What Should You Be Careful About When Accepting Suggestions on Google?

Short Answer: You should be careful when accepting suggestions on Google because they can include multiple types of changes, such as different category suggestions for your Google Business Profile, and one important thing to watch out for is that a suggestion might unintentionally change your business address.

Full Explanation

Google offers suggestions that can help optimize your business presence online, but these suggestions are not always straightforward. They may cover a variety of modifications, like updating the categories under which your business is listed on your Google Business Profile. While some suggestions can improve visibility, others might bring unintended consequences. For instance, a suggestion might propose a change to your business address, which could confuse your customers or negatively affect your local SEO if you do not want to move locations. It is essential to scrutinize each suggestion carefully before accepting it.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Review each suggestion provided by Google thoroughly.
2. Identify what the suggestion targets – it could be category updates or address information.
3. Verify if any change, especially to your business address, is accurate or desired.
4. Confirm that category changes align with your actual business offerings.
5. Only accept suggestions that improve your profile without causing unintended changes.

Real Examples

A common scenario is when Google suggests adding or changing categories for a business to better fit search queries. While this can help customers find you more easily, you might also encounter a suggestion that inadvertently proposes moving your location to a different address. Accepting the wrong suggestion could lead to customers going to the wrong place or search engines misunderstanding your business location.

Common Mistakes

• Accepting all Google suggestions without review.
• Failing to notice a proposed change in business address.
• Agreeing to category changes that do not accurately describe your business.
• Assuming every suggestion improves your profile automatically.

FAQs

Why does Google suggest changes to my business profile?

Google uses its algorithms to improve search accuracy and relevance, offering suggestions to help keep business information up-to-date and better categorized.

Can accepting a wrong suggestion affect my local SEO?

Yes, especially if the suggestion changes your address or misrepresents your business category, which can mislead customers and search engines.

How can I verify if a suggestion is correct?

Always double-check your business details, compare with your actual location and services, and only accept changes that accurately represent your business.

Key Takeaways

• Always carefully review Google’s suggestions before accepting them.
• Be particularly cautious of suggestions that propose a change of address.
• Ensure category changes align with your true business functions.
• Selective acceptance of suggestions helps maintain a correct and effective Google Business Profile.