Michael Borgeit and Linda Buquet have both alerted me to a new bug on the new Google+Local pages that frequently prevents any link on the G+Local page to external websites (listing website, review websites etc) from correctly resolving and when clicked serves up the “Google 400. That’s an error.” page instead.
The bug is not persistent and seems to come and go but it is more coming than not at the moment so visitors to the new page can not make it to your website. Google engineers are aware of the bug and are working on a solution.
For the next couple of months we will see more if this. I think Google is migrating to slowly for us. Lets hope this does not become one of the more permanent bugs of the past. Example “We do no support this location”
Comment by Ned C (13 comments) — June 2, 2012 @ 7:23 pm
All things Google, how can this be possible?
It seems so simple to link to a site right?
Comment by Dennis (48 comments) — June 3, 2012 @ 12:25 am
Same here not working ..
Comment by Eitan (2 comments) — June 3, 2012 @ 2:38 am
@Ned
The “We do no support this location” message was only rarely a bug. It was usually an intended penalty. That being said Google is migrating too slowly but I think given the complexity of the moving parts of Local that was unfortunately necessary.
@Dennis
Yes it does but Google is a push early, reiterate often and fix as we go company… kinda of like GM in the 90s.
Comment by Mike (2500 comments) — June 3, 2012 @ 7:41 am
Hi Mike,
I’ve seen the same issue with a “Google Sites” site, so wonder whether this was a + issue, or just a Google problem?
Comment by Michelle (12 comments) — June 3, 2012 @ 10:25 am
Michelle, none of the links to regular domains or to 3rd party review sites on +Local pages open either. So it’s not just Google sites. The outbound URLs are malformed or something. I’ve been sending Google examples and engineers are working on it. But I just checked and still borked.
Comment by Linda Buquet (299 comments) — June 3, 2012 @ 11:30 am
Hey @Linda Buquet or anyone.
Has there been any word regarding the broken links. I’m still seeing the issue.
Comment by Alan Winterbourne (3 comments) — June 4, 2012 @ 9:15 am
Alan
Not yet
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (2009 comments) — June 4, 2012 @ 11:46 am
Alan
Current word from Google:”We’re still working on this issue – but it became more widespread over the weekend. Hope to have a fix ASAP. In the meantime, please let users know it is a known issue and we’re working on a fix ! “
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (2009 comments) — June 4, 2012 @ 2:00 pm
Well, I’ll be! You’re right! If I click on the link to my website I get a 404. That’s frustrating. Fortunately most people don’t actually visit the Google Plus page but simply click through from the SERPS. (At least I hope that is the case!)
Comment by Marie (12 comments) — June 4, 2012 @ 10:37 pm
Good news in the UK – I’ve just had a trawl through all my client listings and they are all resolving correctly, with the exception of my Google sites client, where it’s still giving a 404
Comment by Michelle (12 comments) — June 5, 2012 @ 10:44 am
I am also hearing from clients that reviews are not publishing at all….even recent reviews written by Google+ members. If we encourage business owners to get customers to write reviews, and they aren’t even showing up, the entire Google review system is going to be called into question, and other review services will gain as a result.
Comment by Bruno (7 comments) — June 6, 2012 @ 1:07 pm
I’m still seeing the 400 issue in some places.
I think some have reported this issue as being fixed.
I’ve come to think Google is having a problem redirecting URl’s that contain parameter strings.
That’s the reason why it works for some folks and not for others. This is just a theory.
For example
http://www.domain.com seems to works. But
http://www.domain.com/?param=1 does not
But again I could be wrong. I didn’t search the whole internet
Comment by Alan Winterbourne (3 comments) — June 6, 2012 @ 1:48 pm
Why would anyone with an established business with a list of well deserved and hard earned reviews risk joining google + local and or /business and risk losing years of reviews for what Vanessa described as Google brain farts? This transition is very scary. Respectfully please advise with explicit details so we don’t get screwed in transitioning to these new venues
Comment by john happel (2 comments) — June 8, 2012 @ 12:09 am
Why would anyone with an established business with a list of well deserved and hard earned reviews risk joining google + local and or /business and risk losing years of reviews for what Vanessa described as Google brain farts? This transition is very scary. Respectfully please advise with explicit details so we don’t get screwed in transitioning to these new venues,Sorry don’t fully understand the new changes.
Comment by john happel (2 comments) — June 8, 2012 @ 12:11 am
[...] this process issues are going to occur. It may be painful or fear inducing but these issues will be resolved and for [...]
Pingback by An Updated Step By Step Guide for the SMB to their New Google + Local Page | Understanding Google Places & Local Search — June 8, 2012 @ 7:48 pm
Just wanted to circle back to let you guys know that this issue has been resolved for us. Links are back working
Comment by Alan Winterbourne (3 comments) — June 13, 2012 @ 4:44 pm