Why Is My Business Invisible on Google Maps? (And How to Fix It)

You type your business name into Google. Nothing.

You zoom in on the map where your office should be. Empty space.

For a local business, this is the stuff of nightmares. It feels personal – like Google has “banned” you. But it’s rarely a ban. It is usually a safety filter….

The 3 Primary Causes of Map Invisibility

Most UK businesses are invisible for one of three reasons:

  1. Unverified Profile: You haven’t completed the new 2025 Video Verification process.
  2. Service Area Error: You are a tradesperson listing a home address (a major policy violation).
  3. Soft Suspension: Your profile is active but “filtered” because your Name, Address, or Phone (NAP) contradicts other websites.
Become Visible!

Are You Suspended or Just Hidden?

Before we fix it, we need to know which “invisibility cloak” you are wearing.

Go to Google and search for “My Business”. You will see a dashboard.

  1. “Suspended” / “Disabled”: You have broken a serious rule (see Section 4).
  2. “Pending Verification”: You are stuck in the new video queue.
  3. “Processing”: If you verified recently, sit tight. In 2025, it can take 3-5 days for a profile to go live after verification.
  4. Normal Dashboard (But Invisible): You are likely suffering from a “Soft Suspension” (filtered out for quality).

The #1 Cause: The “Service Area” Trap

This is the most common reason tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, mobile mechanicsetc) vanish in the UK.

The Rule: If you serve customers at their location (e.g., a mobile detailer) and you do not have permanent signage at your office, you cannot display your address on Google Maps.

The Mistake: You listed your home address to “look local.” Google’s AI scanned Street View, saw a residential house with no signage, and immediately hid your listing to prevent customers from turning up at your front door.

The Fix:

  1. Log into your profile.
  2. Go to Edit Profile > Location.
  3. Toggle “Show business address to customers” to OFF.
  4. Set your Service Area to specific cities or counties (e.g., “Somerset“, “Bath”, “Bristol“). Do not set it to “United Kingdom” because Google now flags areas larger than a 2-hour drive time as spam.

The “Video Verification” Limbo

In 2025, the days of receiving a postcard code in the mail are over. Google now demands Video Verification to prove you are real. If you fail this, you stay invisible.

What Google Wants to See: They don’t want a Hollywood production. They want proof of life. Your video must be one continuous take (no editing) and show:

  1. Location: Start outside. Show the street sign and your building number.
  2. Access: Walk up to the door and unlock it with a key. (This proves you aren’t just a passerby).
  3. Tools: Walk inside and show your branded tools, payment terminal, or software.

Pro Tip: If you are a mobile business (van-based), show your branded vehicle. Unlock the van, start the engine, and show the tools in the back.

This is the “Gold Standard” for trades.

How To Video Verify Your Business

The “Soft Suspension”

Sometimes, you aren’t banned. You are just confused.

Google compares your Business Profile data with Companies House, Facebook, Yell, and your Website.

If you are “Smith Plumbing Ltd” on Companies House but “Smith & Sons” on Facebook, Google’s AI panics. It thinks there are two different companies, so it hides both.

…and this does make sense.

The Keyword Stuffing Trap

Did you rename your business “Smith Plumbing – Best Boiler Repair Bristol” to get more clicks?

This is the fastest way to get suspended in 2025. Your Google name must match your real-world legal name exactly.

Change it back immediately!

The Troubleshooter

Symptom

Likely Cause

The Solution

“Pending Verification”

Video rejected or Postcard lost

Re-record Video (Unlock a door/van)

“Suspended” Label

Address conflict or Duplicate listing

Remove Home Address (Switch to Service Area)

Visible on Search, not Maps

Poor “Category” selection

Update Categories (e.g., ‘Plumber’ vs ‘Contractor’)

Ranked #50+ (Invisible)

NAP Inconsistency

Citation Audit (Fix directory listings)

One Final Check: The “Category” Killer

The “Primary Category” Secret Google gives 80% of the ranking weight to is your Primary Category.

  • The Mistake: Selecting a vague category like “Contractor” or “Construction Company”.
  • The Fix: Be specific. If you fix pipes, be a “Plumber”. If you fix roofs, be a “Roofing Contractor”. Don’t make Google guess what you do.

How We Turn The Lights Back On

You can’t afford to be invisible. Every day your listing is down, your competitors are getting your phone calls.

At UXIQ, we specialise in Local Rescue.

We don’t just “do SEO” – we forensically fix the data errors that machines hates.

Our Map Rescue Service includes:

  1. Suspension Appeals: We write the technical appeal letters to Google support.
  2. Address Hiding: We configure your Service Area settings correctly.
  3. Video Coaching: We guide you through the verification recording so you pass first time.
  4. NAP Alignment: We sweep the UK web to make sure your name and address match everywhere.

Don’t fight the algorithm alone.

Book a diagnostic call with our Somerset team.

Fix Your Local Business Profile