(Wrong) Directions to Hidden Addresses showing on Maps

[Yan Gilbert]

Maps is showing directions to all listings, even when the listing has a hidden address. Instead of showing the address, it is showing a GPS coordinate.

However, the coordinates are for the center of the service area and not of the verification address, so not useful for anything.

Just another glitch. Hopefully people don't get directions to the wrong places.

 

[Rich Owings]

Hmm, makes me wonder if the center of the service area impacts ranking proximity.

 

[TomW]

It's a good though @Rich Owings but from my testing, it does not. The physical address of the listing is still what is being used. In addition to the directions issue, Google Maps will often show "Transit nearby" options that are based on the center of the service area and not the actual location of the business. Of course, transit options shouldn't be shown at all for service-area business listings but they are!

 

[Rich Owings]

Yeah, I had second thoughts about it. If that were true, I could be ranking just off the west coast. I'm in NC, but my service area is the entire US including AK & HA!