Community Discussion: Did Your Google Listing Suddenly Disappear?

[Eric_Rohrback]

Thanks for sharing this Miriam! I'm still seeing a lot of movement, and a lot of speculation on the local search forum. Joy just published a really nice article explaining what she's been seeing. I recommend everyone looking into this thread check it out - http://searchengineland.com/everything-need-know-googles-possum-algorithm-update-258900 

@Tabassum M - you should probably start up a new thread for a high level of Google My Business Listings (since that is a good topic), just so we don't derail this discussion.

[Tabassum]

Yeah! Eric, exactly I will.

Thanks for the suggestion

[mgordon]

Thanks for sharing the video! Helped a lot.

[MiriamEllis]

Eric, yes, Joy's post is super! Thank you so much for thinking to link out to it. Very relevant to this discussion.

[CalicoKitty2000]

I wanted to give an update of what I am seeing for our Google My Business page.  I am seeing that there are 2-3 fishing charters listed at each marina now, which is good.  I am only seeing my business in about 25% of them.  The good thing is that my adwords account is working and I am showing up for most of my tracked terms in adwords.

[CalicoKitty2000]

This is an interesting experiment.  I am also hesitant to do this because NAP has been the best practice for so long.  It would be impossible to change all of the citations as well.  I am really interested to see how this plays out, however.

[petrakraft]

So far it is still working. The customer is back in the local back. No other spotted disadvantages anywhere - so far. Adding a suite number didn't work out - like Joy Hawkins did confirm several times. Perhaps you would like to make some experiments with e.g. adding a letter to your street number? As I have seen the filter is working withing 5 - 15 minutes - so you can fix any change pretty quick.

[AL123al]

Regarding the last Google major update, has anyone seen anything specific to certain local industries? I'm thinking about locksmiths and this type of industry. It would be good to know if anyone has noticed fluctuations with certain clients and not others?

[David-Kley]

Google has been messing up a lot lately.

First, the new Google Business manager is HORRIBLE. (sorry, had to get that out of the way first). Google Plus and Local used to be so easy to manage and use, but now you have to go through more page to do the same things. Just my personal opinion.

We have also been noticing reviews disappearing from local listings, and when we call them and ask what's up, they (Google) say it is a technical issue with Google Business and that the reviews "may" return once the bug is worked out. We have a lawyer-client that has worked extremely hard to get over 90(!) legitimate 5-star reviews, only to see them cut that back down to 60. Then, after we called and complained, 3 days later they were back.

[MiriamEllis]

I love the spirit of experimentation, but it's important to remember that any failure to represent your address exactly as it appears in the real world is a violation of Google's guidelines.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Calico!

So appreciate you returning with a progress update on this. I see what you see. Kind of a pain to have to pay for visibility you previously enjoyed for free, but at least there is something you can do

[MiriamEllis]

Oh, man! Not this:

Google Business and that the reviews "may" return once the bug is worked out.

It has been 4 years since Google's last major review fiasco. Hope this doesn't turn into round 2. Thanks for mentioning, David, and sorry Google Business Manager is giving you a headache.