Since the “Pigeon” algorithm update last week, we’ve seen a decline in Google Places 7-pack results, plus local rankings reshuffled at least a little bit in most markets.
Has all that commotion covered up a crackdown by Google on service-area businesses (businesses, like contractors, that travel to customers rather than the other way around)?
I’m beginning to think so.
One long-time client of mine suddenly got the red light on a residential (and properly “hidden”) address.
Then I post on Linda’s forum, and hear the same thing from other people.
Then Holly Pedit emails me to say Google has put the kibosh on all her service-area clients.
I know Google isn’t penalizing all – or necessarily even many – residential or service-area businesses. The question is whether they’re whacking more of them than usual.
Does your business operate in a “service area,” and has your Google Places page been suspended in the last week?