Is your home address showing on Google?

Many owners run their business from home: landscapers, cleaners, contractors, caterers, etc. When they set up their Google listing, did they enter their home address without thinking twice?

That address shows up on maps for anyone to see. Many owners don't realize it until a customer, or a stranger, shows up at their home.

The one minute check

1. On your phone, open your maps app.
2. Search your business name exactly as customers would, and tap your listing.
3. What address do you see?

If it's your home address and customers don't come to you, it's worth fixing. People can still find and call you without seeing where you live.

Switch to a service area

If you travel to your customers instead of having them come to you, Google lets you list yourself as a "Service Area Business." That means you can:

• Hide your address from the public listing. Google still uses it to verify you, but customers don't see it.
• Add a service area instead, like the towns or ZIP codes you cover.

Google walks through both steps in its Business Profile help guide.

Check the rest while you're there

Take another minute to make sure:

• Your hours are right, including holidays
• Your phone number and website link work
• Your services are listed in words customers would actually use
• Your photos are recent and show your real work

The bottom line

Your listing should help people find the front door to your business, not the front porch of your house. That's exactly what The Street Sign package does. Send us your business details and we'll take a look.