Discovery Searches vs Direct Searches
Google Business Profile insights show two types of searches. Understanding the difference is critical for growing your customer base.
Direct Searches
A Direct Search happens when someone searches for your business by name, for example "Joe's Plumbing Sacramento."
These are customers who already know about you. They are looking for your phone number, address, or hours. Direct Searches are valuable, but they do not grow your customer base.
Discovery Searches
A Discovery Search happens when someone searches for a category, product, or service, for example "plumber near me" or "emergency plumber Sacramento."
These are potential customers who do not know about your business yet. They are discovering you for the first time through Google Maps.
We do not publish a percentage for how much of your profile's traffic this is, and neither can anyone else: Google removed the discovery-vs-direct query split from Google Business Profile in February 2023 (the QUERIES_DIRECT and QUERIES_INDIRECT metrics were discontinued on 30 March 2023, per Google's own sunset-dates page) and shipped no replacement.
Why Discovery Searches matter more
If you want more customers, you need more Discovery Searches. Here is why:
- New customer acquisition: Discovery Searches bring people who have never heard of you
- Higher volume: discovery is where the customers who do not know you yet come from
- Purchase intent: People searching "plumber near me" need a plumber right now
- Competitive advantage: Ranking for discovery terms means winning customers your competitors would have gotten
How Maps Agent increases Discovery Searches
Maps Agent optimizes every element that influences Discovery Search rankings:
- Keyword research: Identifying the exact terms potential customers use
- Category optimization: Ensuring your categories match search intent
- Post optimization: Publishing posts with relevant discovery keywords
- Description optimization: Writing descriptions that match how people search
- Q&A optimization: Adding common questions with keyword-rich answers
Your monthly report tracks Discovery Search performance so you can see the impact.