In this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, I’ll be tackling a common question about Google Business Profiles: Does hiding your address affect your SEO? I’ll explain the implications of not displaying your address, discuss why some businesses might prefer to keep it hidden, and offer alternative strategies to maintain rankings.
If You Don’t Have a Google Business Profile, Go Set One Up Right Now
I was asked recently about Google Business Profiles. The question was whether businesses absolutely need to display their address on their Google Business Profile.
Before diving into that, let’s get something out of the way: If you don’t have a Google Business Profile, stop listening to this podcast right now and go set one up. It’s absolutely essential for every single business. Without one, you’re missing out on loads of free business.
A Google Business Profile helps you appear on Google Maps and location-based searches. It provides statistics on how many people view your profile, how many call you, click through to your website, or request directions. It allows customers to leave reviews, giving you social proof. And the best part? It’s completely free and only takes about half an hour to set up.
Now, let’s get to the question:
Do you have to display your address on your Google Business Profile?
There are a couple of reasons why a business might not want to show its address.
Tradespeople who work within a service area: If you’re a plumber, electrician, or joiner operating within a 20–30 mile radius, you might not want customers randomly showing up at your house. No one wants people knocking on their door asking for a quick fix.
Businesses handling sensitive topics: If you deal with controversial issues, you may not want your address publicly available. I once posted about a local political campaign on Twitter (yes, I still call it Twitter, Elon Musk can get knotted), and it went viral. If you’re involved in divisive discussions, the last thing you want is people turning up at your house throwing things through your window.
But here’s the big issue:
Hiding your address will negatively impact your website traffic, rankings, and, ultimately, your business
I’m not going to sugarcoat it: If you don’t display your address, you will struggle. Google prioritizes businesses with public addresses, especially for local searches. If someone searches for a plumber in Chester and three plumbers have their addresses listed while you don’t, they’re going to show up first. That’s just how it works.
If you decide to hide your address, you can take steps to reduce the negative impact:
Set up service areas: You can mark the locations where you operate, but if Google detects that other businesses physically exist in those locations, they’ll still be prioritized.
Use location-based descriptions in your profile: You can mention the areas you serve in your business description, but don’t spam keywords—Google will notice.
Optimize your website: This is the most effective solution. Create dedicated pages for each location you serve and ensure the content is unique and relevant to that area.
Another question I get a lot is:
Do I really need a website if I already have a Google Business Profile or a Facebook page?
Absolute bollocks. Yes, you do.
If you rely solely on Facebook or Google Business Profile, you’re at their mercy. They can change their algorithm at any time, making it harder for you to appear in searches unless you pay for ads. With a website, you control your own platform.
The best way to rank without displaying your address is through your website. Create location pages with relevant content about the services you provide in each area.
But don’t just copy and paste the same page with different town names. That’s spam, and Google will penalize you. Each page must have unique content tailored to that specific location.
Years ago, I worked for a digital marketing agency that handled a major aerial installation company. They wanted to rank in every UK city, so they set up virtual offices with Google Business Profiles at each location.
This worked for a while, but Google caught on. Virtual offices and PO boxes aren’t reliable long-term solutions. However, if your accountant’s office is in a location you want to rank for, and it’s your official business address, that’s a legitimate option.
So, can you hide your address? Yes. But will it affect your rankings? Absolutely.
If you want to rank well without showing your address, focus on:
- Creating strong, unique location pages on your website.
- Writing blogs and articles that reinforce your local authority.
- Optimizing your Google Business Profile description without spamming.
I hope this podcast has been helpful! If not, well, I apologize profusely. I’ve been Darren, this is The Engaging Marketeer, and I’ll catch you on the next episode.
About your host:
Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/
Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com
Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk
