Episode Details

You're putting in the work. You're posting on social media, updating your website, maybe even running some ads. But when potential customers search for exactly what you offer, your business is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, your competitors are getting the calls, the clicks, and the customers. So what's actually going on here? The truth is, your website isn't hiding because of bad luck or some mysterious algorithm conspiracy. There are specific, fixable reasons why search engines aren't showing your business to people who are actively looking for your services right now. And once you understand what's breaking your visibility, you can actually do something about it. Let's start with something that seems simple but trips up almost every business owner. Your business information lives in dozens of places online. Google Business Profile, Yelp, Facebook, industry directories, your website. And here's the problem: when your business name, address, or phone number is different across these platforms, search engines get confused. They don't know which version is correct, so they assume something's wrong. That confusion tanks your rankings while competitors with consistent information take the spots customers actually click on. Think about it from Google's perspective. If ten different websites list ten different phone numbers for your business, how is Google supposed to confidently recommend you to someone searching for emergency services? It can't. So it won't. Your inconsistent information tells search engines you're unreliable, even when the differences are just typos or old addresses you forgot to update years ago. Then there's your Google Business Profile. Most business owners set this up once when they first open, add some basic info, and then completely forget it exists. But here's what you need to know: that profile is the foundation of your entire local visibility. When it sits there with outdated hours, no recent photos, and unanswered customer questions, search engines interpret that as a signal that your business doesn't care about staying current. Why would Google show an outdated, abandoned profile to someone searching right now when your competitor posts updates every week, responds to reviews, and keeps everything fresh? Now let's talk about your website content, because this is where things get really interesting. If your service pages read like every other business in your industry, you've got a problem. Generic content that could apply to any company in any city doesn't give search engines a reason to rank you. They're looking for specific, detailed information that proves you actually understand your local market. When your content mentions Phoenix neighborhoods by name, addresses Arizona-specific concerns, and demonstrates real expertise about local issues, that's when search engines start paying attention. Template content from your industry or copied ideas from competitors will never outrank original insights from someone who actually knows what they're talking about. Here's another critical piece most businesses completely miss. You're probably targeting the wrong keywords. Broad terms like plumber or lawyer put you in competition with national companies that have marketing budgets bigger than your annual revenue. But location-specific phrases like emergency plumber in Scottsdale or Phoenix personal injury attorney connect you with people who need services in your area right now. Even better, longer search phrases that include neighborhoods and specific services bring customers who are ready to hire someone today, not just browsing around, thinking about maybe needing help someday. And we absolutely have to talk about mobile. More than half of all local searches happen on phones, usually while people are driving or walking around, trying to find a business immediately. If your website makes mobile users pinch, zoom, and struggle with tiny buttons, they're gone in seconds. They're not going to fight with yo