It used to be a relatively simple job to get your address changed when you moved a business. You simply needed to contact the four or five principal parties; the Post Office, the Phone Company, your Yellow Page Rep (actually he would track you down), the Newspaper and your current customer base.
In the Internet age this process has become more complicated. The PlusBox from Google manages to excacerbate the problem by highlighting your old address for what seems like forever.
I have over the past several weeks written about the problem of erroneous address information in the Google PlusBox (here and here) and recently Bill Slawski covered the issue with one of his Google patent reviews.
But I felt the urge to respond to this familiar sounding message requesting help with their erroneous PlusBox in the Google Maps for Business Group the other day. I posted my response at SearchEngineLand:
Change Your Address In The Google Plusbox In 5 Simple Steps
Nice article, Mike.
Comment by earlpearl (784 comments) — March 25, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
Ah if it were just 5 simple steps.
Mike
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (1962 comments) — March 25, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
This article is well written. The office I work just moved and met the kind of problem. This article is helpful a lot.
Comment by Language Translator (1 comments) — March 27, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
Dear Language Translator
I would be curious to know how you make out. Are you able with enough effort and time to get the PlusBox changed? Keep us posted.
Mike
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (1962 comments) — March 28, 2008 @ 7:27 am
Mike, nice article I’d have to admit I am a little disappointed you didn’t mention Localeze as one of the sources for a business to interact with when updating their address. Here is a link where a business can add, edit or delete their listing within our database which is currently licensed to more then 60 local search or directory sites. http://www.localeze.com/manage-business/index.asp if this comes across as too much of a company endorsment, I won’t be offended if you delete the comment.
Comment by Gib Olander (12 comments) — March 28, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Hi Gib
In all of my general articles I do mention Localeze. However this article was specifically about Google’s travails with the PlusBox and how a business could get that changed. I was under the impression that Localeze was not yet selling data to Google. Is that incorrect?
I will be sure in future articles on the topic to mention you whenever appropriate.
Mike
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (1962 comments) — March 28, 2008 @ 10:06 am
[...] are my previous posts about the Plus Box issues: •How to change your Business Address in the Internet Age •5 Simple Steps to fix the plus box (yea right) •Google Plus Box – Where does the (wrong) data [...]
Pingback by Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Plus Box - for real | Developing Knowledge about Local Search — April 4, 2008 @ 7:35 am
We have a listing on GoogleMaps (Jupiter Counseling), and the other day I visited it and there was a link someone not affiliated with us placed under our weblinks to the Qigong Institute, and she listed herself as being at our address and teaching Qigong and being a “Law of Attraction Counselor”, and we cannot get it removed. The people at Google have been unwilling to help us, and they hang up on me, refusing to get me to a supervisor or technical support. Anyone know what I can or should do? This information is damaging to our business. I can’t get an answer from anyone as to what to do. Thank you. Please send answer to amuseink@aol.com.
Comment by David Goodman (3 comments) — November 1, 2008 @ 8:31 am
[...] have often noted in the past how managing a business listing has gone from expensive to free but from simple to complicated. It [...]
Pingback by Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » The complexities of YP listing management in the Google Age | Developing Knowledge about Local Search — November 3, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
[...] • How to change your Business Address in the Internet Age • 5 Simple Steps to fix the plus box (yea right) • Google Plus Box – Where does the (wrong) data come from? • Google and the PlusBox Blues « Local Links of Interest – [...]
Pingback by Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Microsoft Azure catches Google’s PlusBox Blues | Developing Knowledge about Local Search — November 20, 2008 @ 7:05 am
[...] long term benefits by serving the larger market. He has yet to confront the aggravation of changing his old address out on the [...]
Pingback by In the Trenches: the reality of SMB Marketing- Bruce’s Sew Handy Interview » Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search — December 16, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
@ David Goodman–It is pretty much impossible to get any customer service from Google. They are simply far too big to handle any sort of request. Even if you have a paid Adwords account with them, you can’t get a sales rep to personally assist you unless you are spending more than 10k per month with them. My best advice would be to see if you can delete the listing, then wait a week or so, and re-post. Other than that, not sure what to do! I feel your pain!
Comment by Jennifer @ vergent t1 service (1 comments) — July 28, 2010 @ 1:40 pm