Why does a shopper on the pavement choose from the map?
A large share of shop searches are made by someone already out and about: looking for a phone case, a pair of shoes, a gift for a party tonight. They take out their phone, type what they want and “near me”, and walk to one of the first few places they see. A shop that is missing from that screen never gets the chance to show what it has.
Say what you sell, in the words people type
A profile that says “Retail store” and nothing else leaves most of the searches to someone else. A shopper types mobile shop, shoe shop, gift shop, not the word retail. Choose the category they would say, list the things you sell, and add the services that matter, such as repair, alterations, delivery or gift wrapping.
Photos of stock, not just the signboard
Shoppers want to know that the shop looks like a place they would buy from, and that the item is there. Clear photos of displays, new arrivals and the billing counter answer both questions. Refreshing them as stock changes, especially before festivals, shows that the shop is active.
Hours are the difference between a visit and a wasted walk
A shopper who walks to a closed shop remembers it. Set the weekly off day, the festival hours and any sale timings, and keep them exact. Shops with correct hours also appear in searches for places open now, which is when many buying decisions are made.
Stock, bills and staff
Reviews of shops dwell on practical things: was the item available, was the bill fair, did the staff help in choosing, was there an exchange without a fight. A reply that thanks a happy customer, or gently puts right a problem, tells the next shopper what the counter is like before they arrive.