Duplicate GBP would like to Merge with Primary...any Downside?

[B2B]

Dear LSF members,

My client has a duplicate GBP listing. I don't want to delete/remove it. I read another member deleted a duplicate GBP and it removed All the client's reviews and tanked their SEO for the primary GBP, so I'd like to avoid that at all costs, as there's not undo option.

I read that merging the profiles is probably best. Any downside? Are there any other options?

Alternatively, would it be better to message Google Support and ask them to remove or merge the profiles? Timeline?

Ty,

Kevin

 

[keyserholiday]

If the duplicate GBP is not claimed, you can use suggest an edit and mark it as a duplicate. If it's claimed, Google won't merge them. If you remove it from your dashboard, Google might delete it.

 

[B2B]

Hi Jason, thanks for your reply.

The GBP is claimed. It's market Duplicate.

I read merging or deleting can cause issues to the Primary GBP...like reviews being deleted or affecting SEO negatively...which I'd like to avoid.

Are there other options I can pull the trigger on without it potentially affecting the primary GBP?

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[keyserholiday]

If Google marked it as a duplicate in your dashboard, then it's not live on Google. You can either ignore or remove it.

 

[B2B]

Ok great. No sense in merging it or deleting to potentially lose reviews or affect SEO... I'll just ignore it.

So the only issue is if you have a duplicate listing that's not claimed, then and only then, could affect ranking etc...

So if it's already marked Duplicate by Google, so what would happen if the Duplicate was deleted or merged? Could affect the primary GBP?

Thanks, Jason!

 

[keyserholiday]

Google already merged the two profiles when it marked one as a duplicate.

I doubt an unclaimed GBP would outrank the verified GBP, as one would get filtered out. The claimed one would have more reviews and would rank better.

Google is ignoring the duplicate listing, as you should.

 

[B2B]

Thanks, Jason.

Yep ignoring the duplicate.

Ty,

Kevin

 

[keyserholiday]

Thanks, Jason.

Yep ignoring the duplicate.

Ty,

Kevin

Happy to help, Kevin.