Why Shouldn't I Be Googling My Business?
Are you Googling your business to see how you're ranking? Resist the urge!
We get it, you're excited about getting more leads and want to see how it's doing on Google. But it won't work the way you want it to. Why? There are multiple reasons.
What happens when I Google keywords to see if my business shows up?
When it comes to Googling keywords that don't have to do with your actual brand (i.e. searching "digital marketing company" vs. "Flypaper Digital Marketing"), it's actually hurting you.
If you see your website in a result but don't click on it, then Google will see it as irrelevant and will show it less to other searchers. And even if you do click on it, you're most likely not going to stay on the page for long, so Google will still think it's not as relevant.
Why don't I see my businesses website when I search keywords?
Don't worry! This doesn't mean you aren't ranking well. Like stated above, if in the past you've seen your website in a result but didn't click on it, then Google will see it as irrelevant and will show it less. And even if you do click on it, you're most likely not going to stay on the page for long, so Google will still think it's not as relevant.
Why are my Google Ads not showing up when I search my business' keywords?
If you Google your business (either branded or non-branded keywords) on a regular basis but aren't clicking on the ad, Google may stop serving your ads to you. Google's system will recognize your computer and stop showing you ads that it thinks you aren't interested in. Additionally, searching for your paid ads repeatedly but not clicking on them will damage your Click Through Rate.
It's truly a good thing if you don't see your ads when you're searching because you aren't the target audience.
Think of it this way: Your Google searches are already influenced by the information that Google knows about you. If that information doesn't match who you're targeting your ads towards, then you won't see them while searching. That means that Google is doing its job and your budget is being spent the way that it should be.
Okay, so how do I see my Google Ads?
The best way to view your Google Ads is through Google's Ad Preview And Diagnosis tool. You can find it by going to Tools & Settings > Planning > Ad Preview and Diagnosis in the top gray bar.
The Ad Preview and Diagnosis page lets you see which of your ads are showing up for any given keyword. If it detects that your ads aren't showing up, it will give you a list of possible reasons, and you can adjust your ads accordingly.
What should I do to find out how my business is ranking online?
The best way to see how your website is doing online is by using analytics tools like Google Analytics and Google Ads. If you can't help but search for your business online, use the Incognito/Private function on your browser. This hides your IP address from Google. The downside is that you will most likely see less ads and it can affect the functionality of websites you visit.
To sum it up, trust the data of your analytics tools, not your Google searches.
If this is too overwhelming, we have a solution for you! Our Campaign Specialists track how your business is doing online and give you reports in person, monthly. Curious how this could help your business? Drop us a line!
