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Business disappeared from Google Places (Google Local) - Help!

by dimo79
7 replies
  • SEO
    • |
My business disappeared from the Google local search results. I investigated the possible reasons and I think one strong possibility is that I updated the phone number to match an other business that I have registered with Google Places. Apparently Google considers this as a duplicate posting and penalties the posting

I updated the phone number yet to another new number a few days ago but the listing has not made it back to the local search results. I have been getting a lot of leads from the local search results as the business heavily targets local customers.

Does anyone had a similar experience? Any suggestions on what I can do to bring my business back up in the results?
#business #disappeared #google #local #places
  • Profile picture of the author adam007
    May be it is the reason but I don't think so. Are you sure it is the reason?
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    • Profile picture of the author dimo79
      Apparently Google is very strict about the Google Places postings and may flag the postings that do not comply with the policies (unfortunately I cannot post links so if you want to see these policies search for "Google Places Policies: Quality guidelines")

      I did not have any scammy information but my business title did include a couple keywords besides the business name which supposedly is a big No. They also recommend that you post the listing from a Google Account that belongs to the domain of the business (I had all businesses listed through my personal Google Account).

      I have now cleaned up everything and posted a new listing. We will see if that helps.

      I got most of this information from a blog posting which I found useful. Again, I cannot post links so if anyone is interested in more reading, Google the exact phrase "Google Local Disappeared Me" and read the first result.
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      • Profile picture of the author ferriswannabe
        I just changed my Google places info a couple days ago.

        I have always been letter D, I then did the following.

        I made up categories with my keywords.
        I added keywords to my title before the company name.
        I added keyword info on the bottom where additional information can be added. ( you know where it says something about parking )

        Made sure listing was at 100% complete.

        24 hours later, was on top at letter A.

        I was worried about the keywords, but it's working for now. I am also afraid my competition will send a complaint to Google, but only time will tell. I'll see what happens.

        Good Luck
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        • Profile picture of the author sknollii
          ferriswannabe.

          I would not worry about your competition at all.

          Have you done anything directly toward their listing at all?

          If you were smart and took care of the smart way to affect your listing... you win! Your competition may not be happy as they are no longer at the top but in a sense that is not your fault. That is competition and SEO my friend!

          Well done!

          Onward and Upward!

          Sam
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          • Profile picture of the author ferriswannabe
            sknollii

            The reason I worry is somebody submitting a compliant, because I do have those keywords in the title, your not suppose to have those.

            I know that helped get it in the first spot, but I don't attribute it all to that.
            It was obvious that it was getting it 100% completion and the keyword categories.
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            • Profile picture of the author sknollii
              Is this a Brick and Mortar bus or is it a website?

              You are correct that you can't simply add keywords to your business name (if they aren't part of it).

              There are many factors that can help get you seated at the top of the business listings as long as you use your keywords properly within the listing.

              You could remove them from the business name and see what happens.

              Again, well done on getting the top listing.

              Sam
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              • Profile picture of the author dimo79
                My listing is back at the top. This is what I have done:

                - I deleted the listing that was linked from my personal Google account (all my listings used to be linked to this account)
                - I registered a Google account with an email from the domain
                - I submitted a brand new listing with this account and followed all the guidelines posted by Google
                - I added 3 custom categories with my keywords

                After a couple days, since both listings were still up and around g-h, I submitted a duplicate removal request through the old listing. Two weeks after, the old listing completely disappeared and my other listing is back at the top!
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