Simple steps to increase your visibility on Google

Many campsite owners wonder why they don’t show up on Google – even when they search for their own business with phrases like «campsite in Ålesund». It feels random, but it isn’t. Google follows clear rules, and there’s a lot you can do yourself to get better visibility.

How Google search works for local campsites

When someone searches for «campsite in Ålesund», Google typically shows two types of results:

1. Organic search results – regular website links
2. Local map results – the map box (often called the «local pack») and Google Maps listings

These two are controlled by different factors.

• To appear in the local map, the most important factor is your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business).
• To appear in organic results, it’s mostly about the content and quality of your website and other sites that link to you.

If you don’t have a Google Business Profile, you will almost never appear in the map or local searches. The good news: it’s free, takes under 30 minutes to set up, and is probably the single most important thing you can do for local visibility.

The key factors that decide if you show up

1. Google Business Profile

Create and verify your profile at business.google.com. Make sure to:

• Add the correct name, address and phone number
• Set opening hours
• Upload good photos of the campsite and facilities
• Write a clear description of what you offer
• Ask guests for reviews – both the number and quality of reviews strongly affect how high you rank in local results

Without this profile, you’re almost invisible in Google Maps and the local pack.

2. Your Campio profile

Campio is an established platform with strong domain authority. That means Google already trusts Campio as a source.

When your Campio profile is fully completed – with:

• Detailed description
• Correct facilities
• Good photos
• Prices and bookable units

…it helps your Campio page rank for searches like «campsite [location]». For many smaller campsites, the Campio page can rank better than their own website.

Important detail: Use the words your guests actually search for in your Campio description. For example:

• «cabins by the sea»
• «family camping in Western Norway»
• «motorhome spot near Ålesund»

Include these phrases naturally in sentences, not as a list of keywords. Google reads this text and uses it to understand what your campsite offers and where it is.

3. Content on your own website

If your website never mentions «campsite in Ålesund» or «accommodation Ålesund», Google has a hard time understanding that you’re relevant for those searches.

You should:

• Use place names (e.g. Ålesund, Sunnmøre, Western Norway) naturally in your text
• Have a clear homepage that explains what you offer and where you are
• Create a dedicated “About us” or “Our campsite” page with:
  • Location
  • Types of accommodation (tents, motorhomes, cabins, etc.)
  • Nearby attractions

Write for humans first, but make sure the words your guests search for actually appear in the text.

4. Links from other websites

When other websites link to you, it’s a strong signal to Google that you’re trustworthy and relevant. Good links can come from:

• Visit Norway or regional tourism sites
• Municipal or local tourism pages
• Camping associations and directories

This is harder to influence quickly, but very valuable over time. Whenever you join an association or get listed somewhere, ask them to link to your website or Campio profile.

5. Booking link in Google Hotel (via Campio)

Campio is integrated with Google Hotel. If you have bookable units (cabins, rooms, apartments) in Campio, your campsite can:

• Show up directly in Google with prices and availability
• Get a “Book” button in search results

This gives you a different level of visibility than regular search results and can drive more direct bookings.

What you should do now – step by step

If your campsite doesn’t show up on Google, start with these actions:

1. Create or update your Google Business Profile

   • Go to business.google.com
   • Add correct name, address, phone, opening hours
   • Upload good photos
   • Verify your business (postcard, phone or email)

2. Complete your Campio profile

   • Fill in a detailed description with relevant keywords and place names
   • Add all facilities (electricity, sanitary facilities, playground, etc.)
   • Upload several good photos
   • Add prices

3. Add bookable units on Campio

   • Register cabins, rooms or apartments as bookable units
   • This allows connection to Google Hotel for extra visibility

4. Improve the text on your website

   • Mention your location clearly: «campsite in Ålesund», «camping in Western Norway», etc.
   • Create concrete pages (not just a generic welcome page)
   • Describe what you offer and who it’s for (families, motorhomes, hikers, etc.)

5. Ask satisfied guests for Google reviews

   • Send them a link to your Google Business Profile
   • Ask them to write a short, honest review
   • Reviews are one of the fastest ways to improve local ranking

Extra visibility with Google Ads via Campio

Campio already markets all connected campsites through the platform. If you want even more visibility, Campio can run Google Ads targeted at people searching for exactly your type of campsite.

• Ads can be shown for searches like «campsite in Ålesund» or «motorhome parking near [location]»
• Campio uses real booking data (not just clicks) to optimise the ads

If you’re interested, contact [email protected].

It takes time – be patient and consistent

Even if you:

• Set up Google Business Profile today
• Complete your Campio profile
• Improve your website text

…it can still take 4–12 weeks before you see clear changes in Google.

That’s because Google needs time to:

• Crawl and index your pages
• Build trust in your business
• Measure how users interact with your listings over time

The most important thing is to be consistent:

• Keep information updated (opening hours, prices, photos)
• Regularly ask happy guests for reviews
• Add new or improved content once in a while

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn’t my Campio profile show up in Google?

• The profile may not be fully completed
• You may not have bookable units
• Google may not have indexed the page yet

Make sure your profile has:

• Complete information
• Photos
• Prices and availability

What is Google Business Profile, and do I need it?

• It’s a free tool from Google where you register your business with address, opening hours, photos and more
• It’s the most important factor for appearing in local Google searches and on Google Maps

What is Campio?

• Campio is a digital platform where guests can find, compare and book campsites across the Nordics
• As a provider, you can create a profile and receive bookings directly through Campio

Download the Campio app:

• Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.campio.campioapp&hl=en
• App Store: https://apps.apple.com/no/app/campio-find-book-camping/id1521132128