Ensure your business location pin is accurately placed for correct navigation.
Module 8 · Lesson 2
Directions and Navigation
Optimise your Google Maps listing to drive more direction requests and accurate navigation to your business.
Learning Outcomes
Understand how direction request metrics appear in your Insights.
Use location details to help customers navigate to your business easily.
Add parking and access information to help customers arrive with confidence.
Key Concepts
Accurate Map Pin Placement
Your Google Maps pin should be placed exactly at the entrance of your business — not on the building's centre, not on the car park, not on the nearest street corner. The pin is where GPS navigation apps will direct customers to stop, so precision is critical. A misplaced pin causes customers to arrive at the wrong location, become frustrated and leave negative reviews about finding the business.
How to Adjust Your Pin
In your Google Business Profile, go to the Info section and click on your address. You will see an option to adjust the marker on the map. Drag the pin to the exact entrance door of your premises. Zoom in as much as possible to ensure maximum accuracy. Confirm the adjustment and allow Google up to 3 days to update the pin on Maps.
Business Location Descriptions
Add a location description in your profile to help customers find you. Examples: "Located on the ground floor of the Heritage Building, main entrance on Lambton Quay", "Red door on the left side of the building", "Access via the laneway off Willis Street". These descriptions appear in navigation apps and help customers identify your exact location, especially in complex or hard-to-find settings.
Parking and Access Information
Add parking and accessibility attributes to your profile (covered in Module 3). In your business description and Q&A, mention parking availability: "Free customer parking available at the rear of the building off Tory Street". This information significantly reduces customer anxiety about visiting and increases the conversion rate from profile view to actual visit.
Direction Requests as a Ranking Signal
Every time a customer clicks "Directions" on your Google Maps listing, it is recorded as an engagement signal. High volumes of direction requests tell Google that real people want to visit your business, which contributes to your prominence score. Encourage customers to get directions through your Maps listing rather than just giving them an address verbally.
Step-by-Step Practice
Search for your business in Google Maps and verify the pin is exactly on your entrance door.
Adjust the pin if necessary through the Info section of your Google Business Profile.
Add a location description to help customers identify your exact location.
Review the parking and access information in your profile — add any missing details.
Check your Insights to see how many direction requests your profile currently generates per month.
Ian's practical tip: My business map pin is placed precisely at the entrance. I have added a helpful location description to my profile. Parking and access information is included in my profile. I know where to find direction request metrics in my Insights.
Practical Activity
Complete and record this task
If you receive multiple customer calls asking how to find you, that is a clear signal your location description needs improvement. Ask those customers exactly what confused them and use their feedback to write a clearer location guide. Add it to your Q&A as well.