Duplicate Google My Business Listings: A Silent Killer of Your Online Visibility

Abhi Khandelwal • May 19, 2025

In the age of digital discovery, your business’s online presence can make or break your success. One often-overlooked threat to that presence is duplicate Google My Business (GMB) listings. They may seem harmless or even beneficial at first, but they can actually wreak havoc on your local SEO, confuse potential customers, and trigger penalties from Google.

Let’s explore why duplicate listings are problematic and what you can do about them.


What Is a Duplicate Google My Business Listing?

A duplicate GMB listing occurs when more than one listing exists for the same business at the same address or for the same phone number. These duplicates can happen for a variety of reasons—accidental creation, rebranding, business relocation, or third-party data sources auto-generating them.

While they may appear innocuous, these duplicates dilute your business authority and confuse search engines, making it harder for your correct listing to rank well.


The Hidden Dangers of Duplicate Listings

Duplicate listings don’t just cause mild inconvenience—they pose serious threats:


1. Lower Search Rankings

Google values accuracy and consistency in business information. Duplicate listings with conflicting or mismatched data can harm your business's credibility. The algorithm may not know which listing is the “correct” one, leading to a lower ranking in local search results.


2. Customer Confusion

Inaccurate or conflicting information (such as different hours, addresses, or phone numbers) across multiple listings can frustrate customers. If a user visits a location that no longer exists or calls a number that’s out of service, they may lose trust in your brand.


3. Google Suspensions

Google can suspend listings it deems to violate its guidelines, including duplicate or spammy entries. If your verified listing is flagged due to duplication, you could temporarily or permanently lose access to it—resulting in a significant blow to your local visibility.


4. Review Fragmentation

Your customer reviews could be scattered across multiple listings instead of being consolidated in one place. This fragmentation dilutes the power of social proof, which is vital in building trust with potential clients.


How Do Duplicate Listings Happen?

Many businesses end up with duplicates without even realizing it. Here’s how:


  • Employees or agencies unknowingly create a second listing.
  • Changes in business name, address, or phone number aren't properly updated.
  • Automated systems pull data from outdated directories.
  • A listing is created for each service or department within one business.


Regardless of how it happens, the outcome is the same—diminished visibility and a confused customer base.


Steps to Identify and Fix Duplicate Listings



1. Audit Your Business Listings

Start with a Google search of your business name, phone number, and address. Note any listings that appear to be duplicates.


2. Use Google Maps and Tools

Search on Google Maps and use tools like Moz Local or BrightLocal to scan for duplicate entries.


3. Claim and Merge or Remove

If the listing is unverified, claim it and then request its removal or merge it with your verified listing. If it’s verified by someone else, you can request ownership or flag it for removal.


4. Keep NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) Consistent

Ensure your NAP details are identical across all directories to prevent future duplicates.


Don’t Let Duplicate Listings Derail Your Growth

Maintaining a clean and accurate Google Business profile is essential to winning in local search. Don’t underestimate the damage duplicate listings can do. If you’ve noticed inconsistencies or want professional help fixing the issue before it affects your rankings, Reinstatement Ninja specializes in identifying, resolving, and preventing GMB listing problems. Contact Reinstatement Ninja today to protect your visibility and keep your business on track.

Google Maps Scams Are on the Rise – Protect Your Business!

By Abhi Khandelwal • May 20, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, having your business listed on Google Maps isn’t just a convenience — it’s a necessity. It’s one of the most trusted ways customers find and contact local businesses. Unfortunately, with its growing influence comes an increase in fraudulent activity. Google Maps scams are on the rise, and if you’re not careful, your business could become an easy target. How These Scams Work Scammers have developed various tactics to exploit Google Maps listings. One common trick involves creating fake listings that impersonate real businesses. These fraudulent profiles may list the scammer’s phone number, website, or address, diverting customers and potential revenue away from the actual business owner. Another tactic involves hijacking legitimate listings. Scammers can request ownership access or make unauthorized edits to your business profile. In some cases, unsuspecting business owners approve these requests, unknowingly handing over control of their Google Business Profile to a fraudster. Then there are review scams. Fake negative reviews can harm your online reputation, while false positive reviews might flag your account for suspicious activity. In both cases, your business's credibility takes a hit.

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By Abhi Khandelwal • May 20, 2025
Google Business Profile (GBP) is a powerful tool for local businesses, allowing them to manage their online presence across Google Search and Maps. However, many business owners face challenges when it comes to verifying their Google Business Profile. Without verification, your business cannot be listed on Google Maps or search results, making it difficult to attract new customers. If you're facing issues with GBP verification, you're not alone. In this post, we’ll explore common problems and how to address them.

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By Abhi Khandelwal • May 20, 2025
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By Abhi Khandelwal • May 20, 2025
Having your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) suspended can feel like hitting a wall—especially when your customers rely on Google to find you. Whether you're a brick-and-mortar store or a service-area business, losing access to your listing means losing visibility, credibility, and potentially a flood of new customers. If you're scrambling to get reinstated, you're not alone. Reinstating a suspended profile is possible, but it requires a clear understanding of why it was suspended and how to fix it properly. Why Was Your Google Business Profile Suspended? Google doesn’t always tell you exactly why your profile was suspended, which can make the process frustrating. However, most suspensions fall into one of the following categories:
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By Abhi Khandelwal • February 11, 2025
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By Abhi Khandelwal • February 7, 2025
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