The busiest shopping malls optimize their Google categories and services to appear when people search for retail and entertainment nearby. GMB Everywhere shows you what competing malls list so you can outperform them in local search results.
Imagine someone searching for "shopping mall near me" or "clothing stores open now" on Google. They see a list of malls and retail centers—some at the top, some buried below.
Ever wonder why some shopping malls show up first while others don't? That's what we're going to explain. And don't worry—we'll keep it simple.
Your Google Business Profile (or GBP for short) is basically your mall's online business card on Google. It shows your name, location, phone number, hours, photos, and visitor reviews. When someone searches for shopping or retail options, Google decides which mall profiles to show based on a few key things.
Google wants to show people the best, most relevant results. So it checks three main things about your business. Think of these as the "three pillars" that hold up your local ranking.
This sounds obvious, but many shopping malls have inconsistent information online. Google checks if your name, address, and phone number match everywhere—your website, business directories, and Google. If they don't match, Google gets confused and won't show your profile properly.
Quick check: Is your shopping mall name spelled exactly the same on your website, Yelp, and Google profile?
When someone searches "clothing store near me" or "food court near me," Google looks at your mall's profile to see if you offer those options. If you haven't listed them, you won't show up—even if your mall has dozens of stores.
This is where categories and services come in. We'll explain these in detail in the next section. For now, just know that telling Google exactly what you offer is really important.
Google reads visitor reviews. Lots of positive reviews tell Google that shoppers trust your mall. Replying to reviews shows you're responsive and professional. Both boost your search ranking.
Think about it: would you visit a shopping mall with 3 reviews or one with 50+ positive reviews? Google thinks the same way.
Here's the good news: You don't need to be a tech expert to improve these things. Most of it just takes a few minutes to set up.
Now, let's dive deeper into the part that matters most for shopping malls: categories and services. Once you understand these, you'll be ahead of most malls in your area.
Remember when we said Google needs to know what you do? This is where you tell it. Let's break this down into two simple parts.
Why this matters: Of all the things you can control on your Google Business Profile, categories have one of the biggest impacts on your local rankings. Pick the wrong ones, and you won't show up when visitors search. Pick the right ones, and you'll appear for the exact services you offer. Our case study proves that adding relevant categories doesn't hurt your rankings—it actually increases your visibility.
Think of categories like labels on a filing cabinet. Google uses them to sort businesses into groups. When someone searches "shopping mall near me", Google opens the "Shopping mall" folder and shows what's inside.
If your mall isn't in that folder, you won't show up. It's that simple.
You get to pick one primary category (your main label) and a few secondary categories (extra labels for other retail options you offer).
Here's what a typical shopping mall might choose:
Pro tip: Not sure which categories to pick? The checklist below will walk you through exactly how to find the best categories for your shopping mall.
If categories are the folders, services are the specific items inside. They tell Google (and potential visitors) exactly what you offer.
Let's say someone searches "clothing store near me." Google will check if you have that service listed. If you do, great—you'll show up. If you don't, Google assumes you don't offer it.
Think of it like a mall directory. If a store or service isn't listed, shoppers searching for it won't know to visit you.
Services a shopping mall might list:
The more services you list, the more shopper searches you can show up for. Just make sure you actually provide what you list!
Here's a simple action plan:
Not sure where to start? The checklist below will guide you through the categories and services in just 20 to 25 minutes.
Work through each item below. By the end, your shopping mall profile will be optimized for better local rankings and more visitor foot traffic.
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How to use:
Open any business on Google Maps - primary and secondary categories display automatically beside the profile
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Search for any term on Google Maps - click the Local Scan button to compare all GBPs
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Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'AI' button beside the GBP to use AI features
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Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Find more' button beside categories
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How to use:
Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Basic Audit' button beside the GBP
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How to use:
Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Review Audit' button beside the GBP
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How to use:
Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Teleport' button beside the GBP
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How to use:
Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Post Audit' button beside the GBP
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