What are the risks of changing my main category?

Short Answer: Changing your main category can lead to suspension of your Google My Business account, which is especially risky if you have many reviews that you may lose.

Full Explanation

When you modify the main category of your Google My Business listing, it carries the significant risk of the platform suspending your account. This suspension means that your business profile will no longer appear in Google searches and maps, negatively impacting your online visibility. If your account is suspended, it is likely you will lose valuable customer reviews, which are crucial for maintaining trust and credibility with potential customers.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Identify your current main category: Know what category your business is currently listed under.
2. Consider the implications of changing it: Understand that altering this category can trigger Google’s suspension of your listing.
3. Account suspension consequences: Suspension leads to your business profile being hidden from search results and can result in losing all accumulated reviews.
4. Evaluate the importance of reviews: If your listing has many reviews, changing the category could jeopardize this valuable asset.

Real Examples

While specific cases were not mentioned, it is clear that businesses with many reviews who changed their main category experienced suspensions and lost their reviews. This outcome can negatively affect your business’s reputation and search ranking.

Common Mistakes

• Changing the main category without considering the risk of suspension.
• Ignoring the importance of accumulated reviews before making changes.
• Failing to prepare for the potential loss of visibility and credibility.

FAQs

Q: Why does changing the main category risk suspension?
Because Google’s system may view the change as suspicious or inconsistent with your business, triggering a suspension to prevent misuse.

Q: What happens to my reviews if my account is suspended?
You may lose all your reviews, which can significantly impact your credibility.

Q: Is there a safe way to change my main category?
The information provided does not include safe methods; the main advice is to be aware of the risk of suspension.

Key Takeaways

• Changing your Google My Business main category is risky because it can cause account suspension.
• Account suspension can result in losing all your business reviews.
• Consider the potential impact on your online presence and reputation before making any changes.