"My shop doesn't appear on Google Maps" is the single most common problem local Thai businesses bring to me. The frustrating part is that it's almost always fixable in days, not months. Here's what's usually going wrong.

1. Your profile isn't verified

An unverified Google Business Profile simply won't rank. Verification — by postcard, phone, or video — tells Google you're a real business at a real address. Until that badge is confirmed, you're competing with one hand tied behind your back.

2. Your category is wrong or too broad

Google uses your primary category to decide which searches you appear for. A restaurant listed only as "Establishment" will lose to one listed as "Som Tam Restaurant." Be specific, and add relevant secondary categories.

3. Inconsistent NAP across the web

NAP means Name, Address, Phone. If your details differ between your website, Facebook, and old directory listings, Google loses confidence in which version is correct — and ranks you lower. Make every mention identical, down to the abbreviation.

4. No reviews, or no replies to them

  • Businesses with steady, recent reviews rank higher in the local pack.
  • Replying to reviews — even one line — signals an active, real business.
  • Never buy fake reviews; Google detects and penalises them.

5. Thin profile content

Photos, opening hours, services, and regular posts all feed the algorithm. A profile with 30 photos and weekly updates beats an empty one every time.

Showing up on Maps isn't luck. It's verification, the right category, consistent details, and a steady drip of reviews and photos.

Work through these five in order and most businesses see movement within a week or two. The local pack — those top three Maps results — is where the calls and walk-ins come from.