Losing Google Maps rankings can be a tough blow for anyone running a business that depends on local visibility. Having seen this happen in my own ventures, I know firsthand how frustrating it can feel. Luckily, with some structured steps and a bit of effort, you can usually pinpoint the cause and start working on recovery. Here’s how you can tackle this challenge, backed by key insights and actionable advice.
The First Step: Diagnose the Issue
Before diving into fixes, understand the problem. Data will guide you. Check your Google Search Console to spot keyword or traffic drops. Look at Google Business Profile (GBP) Insights to assess whether impressions, clicks, or calls have changed. Pair this with your analytics tool (like Google Analytics 4), using specific UTM codes to track GBP-related traffic. For instance, filter your campaign data under names like “GBPtraffic2024” to see performance changes.
Grid-based local rank tracking tools, such as Moz Local GeoRank, are also a lifesaver. These tools allow you to visualize your rankings across different parts of your target area, giving you a clear perspective of where you’re ranking well, or not.
Why Does This Happen? Common Triggers
Based on my experience and leading studies like those from Sterling Sky, here are some major culprits:
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Algorithm Updates: Google regularly tweaks its local search algorithms. A major update, like the "March 2024 Core Update," can cause shifts. Keep tabs on changes using tools like Google’s own Status Dashboard.
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Category Mistakes: Did you accidentally change your business category in GBP? Primary and secondary categories significantly affect your rankings.
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Competitors: New players can shake things up. Check their strategies, are they posting more frequently, optimizing Q&A sections, or adding local backlinks? For instance, RankWorks identified a unique case where competitors surged rankings by posting weekly photos and leveraging the "Google Guaranteed" badge.
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Geographic Issues: If your business location pin doesn’t align well with the areas you target, geographic boundary updates from Google may affect your visibility.
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Profile Completeness: A simple error, like an outdated business name or incorrect hours, can diminish your GBP’s credibility.
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SERP Layout Changes: New features like Google’s AI-based overviews can push the local pack lower on search pages. This may not directly harm rankings but could reduce clicks and impressions.
How to Fix These Changes
Addressing drops isn’t a guessing game. Follow these steps systematically:
1. Audit Your Google Business Profile
Start with your GBP. Is your profile complete? Double-check your categories, address, phone number, and website link. Your main info must be precise and consistent across all platforms.
Ensure you’re updating content regularly. Post at least twice a week, upload recent photos, answer questions in the Q&A section, and respond to reviews (both positive and negative).
2. Assess Competitive Activity
Analyze top competitors using tools like Moz’s GeoRank. Are they offering promotions, adding reviews, or posting fresh content? Stay one step ahead by matching and improving on their strategies. For a comprehensive review, tools like BrightLocal RankFlux can detect fluctuations in the local search space.
3. Ensure Your Website Matches Your GBP
Google cross-checks your data across GBP and your website. If one shows “Avenue” and the other says “Street,” this confusion could lead to suppressed rankings. Also, add schema markup to your website for local SEO. You can find help from tools like Schema Markup Generator.
4. Request Reviews
Regular reviews are key. Google values fresh reviews more than older ones. Start a campaign to kindly encourage happy customers to leave reviews. Velocity (the speed of review collection) is becoming a stronger ranking signal.
5. Fix Suspensions or Filtering
If your GBP is suspended, resolve that first. For soft suspensions (where the listing is visible but not manageable), rectify any policy violations. Use Google’s official help tools to appeal if required.
For filtered or hidden listings, try repositioning your pin slightly or even removing potential duplicate listings that can create conflicts.
What New Patterns Should You Stay Ahead Of?
Trends show that reliance on local SEO tools is increasing. For instance, AI Answer overviews now directly display business details without users needing to click through. While that visibility is helpful, fewer clicks mean you’ll need to focus on increasing visibility through ads or features like Local Service Ads (LSA).
Additionally, the role of mobile in local search is massive. Taking regular screenshots of mobile SERPs for your core keywords helps you stay aware of local pack changes.
Mistakes You Should Avoid
When fixing issues, avoid these errors:
- Rushing Updates: Don’t apply multiple changes at once. If rankings drop further, isolating the cause becomes harder.
- Ignoring Negative Reviews: A poor response, or no response at all, to reviews can impact how users and the algorithm perceive your business.
- Skipping Regular Audits: Check your GBP weekly. Competitors or even customers may suggest edits that affect your ranking.
Final Thoughts
Losing visibility on Google Maps doesn’t mean the end of the road. By diagnosing the issue carefully, implementing fixes step by step, and adapting to trends like AI-based changes in SERPs, you can recover and maintain your rankings. Staying proactive and data-driven has worked wonders for my businesses, especially when using tools like Moz Local GeoRank and BrightLocal’s RankFlux. You have everything you need to turn this setback into an opportunity.
Remember, SEO is about consistency, so keep learning and experimenting. Local search isn’t static, it’s about adapting, and when you do, success will follow.
FAQ on Diagnosing and Fixing Google Maps Ranking Drops
1. How can I confirm a Google Maps ranking drop for my business?
Start by reviewing Google Business Profile Insights for drops in calls, clicks, or impressions. You should also check your analytics with UTM tracking codes and Google Search Console data to pinpoint changes in performance. Learn more about diagnosing ranking drops
2. What are the main causes of Google Maps ranking drops?
Common triggers include algorithm updates, category errors in your profile, competitor activity, geographic boundary shifts, incomplete profiles, and SERP layout changes like AI overviews pushing the local pack lower. Discover common triggers of ranking issues
3. How do I optimize my Google Business Profile after a ranking drop?
Ensure your profile is complete and accurate. Regularly post updates, upload photos, answer Q&A section questions, and respond to reviews. Categories, address accuracy, and consistency across platforms are crucial. Optimize your Google Business Profile
4. Can competitors affect my Google Maps rankings?
Yes, competitors with optimized strategies like frequent posts, fresh reviews, local backlinks, and badges like "Google Guaranteed" can surpass your rankings. Analyze their activity and improve upon their tactics. Explore competitor case studies
5. How do algorithm updates impact Google Maps rankings?
Algorithm updates, like the "March 2024 Core Update," can significantly shift rankings. Regularly monitor the Google Status Dashboard or SEO tools to stay informed about these changes. Track algorithm updates
6. How can geographic issues affect my visibility?
Google may alter geographic boundaries of your business pin or target area. If your pin location doesn’t align well with target areas, adjust it accordingly. Understand geographic ranking impacts
7. What role do customer reviews play in Google Maps rankings?
Google prioritizes fresh reviews and the velocity of review collection. Launch campaigns encouraging satisfied customers to leave recent reviews to boost visibility. Learn the impact of reviews
8. What tools can I use to track ranking changes in local search?
Grid-based local rank tracking tools like Moz Local GeoRank and BrightLocal RankFlux can help visualize ranking shifts in your target area. Check out Moz Local GeoRank
9. How should I fix a suspension or filtering issue with my profile?
For suspended profiles, use Google’s official support tools to resolve policy violations. To address filtered listings, remove duplicate profiles or adjust the pin location away from competitors. Appeal a suspension with Google
10. What new trends should I monitor in local SEO?
Emerging changes like AI overviews replacing local packs in search results and mobile search becoming dominant require closer attention. Monitor SERP screenshots and adapt to features like Local Service Ads (LSA) to maintain visibility. Discover AI and mobile changes in local SEO
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
