What this self-check covers
The map results – the list with the map that appears for searches like “dentist near me” or “AC repair Dubai” – often bring more calls than the normal results below them. Which businesses appear there depends on three things Google names itself: relevance, distance and prominence.
You cannot change where a customer is searching from. But most of what makes a profile relevant and prominent is in your hands, and that is what the 15 questions cover:
- Your profile setup: verification, categories, services, hours and the right link to your website.
- Consistency: the same name, phone number and address or service area everywhere (often called NAP consistency).
- Service-area businesses: if customers do not visit you, the address should be hidden and a service area set.
- Reviews: how many, how recent and whether you reply.
- Activity: recent photos and updates.
- Your website: a page for each main service and area, so Google can connect your profile to real content.
- Tracking: whether you know which calls and visits come from the profile.
How the score is calculated
Each question has a weight. Items that usually have a big effect, such as verification, the primary category and reviews, count more than smaller ones like profile updates. Every “Yes” adds its weight; “No” and “Not sure” add nothing. The result is a score out of 100.
The score measures how complete your setup is, not where you rank. Two businesses with the same score can rank very differently because of distance and competition.
How to use the result
Start with the three fixes the tool shows. They are the highest-weighted items you answered with “No” or “Not sure”, so they are usually where the biggest gains are.
- Answered “Not sure” often? Check those points first. Unknown basics are common, especially after a profile was set up by someone else.
- Fixed the basics? Search for your main service from a few places in your area and note who ranks above you. Compare their categories, reviews and websites with yours.
- Still not visible? The cause may be something a questionnaire cannot see: a suspended or duplicate profile, a pin in the wrong place or a website that Google cannot read properly.
For the full checklist, read the Google Business Profile checklist. If you want the map results to bring in calls and enquiries, see how Google Maps SEO works in practice.