecting the Q&A Section
The Mistake:
Letting the Questions & Answers section sit empty or allowing incorrect answers from other users to remain.
Why It Happens:
Most business owners don't even know this section exists or that anyone can answer questions about their business.
The Real Cost:
Spreading Misinformation: If you don't answer, a well-meaning (or malicious) user might, and their answer could be wrong.
Lost Opportunity: You can proactively answer your customers' most common questions, saving them and you time.
Missed SEO Value: Questions and answers often contain valuable long-tail keywords.
How to Fix:
1. Seed Your Own Q&A:
Make a list of your top 10-15 frequently asked questions.
Log in with a personal Google account, go to your GMB profile, and ask those questions.
Log back in as the business owner and provide thorough, keyword-rich answers.
Examples:
Q: "Do you offer vegan options?"
Q: "Is there parking available?"
Q: "What is the cost of a standard consultation?"
2. Monitor and Answer New Questions Promptly:
Turn on GMB notifications.
Answer all new questions within 24 hours.
This turns a potential liability into a valuable, self-service information hub.
Mistake #8: Keyword Stuffing Your Business Name
The Mistake:
Adding descriptive keywords to your business name in GMB, like "Shree Ram Auto - Best Car Repair & Service in Ahmedabad."
Why It Happens:
A black-hat SEO tactic that used to work. Business owners think it will help them rank for those keywords.
The Real Cost:
Profile Suspension: This is a direct violation of Google's guidelines. Google is cracking down on this, and you can get your profile suspended, making you completely invisible.
Loss of Trust: It looks spammy and unprofessional to savvy customers.
NAP Inconsistency: Your GMB name no longer matches your official business name, creating the NAP problem from Mistake #1.
How to Fix:
Use Your Exact, Real-World Business Name. Period.
If your legal business name is "Shree Ram Auto," your GMB name should be "Shree Ram Auto."
Where to Use Keywords:
Business Description
Services list
Google Posts
Review responses
Q&A section
Don't risk suspension for a short-term, black-hat trick.
Mistake #9: Setting Incorrect Service Areas or Address
The Mistake:
Storefront Businesses: Having the map pin in the wrong location.
Service-Area Businesses (SABs): Listing a home address they don't want public, or setting a service area that is too broad or too narrow.
Why It Happens:
Rushing through setup or not understanding the difference between a physical address and a service area.
The Real Cost:
Customers getting lost and frustrated.
Not showing up in searches for the areas you actually serve.
Showing up for areas you don't serve, leading to unqualified calls.
Privacy concerns for home-based businesses.
How to Fix:
For Storefront Businesses:
Double-check that your map pin is exactly on your entrance. You can drag and drop it to the correct location in your GMB dashboard.
For Service-Area Businesses (e.g., plumbers, consultants, cleaners):
When setting up, choose the "Service Area" option and hide your physical address.
Define your service area by listing specific cities, pin codes, or a radius around your location. Be realistic—don't list "all of India" if you only serve Ahmedabad.
Getting your location settings right is fundamental to appearing in relevant local searches.
Mistake #10: Treating GMB as a "Set It and Forget It" Tool
The Mistake:
This is the master mistake that encompasses many of the others. You set up your profile and then don't touch it again for months or years.
Why It Happens:
Business owners get busy and assume the GMB profile runs itself once it's set up.
The Real Cost:
Stagnant Rankings: Google prioritizes active, updated profiles. An inactive profile slowly sinks in the rankings.
Outdated Information: Your hours change, you add a new service—but your GMB profile doesn't reflect it, leading to customer confusion.
Missed Opportunities: You're not using Posts, Q&A, or new features to engage customers.
Competitors Overtake You: While your profile is stagnant, your active competitors are gaining trust and visibility.
How to Fix:
Implement a GMB Management Routine:
Weekly (15-20 minutes):
Create one new Google Post.
Upload 1-2 new photos.
Check for and respond to new reviews.
Check for and answer new questions.
Monthly (30 minutes):
Review GMB Insights.
Check for NAP consistency.
Update services or products.
Audit your profile for completeness.
Or, hire a professional: If you can't commit to this, hiring a GMB management service ensures it gets done consistently, turning your GMB profile into a proactive marketing tool. Deciding whether to do this yourself is similar to the decision of hiring a social media manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my GMB profile not ranking?
Your profile might not be ranking due to one or more common mistakes: inconsistent NAP information across the web, an incomplete profile, a wrong primary business category, a lack of recent and positive reviews, or no ongoing activity (like Google Posts). Start by conducting a full audit against the 10 mistakes listed in this guide.
How often should I update my Google My Business?
You should engage with your GMB profile weekly. This includes creating at least one Google Post, responding to new reviews and questions, and uploading a new photo or two. This consistent activity signals to Google that your business is active and relevant, which is a positive ranking factor.
Can I delete a bad review on Google?
You cannot delete a negative review yourself unless it violates Google's policies (e.g., it's spam, fake, hate speech, or clearly from a competitor). Instead of trying to delete it, you should respond professionally and promptly. A thoughtful response to a bad review can often build more trust with potential customers than a page full of un-answered positive reviews.
What is the most important thing to fix on my GMB?
The single most critical thing to fix is NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency. If your core business information is inconsistent across the web, Google won't trust your listing and your rankings will suffer dramatically. After that, focus on getting more reviews and ensuring your primary category is correct.
Does keyword stuffing my business name help rankings?
No, this is a dangerous black-hat tactic. Adding keywords like "Best Cafe in Ahmedabad" to your business name violates Google's guidelines and can get your profile suspended. Use keywords naturally in your business description, services, posts, and Q&A responses, but keep your official business name clean.
Conclusion: Stop Making Mistakes, Start Dominating Local Search
Your Google Business Profile is a powerful, free tool waiting to be leveraged. It's not a complex system, but small, seemingly minor mistakes can completely undermine its effectiveness.
By avoiding or fixing these 10 common mistakes, you can transform your profile from an invisible listing into your #1 source of local customers.
Recap of a Winning GMB Strategy:
✅ Foundation: A 100% complete profile with consistent NAP.
✅ Activity: Weekly posts and regular photo uploads.
✅ Social Proof: A steady stream of positive reviews, with all reviews receiving a response.
✅ Engagement: Proactive management of the Q&A section.
✅ Optimization: Regular review of Insights to make data-driven improvements.
The businesses that dominate local search aren't the ones with the biggest budgets—they're the ones who are most diligent and strategic with their Google Business Profile.
Your Action Plan:
This Week:
Audit your GMB profile against these 10 mistakes.
Fix any NAP inconsistencies and incorrect categories immediately.
Fill out every single section of your profile.
Respond to your 5 most recent reviews.
Seed your Q&A section with 5 common questions and answers.
Commit to this process, and you'll be ahead of 90% of your local competitors.
Overwhelmed? Let Us Fix These Mistakes for You.
At Jigsawkraft, we specialize in Google My Business optimization for local businesses in Ahmedabad and across India. We know exactly how to fix these common mistakes and turn your GMB profile into a lead generation machine.
Our GMB Management Service Includes:
✅ Complete Profile Audit & Optimization: We fix all 10 of these mistakes and more.
✅ Weekly Google Posts: Consistent, engaging content created for you.
✅ Review Management: We help you get more reviews and respond professionally to all of them.
✅ Q&A Management: Proactive monitoring and answering.
✅ Photo Optimization & Uploads: Ensuring your business looks its best.
✅ Monthly Performance Reporting: Clear data showing your growth.
Get Your Free GMB Audit
Not sure what mistakes you're making?
We'll analyze your GMB profile, identify your biggest opportunities for improvement, and provide a clear, actionable plan to boost your local rankings—free of charge.
Don't let these simple mistakes cost you customers. Let's start dominating local search today.
Explore Our Resources:
📍 Location: B 610,
📧 Email: letschat@jigsawkraft.com
📞 Phone: +91 79843 32936
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