What Shows Up When Someone Searches for Your Business on Google?

When someone types your business name into Google, what do they see? Let's break it down in simple terms.

What You Should See in Search Results

1. Your Business Box (Google Business Profile)

This is the box that appears on the right side with your:

• Business name
• Star ratings
• Address and map
• Phone number
• Photos
• Hours

Your Website

Your website link shows up in the main results with a short description underneath. This is where people go to learn more about you.

Customer Reviews

Reviews from Google, TrustPilot, Facebook, and other sites where customers share their experiences. People read these before deciding to call you.

Social Media Pages

Your Facebook, Instagram, or other social media accounts.

Photos and Videos

Pictures of your business from various sources, including customer photos.

Missing Some of These? Here's What You Need to Know

If you're missing the first 3 items (Business Box, Website, or Reviews), this is a big problem.

These three are what people look at first. They're what helps customers decide if they should call you or go to your competitor instead.
Think about it: When you search for a restaurant or a plumber, what do you look at? You check their ratings, look at their website, and read what other people say about them. Your customers do exactly the same thing.

Without these three, you're invisible—or worse, you look unprofessional.

Here's what happens when you're missing them:

No Business Box? People can't find your phone number, hours, or location easily. They give up and call someone else.

No Website? People wonder if you're actually a real business. They don't trust you enough to call.

No Reviews? People assume you're either new, bad at your job, or not a real business. They pick someone with reviews instead.

Common Questions

I show up when people search for me. Isn't that enough?
It depends on what shows up. If people see a complete Business Box with good reviews and a website, yes. If they only see an old phone listing or nothing at all, no.

What if something negative appears?
That's actually common. The important thing is how you handle it. Negative reviews mixed with positive ones are normal. No reviews at all looks worse.

My competitor shows up before me. Why?
They probably have all three of these things set up and you don't. Or they have more reviews than you do.

I'm too busy to worry about this stuff
That's exactly why you're losing customers to competitors who did take the time. These three things work for you 24/7, even when you're busy.

The Bottom Line

Search "your business name" on Google right now. What do you see?

If you see:

• A complete Business Box with your info
• Your website
• Customer reviews

You're good. Keep it updated.

If you're missing any of these three, that's the first thing you need to fix. Everything else can wait.

Remember: Your potential customers are searching for you right now. What they see (or don't see) is deciding whether they call you or your competition.