For local businesses, Google My Business (GMB)—now called Google Business Profile (GBP)—is one of the most powerful tools to drive visibility, leads, and conversions. However, small mistakes can hurt your local rankings and prevent your business from appearing in the coveted local pack or Google Maps. In this guide, we’ll cover the most common GMB mistakes in 2026 and how to fix them to boost your local SEO performance.
Why Google My Business Matters
Google My Business allows you to:
- Show up in Google Maps and local search results
- Share business information, hours, and updates
- Collect reviews and ratings
- Engage with potential customers directly
📌 Optimizing GMB correctly is crucial for local lead generation and visibility.
1. Incomplete or Incorrect Business Information
Your business name, address, phone number (NAP), and category must be accurate.
Common Mistakes:
- Using different addresses on website and GMB
- Wrong business hours or phone numbers
- Choosing incorrect business categories
How to Fix:
- Ensure NAP consistency across all platforms
- Choose the most relevant primary and secondary categories
- Regularly update hours, contact info, and services
2. Ignoring Customer Reviews
Reviews impact rankings and trust.
Common Mistakes:
- Not asking for reviews
- Ignoring negative reviews
- Responding unprofessionally
How to Fix:
- Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews
- Reply promptly and politely to negative and positive reviews
- Highlight reviews on your website for credibility
💡 Tip: Google values recent, relevant, and consistent reviews in local rankings.
3. Missing Photos & Videos
Visual content increases user engagement and trust.
Common Mistakes:
- No photos of products, team, or office
- Poor-quality or outdated images
- Not adding video tours or demonstrations
How to Fix:
- Upload high-quality images and videos regularly
- Include exterior, interior, products, staff, and action shots
- Optimize photos with descriptive file names and ALT text
4. Not Using Posts or Updates
GMB allows businesses to share offers, events, and updates directly on their profile.
Common Mistakes:
- Ignoring the Posts feature
- Not highlighting promotions or events
- Using irrelevant or spammy content
How to Fix:
- Share weekly posts about services, events, or offers
- Include keywords naturally
- Add CTAs like “Book Now” or “Call Today”
5. Overlooking Services & Products Section
Google now allows businesses to list services and products, which helps rankings.
Common Mistakes:
- Leaving the services/products section empty
- Not including detailed descriptions and pricing
- Using generic terms instead of keywords
How to Fix:
- List all services/products with clear descriptions
- Add pricing, images, and category tags
- Include location-specific keywords if applicable
6. Multiple GMB Listings for the Same Location
Duplicate listings confuse Google and customers, often hurting rankings.
How to Fix:
- Merge duplicate listings using Google’s “Duplicate Locations” tool
- Keep one verified listing per physical location
📌 A single, optimized profile improves local authority and trust.
7. Ignoring Q&A Section
The Q&A section allows users to ask questions directly on your GMB profile.
Common Mistakes:
- Not monitoring or responding to questions
- Allowing incorrect or spammy answers from others
How to Fix:
- Monitor Q&A regularly
- Provide accurate, helpful responses
- Preemptively add common questions and answers
8. Poor or Inconsistent Categories
Categories help Google understand your business niche.
Common Mistakes:
- Selecting irrelevant categories
- Not updating categories after business changes
How to Fix:
- Choose primary and secondary categories carefully
- Keep categories aligned with your services/products
9. Not Tracking Performance
Without tracking, you won’t know if your efforts are working.
Common Mistakes:
- Ignoring GMB insights
- Not tracking clicks, calls, and direction requests
How to Fix:
- Monitor traffic, calls, clicks, and search queries in Google Business Profile insights
- Adjust strategy based on user behavior and engagement
FAQs: Google My Business Mistakes
Q1: Can incorrect business info hurt my rankings?
Yes. NAP inconsistencies are one of the top local SEO ranking killers.
Q2: How important are reviews in 2026?
Crucial. Both the quantity and quality of reviews influence rankings and trust.
Q3: Can duplicate listings affect SEO?
Absolutely. Duplicate profiles can confuse Google and lower your visibility.
Q4: How often should I update my GMB profile?
Monthly for posts and images, and immediately after any business changes.
Final Thoughts
Optimizing your Google My Business profile is one of the most effective ways to improve local rankings in 2026. Avoid these common mistakes:
- Incomplete or inconsistent business info
- Ignoring reviews
- Missing photos & videos
- Not posting updates
- Overlooking services/products section
- Duplicate listings
- Ignoring Q&A
- Poor category selection
- Not tracking insights
💡 Fixing these mistakes can boost your visibility, improve user trust, and drive more leads from local searches.
