Places.SinglePlatform.com "Menu" links on your GMB listing?

[arowland]

I just experienced this and after lots of frustration was able to figure out how it happened and how to fix it (keep reading).

**HOW: **So apparently Google did a deal with Constant Contact which owns Singleplatform.com that allows them to publish edits to ANY local business and they have used this to SPAM entire categories of local businesses by adding in a "Appointments" and/or "Menu" link to the Google My Business listing for search/maps and they have done it in such a way that it is extremely difficult to remove/fix. (NOTE: they are not listed in Google's list of 3rd parties which automatically add info to your listing....https://www.google.com/maps/reserve/partners)

**THE PROBLEM: You have a link to a menu or appointment page that you did not add and can not edit. **The options for setting a URL for "Menu" and/or "Appointment" (and a few others https://support.google.com/business/answer/6218037) are tied to the Primary Category set on your GMB listing and are only available to certain categories.

FIXING: You would think if you are a verified owner of your GMB listing, it would be simple - but Google/SInglePlatform.com have gone to great lengths to make it more difficult....

Step 1 - Make sure you are a verified owner of GMB listing

Step 2 - Change your Primary category on the business to one of the categories which supports the link in question (no definitive list, but I know setting Primary to "Restaurant" will get you Menu and "Interior Designer" will get you an Appointment link)

Step 3 - Save the new category

Step 4 - Now you will have the option under your "URLs" section of GMB listing.

Step 5 - Change the URL from the SPAMMY link to a relevant page you control and Save

Step 6 - Change Primary Category back to what you want.

[Bryan_Loconto]

How did this all play out for you guys?

I am late to the party but am just now experiencing this for the first time with an HVAC client. In the clients knowledge graph on Google it shows:

"Products and Services: places.singleplatform.com"

I tried what was explained in the original post but it appears some things have changed in GMB since Aug. 2018. Imagine that

Any help on getting this link removed would be greatly appreciated!

[JaredBroussard]

First off, this is a great and useful tip. Thank you for sharing. We ran into this issue today for our HVAC client. I followed the steps, but it looks like Google will take three days to verify the change. Did anyone else encounter this? If so, does the spammy link disappear after three days?

[MiriamEllis]

Just a thank-you for sharing your experience and tips with the community, Arowland! Much appreciated! Very creative workaround you've come up with. Neat.