How to fix a merged Google Local business listing

Is your listing in Google Local showing incorrect information?

Despite Google increasing the prominence of Local listings, it seems that there is a flaw in their algorithm. We first noticed the problem when our Google Local listing, which had always been quite highly ranked and bought us in a lot of traffic, dropped off the results for most searches. The only way we could even find the listing was to search for our company name. But when we found our listing, it was showing incorrect information. Some of the information was ours, but old and some seemed to come from other websites. Updating our listing didn't seem to make any difference.

A quick search on the Internet showed that we weren't the first people to experience this. Lots of other businesses have been affected. What had happened was that our listing had been merged with other listings automatically. In some cases, businesses are even finding that their listings are being mixed up with their competitors. The worst case scenario could see your company information, including positive reviews, with a competitor's contact information, or a competitor's negative reviews attached to your listing.

Why do Google Local listings get merged?

Google merges these results because of similarities in their listings. It seems that address, phone number and category are the main culprits. This means that two businesses in the same building may be merged incorrectly, particularly if they are in the same category - hence the competitor listings being merged. In our case, we had two businesses registered at the same address, but our listings were also mixed up with a property developer in Oxford, seemingly just because we had one number different in our 0800 phone number.

Despite initially accepting this as a bug and promising to resolve it, Google now seem to have changed their tune. As Google Employee Joel H says "This is how our system works by design. Businesses that are the same address / location are merged. In general, it's the right thing to do." Yet it so obviously isn't the right thing to do. So if this has happened to you, what can you do about it?

The important part: How to fix your Google Local listing

To find out how to fix our listing was no easy task. Yet the steps, once we'd spent two days trawling through the Google help forums and various other websites, were remarkably simple.

1. Claim your listing

The first step is to make sure that you own your Google Local listing. If you don't, then you can set up a Google account and claim it. Follow the simple steps to claim your Google Local Business listing . If there is more than one similar listing for your business, then you'll need to claim all of them.

2. Search, search and search again!

It's important to make sure that you find all those duplicates. Some may not show up, even when searching Google Local itself. Make sure you've also searched for your phone number and website address and claimed any listings that show under those searches.

3. Remove duplicate listings

The next step is to remove any of those listings that are duplicates. Read and follow the steps on the Google post http://maps-forum-announcements.blogspot.com/2009/05/got-duplicates-help-for-local-business.html and this will delete the duplicates from your account, leaving the one correct listing. In most cases, that will be all that you need to do.

4. Merged with other businesses

If your business information has merged with another business, you actually need to request Google to unmerge the listings. Log into your Google account, and then go to http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/maps/ask?hl=en. Post your request, making sure to include in the subject the words "Merged Listing". It is important to include as much information as possible. Carry out the searches in Google Maps that give you the merged results and then click 'link' on the right hand side. Paste this link into your question detail. Make sure you give Google as much information as possible. They should then reply to your post with the response 'I've reported the problem and it should be fixed within 2-3 weeks'. You'll then just need to wait.

Update: There is a new way to try to contact Google. If you are based in the US, Canada or Australia, at the bottom of the page is a link 'Report a Problem'. Click that, describe the problem and apparently, Google will look into it as soon as they can. There is no word yet on when this will be rolled out to the UK.

5. If all else fails

If this still doesn't solve your issues, then it's time to call in the experts. We've already managed to fix our own listing and have since done the same for several customers. Give us a call on 01622 834866 or email solutions@evolution-internet.com and we'll be able to help.