Clients Google your company name. What do they find?
You’ve just had a great meeting. The client smiled and asked for a quotation. The moment you leave, the first thing they do is Google your company name. What they find in those 30 seconds can decide whether your quotation gets read, or quietly forgotten.
When clients Google your company name, they should find a clean, up-to-date company website, a Google Business Profile with your address and reviews, and the same details everywhere. If they find nothing, an old website, a dead Facebook page, or a competitor’s name, you may lose the project before you even compete. Run the 5-minute test below to find out.
The 5-minute test: Google your own company
Open your browser in incognito mode (so your own account doesn’t affect the results), then search for:
- Your full company name, e.g. “ABC Engineering Sdn Bhd”.
- Company name + city, e.g. “ABC Engineering Shah Alam”.
- Company name + review.
- Your service + area, e.g. “electrical contractor Shah Alam”. Do you appear, or only your competitors?
Do it on a phone too, because many clients check while in the car or just before a meeting. Then ask yourself: if I didn’t know this company, would I trust it?
5 things clients usually find
1. Nothing at all
The results are full of company directories, other companies with similar names, or your competitors. For corporate clients, “can’t find them” often means “not serious enough”.
2. An old, neglected website
A 2015 design, “© 2019” in the footer, stock photos and a layout that breaks on phones. Worse still, a “Not secure” warning in the browser. We list the warning signs in 5 signs your company website is driving clients away.
3. A dead Facebook page
The last post is from 2022, with customer comments left unanswered. The client wonders whether the company is still operating.
4. An empty or wrong Google Business Profile
Wrong opening hours, an old phone number, no photos, and one 2-star review with no reply. This is the first box that appears on the right (or at the top, on a phone) when someone searches your name. Our guide to getting your business on Google Maps can help.
5. Conflicting information
The address on your website differs from the one on Google, and the phone number on Facebook is different again. Every inconsistency adds doubt.
What they should find
- Your company website in the first result, with pages about the company, services, past projects and how to contact you.
- Real projects and clients, with photos and short descriptions, not just a row of logos.
- A complete Google Business Profile: address, hours, photos and reviews with replies.
- Clear company details: registered name, SSM number, office address and team.
- Your own company email (name@yourcompany.com), not @gmail.com.
- The same details on your website, Google, LinkedIn and Facebook.
For tenders and corporate clients
When you compete for big projects, procurement and management teams usually check several companies at once. Your website is compared directly with your competitors’. A company profile PDF sent by email helps, but it doesn’t show up when someone Googles your name, and it can’t be shared as easily as a link.
Our team has 18+ years of experience building websites for Malaysian SMEs, corporates and government agencies, including projects involving brands such as Nissan Malaysia, Pharmaniaga and PIDM. We know what corporate clients look for when they check out a company.
Want clients to find something you’re proud of?
Shiok Digital business websites start from RM1,850, one fixed price: company, services, projects and contact pages, mobile-friendly and built to be found on Google. WhatsApp us your company name.
Frequently asked questions
Why do clients Google a company before working with it?
To check that the company exists, is active and can be trusted. For corporate projects and tenders, decision-makers usually check the website, address, past projects and reviews before inviting you to present.
My company doesn’t show up on Google at all. Why?
Usually because the company has no website, the website isn’t submitted to Google Search Console, or there’s no Google Business Profile. A new website can also take days to weeks to appear.
Is a Facebook page enough?
For a small shop it can be enough to start with, but for corporate clients it rarely is. A Facebook page whose last post is years old can also make the company look inactive.
Do I need a company email address?
Yes, especially for B2B work and tenders. An address like name@yourcompany.com looks more professional and trustworthy than an @gmail.com address.
How much does a company website cost?
At Shiok Digital, business websites start from RM1,850, one fixed price, with pages for the company, services, projects and contact details.