Google has been sending notifications via email to business owners about issues related to duplicate Google Places listings. I received such an email a few days ago, but thought it may have been an isolated occurrence until I saw more business owners and SEOs saying they received the same thing. The email being sent out reads:
Hello,
We’d like to inform you that Google Places no longer accommodates more than one authorised owner per business location. Your account contains one or more listings that have been identified as duplicates of other listings and as a result, some of the information that you provide will not be shown to Google users any more.
To get more information or request access to the other listings, please log into your Google Places account.
Yours sincerely,
The Google Places Team
It turns out the issue stems from Google upgrading business listings to the new Google Places For Business local listings. If your business had one of the older listing types on Google you’ll run into a similar issue.
The email invites users to log into their Google Places account, and upon doing Google immediately points out which of your listings is causing the issue. In order to keep the listing live you’re asked to review your information, make any necessary changes and then submit them.
If you have a Google Places listing but haven’t received this email, it’s best to log in and check if there are any issues just to be sure. As these listings are paramount for local search, it would be a shame to have your listing removed without knowing there was even a problem.
Featured Image Credit: Google Places for Business
