Yesterday, I learned how Google incorrectly listed Kelowna’s Unless Market as permanently closed. For any other business struggling with this issue, I’ve written a simple guide to troubleshooting it.
Google constantly makes changes to how they collect information and show it in search results, including local business information. When something happens in error, like with Unless Market’s duplicate page issue, it reminds us that sometimes technology can do as much harm as good.
Often the biggest source of frustration is getting help and support from large companies you don’t normally deal with.
If you end up in the same duplicate or “closed” listing situation as Unless Market, there is a solution.
As a prerequisite, make sure to have your correct business location claimed and verified via postcard (unfortunately for Unless, this wasn’t the case before Google’s error). Once that’s done, getting the duplicate removed is easy.
To have the incorrect duplicate location removed try calling Google support. When I’ve dealt with this issue in the past the representative has been able to handle the entire request. Lately, however, Google phone reps have not been handling it themselves, but instead giving these exact instructions:
- Pull up the incorrect location using Google Maps on a desktop computer;
- In the panel with the incorrect information select “Suggest an Edit”;
- At the top, find the toggle that says “Place is permanently closed or has never existed”;
- Once you’ve toggled that, select the “Duplicate” option (or the option that applies to you).
From there, Google support will correct the issue with listing. If a claimed and verified listing exists, any unclaimed or unverified listing will be removed.
If you do that and it hasn’t been fixed within 10 business days, you’ll probably have to use Google’s phone support. Their toll free number is 1-866-246-6453. Hit the number for Google “My Business” at the automated prompt. Once on the line with a support representative let them know about your issue; they’re pretty good about these things once you’ve tried the steps above.
For more information on how to get started with Google My Business, click here.
Photo: Contributed
Eli Beggs is an account manager with Navigator Multimedia Inc. Navigator has been helping small businesses with their online presence since 1993, and can be reached at 250-862-9868.
All Columnists Stories
