Inside our free Google check: the 8 things we look at

Most business owners have never looked at their business online the way a stranger does. They know their shop too well. But a new customer searching on Google sees only what's there: the listing, the photos, the reviews, the website link. That's the first impression, and often the deciding one.

Our free Google check looks at your business exactly the way that customer would. This post explains what we look at, why, and what happens afterwards, so you know exactly what you're asking for.

What the check is

• Free, with no obligation to use any of our services
• Based on what anyone can see on Google. We don't need your passwords or access to any account.
• Talked through, not a report. We contact you within 24 hours of your request and walk you through what we found.
• For any business, whether or not you already have a Google listing

The 8 things we look at

1. Does your listing exist, and is it verified?

We check whether your business has a Google Business Profile at all, whether it's verified, and whether there are duplicate or old listings competing with it. Many established businesses have a listing someone else created years ago. See how to claim a Google listing someone else created.

2. Do your name, phone and address match everywhere?

We compare your details on Google with your website, social profiles and other places your business appears. Small differences, like an old phone number or a slightly different name, confuse customers and reduce Google's confidence in your listing. This is called NAP consistency.

3. Are your opening hours correct?

Wrong hours are one of the most common problems we find, and one of the most costly. A customer who arrives at a closed shutter rarely comes back. We also look at whether special hours are being used for holidays. See why your opening hours on Google matter more than you think.

4. Is your business category right?

Your primary category helps decide which searches you appear in. A sweet shop listed only as “Store”, or a clinic in a vague category, can miss customers who are searching for exactly what they offer. See choosing the right business category on Google.

5. What do your photos say?

We look at your photos the way a customer swipes through them: is there a clear photo of the outside, the inside, your products or food, your team? Are they recent and well lit? See the photos customers look for on Google.

6. Your reviews, and your replies

We look at your reviews and whether they're being replied to. Thoughtful replies, to good reviews and complaints alike, show new customers that someone cares. See how to get more Google reviews, and how to reply to them.

7. Your website link

Does your listing link to a website? Does that link work, and does the website load quickly on a phone and match the details on Google? A listing that leads to a broken or outdated site undoes a lot of good work. See does a local business really need a website?

8. Your social links

We check whether your social profiles exist, whether they're linked, and whether they match your Google listing. See why your social profiles should match your Google listing.

How to ask for a check

Fill in the short form on our free Google check page. It asks for:

• Your business name, and city and country
• Your Google Maps link, if you have a listing. If you don't, just tick “I don't have a Google listing yet”
• Your name and WhatsApp or phone number
• Your email, if you'd like to share it
• Optionally, what you'd like to improve: more calls, correct details, more reviews, a website or social profiles

When you send it, WhatsApp opens with your details neatly written out, ready to send to us. We also receive a copy by email, so nothing gets lost.

What happens next

1. We look at your business on Google, Maps, your website and your social profiles.
2. We contact you within 24 hours of your request.
3. We talk you through what we found: what's working, what's missing and what's wrong.
4. We discuss whatever is needed from there. The decision is always yours. There's no obligation, and many owners fix the simple things themselves after the conversation.

What if you don't have a listing yet?

That's fine, and quite common for established businesses. Tick the box on the form, and we'll talk you through what it takes to get one, what you'll need for verification and what to get right from the start.

Who it's for

The check is especially useful if your business is doing well offline but you're not sure how it looks online, if customers have mentioned wrong details on Google, or if you've never really looked. We work fully online, so it doesn't matter where your business is based.

Ask for yours

It takes a couple of minutes to fill in. Ask for your free Google check, or read about our Google Business Profile service and the three steps we follow for every business.