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Have you ever had a customer say to you: “I tried finding your business, but Google sent me to the wrong address”? Or maybe, “I can't find you at all”?
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is like your digital storefront. If it’s not working right, customers get frustrated, confused, or—worst of all—go to a competitor instead.
This guide breaks down the most common GBP problems and how to solve them quickly. No tech degree required!
Imagine a new patient searching for your clinic’s GBP to book an appointment—only to see you’re "closed" on Tuesdays when you’re actually open. Or they call, but the number listed is outdated.
When your business details are wrong, customers get confused, and you lose potential sales. Even worse, Google sees inaccurate information as a red flag, which can hurt your local SEO and push your listing down in search results.
Here’s how to fix incorrect business information:
First, log into your Google Business Profile Manager and check if everything is correct:
Google doesn’t just look at your GBP listing—it cross-checks it with other sources. If your details are different on Yelp, Facebook, or industry directories, it can lower your search ranking.
Use a listing management tool like Synup to keep everything in sync. It automatically updates your business details across multiple platforms, so you don’t have to track them manually.
Google sometimes allows third-party changes to your business details based on user suggestions or automated data. If you notice an update you didn’t make, go to GBP and correct it immediately.
Pro Tip: Set up alerts for your business name so you get notified whenever something changes. That way, you can fix it before it causes problems. Using a Google Business Profile Post Scheduler also keeps posts in sync.
One day, your Google Business Profile (GBP) is running smoothly. The next, like it was with In House Packers, it’s gone, suspended without warning. No calls, no leads, no online presence. It’s like your business just vanished from Google.
A GBP suspension usually happens due to inaccurate info, duplicate listings, or suspicious reviews. If customers can’t find you, they’ll go elsewhere—but don’t panic. Most suspensions can be fixed. Here’s how to reinstate your profile.
Log in to your Google Business Profile dashboard and check for notifications. Though it might be vague, Google usually provides a reason (like “policy violation”). If it's unclear, review your profile details for any obvious issues.
If your suspension is due to incorrect business details, update them. Ensure your business name, address, phone number, categories, and hours are 100% accurate. Your details should match your website, social media, and other listings.
If your suspension is linked to reviews, posts, or photos, clean up anything that violates Google’s guidelines. This includes fake reviews, excessive self-promotion, or anything misleading. If a customer (or competitor) left a questionable review, report it for removal instead of engaging with it.
If you believe your suspension was a mistake (or you’ve corrected all issues), it’s time to appeal:
Google usually reviews appeals within a few days, but it can take up to two weeks. If your appeal is approved, your profile will be restored. You may need to make further corrections and submit another request if it's denied.
You search for your Google Business Profile (GBP) and find two listings—one correct, the other outdated. Confusing, right? Imagine how your customers feel! Sometimes, a well-meaning employee or previous owner created an extra profile without realizing it. Sometimes, third-party listing services automatically generate duplicate profiles when syncing data across multiple platforms.
Whatever the reason, duplicate reviews split reviews, mislead customers, and hurt local SEO. Fortunately, you can fix it.
Here’s how to remedy duplicate listings:
First, confirm that you actually have a duplicate. Open Google Search or Google Maps, type in your business name, and look for multiple listings. Check for slight differences in the name, address, or phone number.
If you see two (or more) profiles that seem to represent your business, you’ll need to merge them. But if one of them belongs to someone else (say, a business with a similar name), you’ll need to report it instead.
For duplicate profiles that you own—or can request access to—you must merge them manually. Here’s how:
Once submitted, Google will review the request. The duplicate will be merged into your main listing if everything checks out.
Sometimes, you won’t see the "Merge with another place" option. This can happen if:
If this happens, follow one of these workarounds:
If you’ve tried merging or reporting the duplicate and nothing is happening, reach out to Google Business Profile Support.
If manually tracking down duplicates sounds like a hassle, Synup can help. The platform scans for duplicate listings and helps you manage them across multiple sites so you can focus on running your business instead of fixing Google’s mess.
You’ve got the perfect photo of your storefront. Or maybe a great video showcasing your services. You go to upload it to your Google Business Profile (GBP), and… nothing. The file won’t upload, or worse, it disappears after you’ve added it.
If you're having trouble adding media to your GBP, here’s how to troubleshoot and fix it.
Here are some reasons why your content may not upload correctly:
Google has strict guidelines for what type of content you can upload. It won't go through if your file doesn’t meet the requirements.
Google prefers square images (minimum 720 x 720 pixels). It might not upload correctly if your image is extremely large (like 4000 x 3000 pixels).
If your Wi-Fi is lagging, uploads can get stuck or fail. Large video files especially need a strong and stable connection.
Fix: Test your internet speed. If it’s slow, try switching to a wired connection, moving closer to the router, or using a different network.
If you’re uploading media from Google Drive, make sure you have enough storage available. The upload may fail if your Drive is full without a clear error message.
Fix: Free up space in Google Drive or upload files directly from your computer instead.
An outdated browser or one overloaded with cached data can mess with how Google Business Profile functions.
Google has strict rules for what can be uploaded. If your photo or video includes text overlays, excessive filters, watermarks, nudity, violent content, or misleading images, it may be flagged and removed.
Fix: Double-check Google’s photo and video guidelines. If your content violates a rule, tweak it and re-upload.
If your file meets the requirements and still won’t upload, here’s what to do:
Google sometimes displays error messages like:
Take note of the message and adjust accordingly.
If your image is too large, shrink it using tools like:
If your video is too large, compress it using:
Once resized, try re-uploading.
Sometimes, the issue is browser-related. If the upload won’t work in Chrome, try Firefox or Edge. If that fails, switch to another device (like a mobile phone).
There are multiple ways to add media to your Google Business Profile:
Trying a different method can sometimes bypass upload glitches.
Stored cache and cookies can interfere with uploads. To clear them in Chrome:
Outdated software can sometimes block uploads.
If you’ve tried everything and the media still won’t upload, contact Google Business Profile Support using the channels provided earlier.
Imagine—a customer tells you they left a Google review, but it’s nowhere to be found. You check your Google Business Profile (GBP), refresh the page, and… nothing.
It’s frustrating, but you’re not alone. Many businesses run into issues where reviews don’t appear, disappear after being posted, or take forever to show up. And since consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, missing reviews can mean fewer customers and less credibility.
A common reason is the reviewer’s account. If they used a brand-new Google account, a fake name, or something that looks like spam, Google might remove the review automatically. Reviews that violate Google’s guidelines—like ones with offensive language, self-promotion, or irrelevant content—also get filtered out.
First, check if your Google Business Profile is verified. Unverified profiles are more likely to have issues with missing reviews. If your profile isn’t verified, complete the process immediately.
Next, make sure the review itself follows Google’s review policies. Ask the customer if they used a real Google account and wrote a genuine review (without promotional content, links, or inappropriate language). If a review disappears immediately after being posted, it was likely flagged by Google’s system.
Still not seeing the review? Ask the customer to edit and repost it. A simple tweak—like changing a word or adding more details—can sometimes push it through.
And if none of this works? Reach out to Google Business Profile support. They can check if the review was mistakenly removed and possibly restore it.
At the end of the day, Google reviews are too important to ignore. If yours aren’t showing up, don’t panic—just follow these steps to get them back on track. To prevent these issues or manage your profile better, use a Google business profile management tool.
A well-managed Google Business Profile (GBP) makes it easier for customers to find and trust you. But issues like missing reviews, duplicate listings, and verification problems can slow things down. The good news is that most of these problems have quick fixes; you just need to know where to look.
Synup makes these fixes easier and prevents the issues in the first place. From keeping your details accurate to tracking reviews, we make managing your GBP effortless. Book a demo today and see how Synup can help.
Find your business on Google Search or Maps. If there’s a duplicate, click “Suggest an edit” and select “Merge with another place” or request ownership. If that doesn’t work, contact Google Support.
Reviews can disappear due to Google’s spam filters, policy violations, or technical glitches. If a review isn’t showing, ask the customer to edit and repost it. If reviews still won’t sync, check if your GBP is verified and contact Google Support.
Yes, but only if they represent different locations or separate businesses. You can’t create two profiles for the same location—it’s against Google’s guidelines.
Usually 3 to 7 days, but postcards can take up to two weeks. If it’s taking longer, check for errors in your details or reach out to Google Support.
Common reasons include inaccurate business details, duplicate listings, fake reviews, or policy violations.
Go to Google Business Profile Manager, update your details, and save. If Google keeps changing them, it could be pulling data from user edits or third-party sources—lock your info if needed.
And, less time obsessing about your local presence