Why You’re Not Showing Up Where You Thought You Would – Maps and Organic Search

Let’s say you’ve spent months writing blog posts, optimizing your website, and targeting a keyword like “plumber in Johnson City.” You Google it—and your site’s nowhere to be found.

Or maybe you do show up in the regular results… but not in Google Maps, where most of the action is happening.

This confuses a lot of business owners—and for good reason.

Here’s the thing: ranking in the organic results and ranking in the Map Pack (Google Maps) are two different battles. You need different strategies for each. And if you want more calls, leads, and customers, you need to know how Maps and organic search work.

What Is Organic SEO?

Organic SEO is what most people think of when they hear “SEO.” It’s about showing up in the main Google search results—below the ads and the map.

This kind of SEO is mostly about your website. To rank well organically, your site needs:

  • High-quality, keyword-rich content (like blog posts, service pages, FAQs)
  • Strong technical setup (mobile-friendly, fast loading, secure)
  • A good backlink profile (other sites linking to you)
  • Proper on-page SEO (titles, headers, meta descriptions, internal links)

If you do this right, you can rank on page one of Google nationally or regionally, depending on the keyword.

But here’s the catch: organic SEO doesn’t automatically get you into the map results, even for local searches.

What Is Local SEO?

Local SEO is about showing up when people search with local intent—like “near me,” “in Johnson City,” or when Google knows they’re looking for a local service.

This is what gets you into the Map Pack—those top three listings that appear under the map at the top of the search page.

Local SEO is less about your website content and more about:

  • Your Google Business Profile (GBP) setup and optimization
  • Having consistent NAP (name, address, phone number) listings across the web
  • Getting and responding to reviews
  • Proximity to the searcher
  • Local engagement signals like photos, posts, and questions

So even if your website is perfect, you won’t show up in the Map Pack unless your local SEO is in shape.

Let’s Compare Side by Side

Here’s a quick example using the keyword “plumber in Johnson City.”

If you rank in organic results:
You might show up in the list of website links under the map. This is great for people who want to read about your services or dig deeper.

If you rank in the Map Pack (Google Maps):
You show up right at the top—with your phone number, reviews, business hours, and a “Call Now” button.

Which gets more clicks?
Nine times out of ten, the map listings do.

That’s where people go when they need help right now.

How Businesses Get It Wrong

Many business owners think, “If I just write a blog post with my keywords, I’ll show up on Google.”

The truth is: that might help your website traffic, but it won’t help you show up in Maps unless you’re also doing local SEO.

You need to treat both areas with a specific plan.

How to Rank for Both

At ①-FIND, we help businesses in Johnson City do both—because they work best when they work together.

Here’s what we focus on:

For Local SEO (Google Maps):

  • Fully optimize your Google Business Profile
  • Add local photos, services, and FAQs
  • Get more 5-star reviews—and respond to them
  • Ensure your address and phone number are consistent across every directory
  • Post regular updates to your GBP

For Organic SEO (Google Search):

  • Build out strong service area pages and local content
  • Use proper on-page SEO for titles, headings, and descriptions
  • Get backlinks from other reputable local sites
  • Write helpful content that solves your customers’ real problems

Don’t Choose One or the Other—You Need Both

If you’re a local service provider like a plumber, roofer, electrician, or contractor in Johnson City, showing up in both places is key.

Maps help you get calls and directions.
Organic results help you get clicks and long-term traffic.

Together, they build your brand, boost your visibility, and grow your customer base.

Want to Get on the Map?

If you’ve been wondering why your competitors keep showing up above you—even when their websites look worse—it’s probably because they’ve invested in local SEO.

Let’s fix that.

At ①-FIND, we specialize in helping small businesses in Johnson City rank in both Google Search and Google Maps. We’ll take care of your SEO the right way—without the confusion, contracts, or runaround.

Casey Carmical
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