Update 9:00 PM EST:Google has noted the following in the forums this evening:
We’re aware some of the business listings were not appearing on Google Maps earlier today. This was a technical issue that’s now been resolved.
Google Maps Experiencing Difficulties – Do not change the channel, I repeat do not change the channel and do not panic!
As SearchInfluence has pointed out Google Maps is having severe problems this afternoon with loosing listings. Here is a sampling of the most recent posts which obviously indicate that Google has misplaced more than one record and that Google staffers will (hopefully) be working overtime:
Cool! I’m just glad I got a mention on your post Mike. Thanks
Comment by Jaxcoffee (4 comments) — September 23, 2010 @ 4:09 pm
Glad I could make your day
Comment by Mike (2500 comments) — September 23, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
I noticed the other day that G Places successfully relocated Sunrise, Florida a full 200 miles East after misplacing it on the Florida West Coast for a long time.
Could it be that such a seismic change has disrupted the entire Google Maps continuum?
Beam me up, Mike.
Comment by earlpearl (784 comments) — September 23, 2010 @ 5:32 pm
I was under the impression that the flag of location not being supported was a secret warning of sorts that one was in violation of the still but less mysterious rules.
Comment by panzermike (225 comments) — September 23, 2010 @ 9:56 pm
The flag was either that the index had not updated yet and would OR it was on occasion a ban but today it was showing willy nilly for a number of listings. It has since been corrected
Comment by Mike (2500 comments) — September 23, 2010 @ 9:59 pm
@Earl
Google doesn’t really need a reason to have the continuum disrupted. Our searching for one is more of a reflection of the human need to see patterns where there are none.
Comment by Mike (2500 comments) — September 23, 2010 @ 10:00 pm
So I assume that “location not supported” is one of the reserved punitive measures.
Comment by panzermike (225 comments) — September 23, 2010 @ 10:12 pm
@Panzer…. you can assume what you want, but I just said that it was that only on occasion.
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (1947 comments) — September 23, 2010 @ 10:31 pm
Well I experienced it as early as today. But thanks for taking the time to decipher this issue. I was looking for blood pressure meds and Valium and could find neither.
Comment by panzermike (225 comments) — September 23, 2010 @ 11:13 pm
This problem occurred after the last Google update in the beginning of the week. I have some listings that are Active but I can’t see the statistics for them and they don’t appear on the map. I’ve tried to change that by removing details and keywords but nothing happened. Any suggestions? Do I have to submit them again or just wait for the next week?
Comment by Plamen (68 comments) — September 24, 2010 @ 2:04 am
One of my records began experiencing these problems as of the afternoon of 9/20 east coast time. I had looked at the record in the morning and it was fine at the time.
In this case, as with some others, the record seemingly has been split. There are 2 duplicate records, one is weaker than the other. On an obvious visable basis one shows less reviews. (though some of the same reviews as the stronger record.). the weaker record shows fewer citations.
Others have reported an identical problem with duplicate records, one being weaker than the other.
Yesterday, Google employee Cecelia reported a fix. As of very eary this morning East Coast time, I’m still seeing the problem.
I’m going to wait it out and going to report on the problem in the forum.
Comment by earlpearl (784 comments) — September 24, 2010 @ 5:37 am
@Plamen
Given the many weirdnesses of late, “do no harm” is the best strategy until whatever Google has been doing settles down.
@EarlPearl
The behavior that Cecelia referenced as being fixed was the flakey this location not supported and listings not showing today…. I think that the split records is a different problem.
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (1947 comments) — September 24, 2010 @ 7:54 am
@earl. Same problem. One Google created listing with fragmented, clustered data, that will not merge after months, and 2 split “owner verified listings”. (I only created one) Rankings got killed and one has 5 user reviews, the other, 13. No fix yet on my end.
Comment by panzermike (225 comments) — September 24, 2010 @ 6:21 pm
Another technical issue I have been experiencing is the yellow tag feature. The links have been changing without authorized dashboard modifications (ie, coupon to website) in addition to the tag feature disappearing altogether. There is no notification yet this a paid feature where the full amount is still being charged. Very disconcerting indeed.
Comment by Frank Lewis (10 comments) — September 25, 2010 @ 11:01 am