Content by keyserholiday in December, 2025

I am sorry, but this is not allowed and you won’t be able to verify the new GBP.

I wouldn’t say it’s not enforced whatsoever. I put in the same categories as businesses description, showing the address when it’s should be hidden, setting the hours to 24/7, and keywords in the name. It’s not an issue until it is. When it comes to reinstatements, I have been told that that...

Service areas has zero impact on rankings.

I know it used to take two to three weeks to rank after being reinstated for SABs. Do you happened to know what the original address was used to verify the GBP?

I think that result is PPC. It’s extremely rare to see LSA on desktop.

Select the top option: Low Quality Information

Google doesn’t take sides in review disputes. Reply to the review in a polite and professional manner asking the reviewer to contact the business to discuss this matter. You can flag the review, but A. There is a backlog on review cases and B. Google won’t remove the review. If they did...

There is no way to select the default photo. While Google loves user generated content (UGC), you can increase the odds your photo is selected. Upload a photo showing the staff outside the business. Google loves these types of photos.

I am waiting for @whitespark to create a video where the new know before you go gives out incorrect answers.

Here is Google's statement concerning Q&A.

Nobody on here can help you. You submitted your redressal on December 5th, so you haven’t to wait until after January 4th to create a thread on the help forum. Honestly, based on your documentation, have zero chance of anyone being able to assist you and escalate a thread to Google. You have...

You need to wait 30 days before you can create a thread on the help forum. All you can do is wait.

I launched it a week ago Friday. Let me know when we can meet to discuss it.

I don't think anything has changed. SABs can and do rank. I suspect people don't perform the basics when it comes to marketing an SAB.

What account was suspended?

It might be a bug on Google’s end. Several people have stated that they experienced similar issues.

If you have an office with signage and staff, create a second GBP and show the address. There is no need to hide the address or over think it.

Happy to help.

Contact GBP support as they need to fix the issue on their end.

To display the address, the business must be staffed during posted business hours and have permanent signage. This is a rule. Here is the link to the TOS. If your business either has a physical location that customers can visit, or travels to customers where they are, you can create a Business...

Whitespark has a free tool. Use that.

@ElizabethRule talk it over with the boss @JoyHawkins to see if your agency wants to share with me all of the spam listings that Google has refused to remove.

It makes sense that it could be a permissions issue. Glad you got it resolved.

I don’t understand your reply? Please explain it for me.

It’s Google, I am not holding my breath.

I have never heard of this being an issue. I wonder what the underlying issue on your client’s end is.

Google made announcements on this and social media data. Sadly, they said it's an experiment, so there is no telling if it will be kept and if everybody will have this data.

This forum is for discussing all things related to Google Business Profile (GBP) and Local SEO. There are a few Product Experts (PEs) who can escalate and discuss things with the GBP team. I used to be a PE. I am just as frustrated if not more with how Google constantly fails to address GBP spam...

Thank you for your reply.

Somebody posted on Reddit that Product Experts (PEs) can no longer escalate suspension cases via the forum. If this is true, then we need to know so we don't direct people to the forum. I wonder how this will impact the companies that sell reinstatement services.

Where did you get that email address from? I’ve never heard of being able to email Google about map spam.

I have a plan to deal with that.

I’d create a new GBP and then ask Google to transfer the reviews from the original GBP to the new one.

One of the email addresses added as an owner or manager was blacklisted by Google. You need to figure out which email address it is and removed.

Elizabeth is from the US and Darren is from Canada. I suspect they chose the categories they picked because of what is common where they are from. With that being said, the best way is to search for both terms and use the category that shows up the most. When I searched for furnace repair, only...

Because Google sucks, anyone who has been battling and reporting fake, misleading, or violating GBPs will tell you that Google gets it wrong too often. I have been battling spam since 2017, and there are periods where the redressal form works well and times when it's a wasted effort. Right now...

This is what I am wondering.

Unless the GBP belongs to a brand, you will always see own this business next suggest an edit. When you click and expand the KP, the own this business link is removed when the profile is claimed. The profile is claimed. It’s easy to verify with this by seeing owner uploaded photos, replies to...

I remember this GBP. The business has four GBPs violating the TOS. The Bournemouth Locksmith - fake address Locksmith Christchurch - showing a residential address Lymington Locksmiths 24/7 Mobile Emergency Locksmith - keyword stuffing and showing a fake address Ringwood Locksmiths | Emergency...

If they are using the same category, one will rank and filter out the other. Run a heat map to tell which one Google is ranking.

Then it sounds like the original address used to verify the GBP is nowhere close to where they are located.

Based on my experience battling spam and the locksmith industry, these spammers create fake listings at addresses where they are not located. In order to create a GBP, you need a separate office with signage. I doubt that this locksmith did or has this.

I am launching an initiative to combat the lead-generation spam plaguing Google.

How long had the GBP been reinstated? I have heard it can take two weeks for a reinstated GBP to rank. If that is not the issue, what address showing?

Locksmith is one of the categories where Google automatically rejects edits. What evidence did you submit when you redressed it? If it has been over 30 days, you can post on the help forum.

I am seeing the same thing. I notice the page numbers are missing. It doesn't seem to be negatively impacting the ranking tools. I have checked two and I am getting over 10 results.