Google+ Local Penalization: How long to recover?

[Goku770]

I think my google+ local listing has been penalized. I fixed it up like 2 weeks ago but im wondering how long it takes to recover. Does anybody have a general idea?
Ive heard of this reconsideration button but I cant find it

 

[Linda Buquet]

Sorry for your problem.

There are so many different things you could mean by that but really don't know which one from your description.

If penalized, you can't see it and there is no reconsideration request.

If suspended that's a totally different story.

Are you suspended with a red warning telling you that in dash?

Or is page still live and your ranking drop and you just suspect you were penalized?

There is no reconsideration button so not sure what you are thinking there.

To be able to help you, we need link to live if the page is still live.

We need dash screenshots.

And we need more history about what happened including what you think was wrong and what you did 2 weeks ago to fix it.

 

[Colan Nielsen]

Ive heard of this reconsideration button but I cant find it

The Reconsideration Request is for websites that have been given a Manual Action Penalty by Google - https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/2604824

https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/2604824

 

[Linda Buquet]

Ya that's partly why I was confused...

He said "google+ local listing has been penalized". No reconsideration for that.

And I think his page is live, if I found and looked at the right page BUT he asked about having 2 businesses at same address once so I want to wait and not waste time barking up the wrong tree looking at the wrong page and have him share the requested info above so we can help.

 

[Goku770]

Ok sometime between Jan and Feb 2014, I had an A ballon for the keyword "land o lakes lawn mowing" . In organic rankings, I had my website fluctuating between page one and two.

All of a sudden, in the middle of Feb 2014, I had no ballons for any of my keywords. Also, my website fell between pages 3 and 4. As far as organic rankings, the only thing I can think of that caused a decrease in rankings is a tweaking to my on-site optimization.
I read that putting your location + keyword in your H-1 header is a good thing to do. My wordpress theme automatically puts H-1 as its page title (ex: Home, Contact Us, Lawn Service, Pricing, etc.)



So I put the location in my page title and it looked a little funny (Contact Us-Land O Lakes, Pricing-Land O Lakes, Lawn Service-Land O Lakes, etc.) After I did this I noticed the organic ranking decrease. So I deleted the location and my rankings went up again

I have received no red warning of a suspension in my dashboard.

Yes my page is live, and I suspect I was penalized. I have more citations than all my competitors in my area. My description is filled out and I have about 4 pictures, my profile is 100% complete. Most of my competitors either don't have their description filled out, don't have photos, or have less than 65 citations.



google.com/<wbr>+GabesLawnCutsLandOLakes


!!About 2 days ago I made changes to my google+ page, and they are sending a
a re-verification postcard to me that will arrive in 1-2 weeks. I noticed when I logged into my dashboard it was at 87% complete. However it was 100% two days ago.




Please let me know if you need any more information or screenshots, thank you

 

[Linda Buquet]

Thanks for the additional info Gabe.

What categories do you have set up?

What change did you make that's requiring you to re-verify?

 

[Goku770]

I had lawn care services, gardner, and landscaper. Then I changed it to lawn care services and removed the other two. I then added landscaper about 2 days ago. I also changed the description a few times.I think the frequent changes made them send a verification request.

I have a question though, since lawn care services is the only option under google+local categories that fits my service, Should I make that my main keyword? Right now my main keyword is lawn mowing services.

It was when I added the category "landscaper" that I received the
re-verification request.

My competitors dont have google+ 1s or engage in social media on their google+ local page. Do you think maybe someone stealing my citation juice? Like re-directing to their url or somthing like that?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Normally don't need to verify unless NAP change.

No I don't think anyone stole anyone stole any type of juice from you and also not so sure you were penalized either but I'm totally buried and won't may not be able to to fully investigate.

Hopefully someone else has time to dig in and try to help. But please be patient as many consultants are with family on weekend so it's slow here.

 

[Goku770]

No problem linda, I appericate you taking the time to help out