Here's Why Your Google Profile Isn’t Ranking- and Your Phone Isn’t Ringing (Self-Employed Edition)

July 11, 2025•4 min read

Here's Why Your Google Profile Isn’t Ranking- and Your Phone Isn’t Ringing

(Self-Employed Edition)

Introduction

Being self-employed means wearing a lot of hats- marketer, service provider, accountant... and sometimes SEO expert.

But if your Google Business Profile isn’t ranking in search results, you’re missing out on the #1 way local customers find businesses like yours.

If your phone isn't ringing as a self-employed business owner, here are 5 reasons why- and what to do about it...

1. You Haven’t Verified Your Google Business Profile

Sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how many profiles are still unverified.

Until Google confirms you’re the real deal, they won’t show your listing prominently.

👉 Fix it now: Log in to your Google Business Profile and complete the verification process.

Need help? Call DigiFyre Marketing at 07460 647575 and we'll do it for you- fast.

2. Your Business Info Is Inconsistent

Imagine someone trying to call you for a quote or consultation, but they find three different phone numbers online.

Or worse, your address is listed incorrectly on one directory, and customers end up at the wrong location.

Frustrating, right?

But here’s the bigger problem: Google notices that, too.

When your business name, phone number, and address (your NAP info) aren’t exactly the same across every platform- Google My Business, Yelp, Facebook, Apple Maps, Bing, industry directories, etc.- it raises red flags.

Google starts to question your credibility, which can tank your local rankings.

Even small inconsistencies like “Street” vs. “St.” or “Ltd” vs. “Limited” can be enough to hurt your visibility.

It’s not about perfection- it’s about precision and uniformity across the board.

💡 Pro tip: Manually searching every site can take hours (and you’ll probably miss some). Instead, let us run a full citation scan to see exactly where your info is hurting your profile.

✅ We’ll fix every inconsistency, update outdated listings, and boost your authority in Google’s eyes- all while you focus on what you do best.

3. You’re Missing Keywords in Your Description and Posts

Google keyword ranking for local businesses DigiFyreMarketing

Google ranks your profile based on relevance, and if you're not using the right keywords in your description, services, or updates, you’re invisible.

🔍 Simple fix: Add keywords that your customers actually search for (like “emergency plumber in [your target area]” or “dog groomer open late”).

💬 Want us to research and write it for you? Visit DigiFyreMarketing.com and book a free consultation.

4. You Have No Reviews (or Just One from Your Dog)

Google Reviews for Local Businesses DigiFyreMarketing

Most people won’t call your business without checking Google first.

If your profile has fewer reviews (or none at all), you’re not just being overlooked- you’re being disqualified before the customer even gives you a chance.

Meanwhile, your competitors with 40, 80, or 200+ reviews? They’re winning the clicks, the trust, and ultimately… the jobs.

Social proof matters.

Google rewards businesses with frequent, quality reviews. If your profile is a ghost town, it's time to change that.

⭐️ Easy tip: Ask every happy customer to leave a review- with a direct link to your profile.

At DigiFyreMarketing, we’ve helped plumbers go from just a handful of reviews to 50- 60+ all on autopilot, whilst ensuring that you never receive a negative review again.

Interested? Call 07460 647575 to get started.

5. You’re Not Posting Regularly

Google loves fresh content, just like your potential customers do.

If your last post is from 6 months ago, Google’s algorithm sees that as inactivity.

And in the local search game, inactivity = invisibility.

Think of your Google Business Profile like a digital storefront.

If the windows are dusty and the "Open" sign is flickering, would you walk in?

Neither would your customers- nor Google.

Consistent posting tells Google you’re open for business, active in your community, and trustworthy.

It also gives potential clients a reason to choose you over competitors who haven’t updated a thing since lockdown.

🗓 What should you post?

Weekly offers or limited-time discounts
Customer testimonials or before-and-after photos
Updates about holiday hours or new services
Behind-the-scenes snaps that build trust and personality

Even one post a week can make a huge difference.

And here’s the kicker: your posts show up directly in local search results and on Google Maps, right where potential customers are already looking.