Your Shopify Store
May Be Online...
Your Shopify store may be online.
01
Opening
But Can Customers
Find You?
But can customers find you?
Especially When
They're Searching Locally?
Especially when they are searching locally.
best skincare store near me
Aura Care
40 reviews
Northside Beauty Co.
71 reviews
Lumen Skin Studio
102 reviews
Discovery starts here.
Every day, people open Google and search for products near them.
Google Maps Visibility
Today, that's what we're talking about.
Today, we are talking about Google Maps visibility.
Google Business Profile
Local SEO
Citations
Google Business Profile, local S E O, and citations.
JAMESON OLANREWAJU
Shopify Ecommerce Expert
I'm Jameson Olanrewaju, a Shopify ecommerce expert.
JAMESON OLANREWAJU
Shopify Ecommerce Expert
I help ecommerce businesses build stronger digital experiences
and improve how customers discover and interact with their brands.
I help ecommerce businesses build stronger digital experiences and improve how customers discover and interact with their brands.
02
1 · Before Google Maps
01
Section 01
Before We Talk About Google Maps...
Before we talk about Google Maps, let's talk about the journey.
https://auracare-skin.example/shop
AURA CARE
ShopAboutJournalCart (0)
A beautiful store is table stakes.
A great Shopify website is important. But your website is only one part of the customer journey.
The real customer journey
Google Search
→Business Discovery
→Website
→Product Page
→Trust
→Purchase
Customers first need to discover your brand. Then they need enough information to trust you. Then they need a reason to visit your website.
VISIBILITY
TRUST
DISCOVERY
CONVERSION
Visibility. Trust. Discovery. Conversion.
Your website handles the shopping experience.
But Google can help people discover the business behind it.
Your website handles the shopping experience. But Google can help people discover the business behind it.
YOUR WEBSITE IS NOT THE WHOLE CUSTOMER JOURNEY.
Your website is not the whole customer journey.
03
2 · What is Maps visibility
02
Section 02
What Is Google Maps Visibility?
So what is Google Maps visibility?
Aura Care
Skincare Store · Open now
125 reviews
WebsiteCallDirections
Opening hoursMon – Sat · 9:00 – 18:00
PhoneListed and reachable
WebsiteLinks to the Shopify store
"Clear information and easy to contact."
"Found them through Maps and visited the site."
A listing can show information, actions and social proof.
When people search for a business, product, service, or location related query, Google can display businesses through Search and Maps.
Everyday local intent
skincare store near meclothing store in Lagosshoe store near mejewelry store near mebeauty products in Austin
Think about how these searches actually look.
shoe store near me
Vellum Footwear
40 reviews
Harbour Lane Shoes
71 reviews
Studio Sole
102 reviews
Notice what happens here. Discovery happens before the customer ever reaches your Shopify store.
DISCOVERY HAPPENS BEFORE THE CUSTOMER VISITS YOUR SHOPIFY STORE.
Discovery happens before the customer visits your Shopify store.
04
3 · Profile vs Citations
03
Section 03
Google Business Profile vs Local Citations
Now let's clear up something that confuses a lot of store owners.
Google Business Profile
The listing that can appear in Google Search and Google Maps.
- Business name
- Category
- Address / service area
- Phone
- Website
- Hours
- Photos
- Reviews
- Posts & updates
Local Citations
Mentions of your business information across relevant directories and platforms.
- Business name
- Address
- Phone
- Website
Two different things — they work together.
A Google Business Profile is the business listing that can appear in Google Search and Google Maps. Local citations are mentions of a business's information across relevant online directories and platforms.
CONSISTENCY MATTERS.
Consistency matters.
The same details, everywhere
Same name
Same address
Same phone
Same website
Mismatched details create doubt — for people and for platforms.
Inconsistent business information across online platforms can create confusion for customers, and can weaken the reliability of your local business information.
ACCURATE INFORMATION BUILDS CONFIDENCE.
Accurate information builds confidence.
05
4 · Why it matters for Shopify
04
Section 04
Why Does This Matter for a Shopify Store?
Why does any of this matter for a Shopify store?
premium skincare store near me
Aura Care
40 reviews
Maren & Co.
71 reviews
Field Botanics
102 reviews
Imagine a customer searching for premium skincare near them.
Aura Care
Skincare Store · Open now
125 reviews
WebsiteCallDirections
Opening hoursMon – Sat · 9:00 – 18:00
PhoneListed and reachable
WebsiteLinks to the Shopify store
"Clear information and easy to contact."
"Found them through Maps and visited the site."
Tap 'Website' — and the journey continues.
They find a listing. They tap the website button. And they land on your Shopify store.
Google
→Business Profile
→Website
→Product
→Checkout
Google, business profile, website, product, checkout. One connected path.
Your Shopify website doesn't have to work alone.
Google can become another discovery channel that sends interested people toward your website.
Your Shopify website doesn't have to work alone. Google can become another discovery channel.
Your website is the destination.
Google can be part of the discovery path.
Your website is the destination. Google can be part of the discovery path.
06
5 · The trust problem
05
Section 05
The Trust Problem
This next part is, honestly, the most important.
https://auracare-skin.example/shop
AURA CARE
ShopAboutJournalCart (0)
Beautiful design. Unfamiliar brand.
A customer lands on a beautiful store they have never heard of before.
Can I trust this brand?
Is this business real?
Where are they located?
Can I contact them?
Do other customers trust them?
Are there reviews?
Is there a real business behind this website?
And quietly, in the back of their mind, the questions start.
Website only
- Products and checkout
- Limited context
- Few external signals
- Customer has to decide blind
Website + Google presence
- Accurate business information
- Authentic customer reviews
- Real photos and contact details
- More ways to evaluate the brand
A customer may discover an unfamiliar store and still hesitate before purchasing. A stronger digital presence gives them more information to evaluate the business.
TRUST IS BUILT FROM MULTIPLE SIGNALS.
No single listing makes a business trustworthy.
Trust is built from multiple signals. No single listing makes a business trustworthy.
07
6 · Five benefits
06
Section 06
5 Benefits of a Strong Google Presence
So what does a strong Google presence actually give you?
01
More Discovery
Give potential customers another way to find your business.
02
Stronger Credibility
Provide customers with additional information about the business.
03
More Customer Actions
Calls, website visits, directions and other available profile actions.
04
Local Search Opportunities
Appear where relevant local searches are happening.
05
Better Customer Information
Accurate hours, contact details, photos and other business information.
More discovery. Stronger credibility. More customer actions. Local search opportunities. And better customer information.
LOCAL VISIBILITY MATTERS.
Local visibility matters.
08
7 · What good looks like
07
Section 07
What a Professional Google Presence Looks Like
Using a fictional business: Aura Care
Let me show you what a professional Google presence looks like.
skincare store near me
Aura Care
40 reviews
Lumen Skin Studio
71 reviews
Field Botanics
102 reviews
Aura Care is a fictional skincare store, used here purely as an example.
Aura Care
Skincare Store · Open now
125 reviews
WebsiteCallDirections
Opening hoursMon – Sat · 9:00 – 18:00
PhoneListed and reachable
WebsiteLinks to the Shopify store
"Clear information and easy to contact."
"Found them through Maps and visited the site."
Fictional example — for demonstration only.
Complete information. Clear actions. Real photos. Genuine reviews. Nothing missing.
Discovery
→Website
→Product
→Purchase
From discovery, to website, to product, to purchase.
09
8 · How I set the foundation
08
Section 08
How I Set Up the Foundation
Here is how I set up that foundation.
01 · Business Information Audit
Business name
Address
Phone
Website
Business category
Service area
Hours
Step one. A business information audit.
02 · Google Business Profile
Claim and verify where applicable
Complete important information
Optimize business details
Add relevant photos
Add the website
Select appropriate categories
Maintain accurate information
Step two. The Google Business Profile itself.
03 · Local Citations
Business directoriesLocal listingsIndustry platformsMap data providersReview platforms
Step three. Local citations — consistent business information across relevant platforms.
04 · Website Connection
Google
→Shopify Website
Step four. Connecting Google to the Shopify website, and making sure the information matches.
05 · Review & Reputation Foundation
Encourage genuine customer reviews
Never buy fake reviews
Never create fake customer reviews
Never manipulate ratings
Shortcuts here damage the thing you're trying to build.
Step five. A review and reputation foundation. Encourage genuine reviews. Never buy fake ones.
06 · Ongoing Maintenance
Keep information current
Update hours and seasonal changes
Add fresh photos
Respond to customer engagement
Step six. Ongoing maintenance. Local visibility is not a one time setup.
10
9 · Without the foundation
09
Section 09
What Happens Without This Foundation?
What happens when this foundation isn't built?
You have
- Beautiful website ✓
- Products ✓
- Checkout ✓
You may be missing
- Google presence ✕
- Local discovery ✕
- External trust signals ✕
Beautiful website. Great products. Working checkout. And no Google presence.
beauty products in my city
Northside Beauty Co.
40 reviews
Lumen Skin Studio
71 reviews
Maren & Co.
102 reviews
A customer searches. Other businesses are easy to find. Yours may simply not be part of that moment.
Your competitor doesn't necessarily have a better product.
They may simply be easier to discover.
Your competitor doesn't necessarily have a better product. They may simply be easier to discover.
Great products need visibility.
Great products need visibility.
11
10 · Who this is for
10
Section 10
Who Should Consider This?
So who should consider this?
Commonly a strong fit
Shopify storesLocal retailersFashion brandsSkincare brandsBeauty businessesJewelry brandsRestaurantsService businessesShowroomsLocal product brandsBusinesses with physical locations
If your customers search locally, or your business has a real world presence, a properly managed Google presence can be valuable.
Eligibility varies.
Businesses without an eligible physical location or service-area presence may have different Google Business Profile eligibility considerations.
Businesses without an eligible physical location or service area presence may have different eligibility considerations.
12
11 · The bigger picture
11
Section 11
The Bigger Picture
Let's zoom out.
Social Media
→Google
→Maps
→Website
→Product Page
→Email
→Customer
→Repeat Purchase
Social media, Google, Maps, website, product page, email, customer, repeat purchase. One ecosystem.
Don't build your Shopify store in isolation.
Build the ecosystem around it.
Don't build your Shopify store in isolation. Build the ecosystem around it.
JAMESON OLANREWAJU
Shopify Ecommerce Expert
Your Shopify store is your digital storefront.
Your Google presence can help people discover it.
Your Shopify store is your digital storefront. Your Google presence can help people discover it.
13
12 · Closing
Quick question...
Quick question.
When someone searches
for your business on Google...
When someone searches for your business on Google...
WHAT DO THEY SEE?
What do they see?
your business name
…
40 reviews
Is your business easy to find? Is your information accurate?
Is your business easy to find?
Is your information accurate?
Can customers reach you?
Can they discover your website?
Can customers reach you? Can they discover your website?
JAMESON OLANREWAJU
Shopify Ecommerce Expert
Want to know how your business currently appears on Google?
Want to know how your business currently appears on Google?
JAMESON OLANREWAJU
Shopify Ecommerce Expert
Send me your business name + website.
I'll help you identify the gaps in your Google presence.
Shopify DevelopmentGoogle Business ProfileLocal SEOGoogle Maps CitationsEcommerce Optimization
GET A GOOGLE PRESENCE AUDIT→
Send me your business name and website, and I'll help you identify the gaps in your Google presence.
Ecommerce platform services
What I can build for your store
Pick what you need and add it to cart — it opens a direct conversation with me on WhatsApp or X so we can scope it properly.
Landing Page Design
High-converting landing pages built for ads, launches and local campaigns.
Google Maps & Citations
Google Business Profile setup, map ranking and consistent NAP citations.
Store Design & Build
Premium Shopify store design, theme customisation and mobile-first UX.
SEO Optimization
Keyword strategy, on-page fixes and technical SEO that grows organic sales.
Payment Gateway Setup
Secure checkout, local and international payment gateways configured properly.
Search Console & Backlinking
Search Console setup, indexing fixes and authority-building backlinks.
Need something else — migrations, speed optimization, email flows, product photography pages and much more? Just message me.
Let's talk
Contact Jameson Olanrewaju
Send a mail or message me directly on WhatsApp Business — I reply personally and we can map out your store's local visibility plan.