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Understanding Google My Business & Local Search

Google Maps Fixes missing record bug

In February, Google Map’s Guide Tom announced a bug where certain business records from the Local Business Center had gone missing in Maps. Records, once edited in the Local Business Center, randomly disappeared from both the Maps listing and the Google Local OneBox. The only fix was to delete the record and reenter it in the LBC however that often resulted in loss of rank and associated reviews. At the time I lauded Google’s new openeness and responsiveness.

Today (after 2 months of silence), Tom (and Google) announced that the bug has been fixed. The rescue came too late for my record as I had deleted and reentered it about 2 weeks ago thinking that the original had been left for dead in some dark corner. Hopefully though the fix will retrieve some other missing records from the dark recesses of Google’s storage closet (is that where they go? I’ve been wondering).


In March, this bug struck one of my records and I had posted the following at the Google Maps for Business Group that had gone unanswered until today:


Dear Maps Guide Jen, Sirene, Mike, Tom

On February 28, Maps Guide Tom posted in the “Issues” area an Alert
for Business Owners that:

Some verified listings aren’t displaying on Google Maps. Our team is aware and currently investigating. Stay tuned!


I happen to have one such listing:
Michael Donnelly Interior Design, Buffalo NY
The business shows as active in my Local Business Center. When I search in Maps on his name+ Location I see that the record has disappeared.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Michael+Donnelly+Interior+Design,+Buffa…

There is a blue pinned MyMaps record visible that I created but no indication of where the real Maps record went or which channel I need to tune into to find it. I am staying intensely tuned in but I beseech you to give me some indication that the long lost record will once again show itself and
that I have not been “tuned” in in vain.

Any guidance, advice that Google may give would be appreciated even if it so limited as to say: “Just 2 more weeks” or “Perhaps next month”. I would love to know the result of your investigation.

I hesitate to create yet another record and am hopeful that this one can be found. But if it isn’t in a back office cabinet ready to flourish upon seeing the light of day once restored to the directory,

let me know and I will enter it again.
Mike Blumenthal