Why Your Google Business Listing Dropped in Ranking

You Were Showing Up. Now You're Not.

Nothing changed on your end. But suddenly you've dropped in Maps results. Calls have dried up. What happened?

Common Causes

Google Algorithm Update

Google tweaks its local algorithm regularly. What worked last month might not work this month. Usually affects everyone, not just you.

A Competitor Got Better

Someone else in your area improved their profile. Google is relative. You can drop without getting worse if others get better.

Your Profile Went Stale

No new photos in months. No posts. No new reviews. Google sees inactivity and assumes you're less relevant.

Verification or Suspension Issues

Sometimes Google re-verifies businesses. If there's any issue with your address or legitimacy, you can get temporarily suppressed.

Review Problems

Lost a bunch of reviews to filtering? Review count is a ranking factor. Fewer reviews = less prominence.

Duplicate Listings

Someone (or Google itself) created a duplicate of your business. Splits your visibility and confuses everything.

How to Recover

Audit Your Profile

Check everything. Categories, address, phone, services. Make sure nothing's wrong.

Add Fresh Content

New photos, a Google Post, updated services. Show Google you're active.

Check for Duplicates

Search your business name. Look for any duplicate listings and report them for removal.

Build Reviews

Not desperately. But consistently. Steady review growth signals an active business.

Be Patient

Ranking changes aren't instant. Give it 2-4 weeks before panicking.

When to Get Help

If you've checked everything and can't figure it out, there might be a deeper issue with your profile setup. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes catches what you've missed.