Google My Business Issue

[Jacob-Lial]

I have seen an issue with GMB that Google Support say is not an issue. I work for an agency and we manage about 50-60 GMB accounts for our clients. Most of our clients are flooring retailers and under our MCC account we also have our agencies listing.

When I was searching for my client on Google using their brand name for example Walmart, I noticed my agency listing shows even though my client is over 1000 miles away. I have used multiple browsers in incognito and multiple devices and still see this so I know its not a personalized result. We also link to this client from our website which is the only thing connecting the dots between my agency and the client.

https://imgur.com/UEqNAyA - screenshot (hiding phone numbers & business names for obvious reasons) showing 2 locations over 1000 miles apart. My first attempt at contacting Google I was informed of ways to get my listing higher which I quickly told them that isn't my issue. I also asked to speak to a SME (subject matter expert) and was told all of them were on lunch, asked for a supervisor and was told they were too on lunch.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any idea why it would show two different companies over 1000 miles apart when searching for a companies name? Did I stumble a way for SEO's to cheat the local map pack?

[MiriamEllis]

Hey Jacob!

Is there any way you can email me the actual example? My email is my first name @moz.com. Feel free to shoot me the actual screenshot and the actual language of the searches you are doing. Happy to take a look.

[Jacob-Lial]

1. No, we don't have any ads set up for our agency but we are admin on all of our clients adwords accounts which is linked into our MCC.

2. No, we didn't create them and are not the primary owner but we are an owner.

3. Yes but we are only searching "happy floors" with no geo location in the search term.

4. Yes, just a link to showcase the site build on our site.

I did notice that when doing another local search for "happy floors" from my home PC I see a local floors retailer and then our client 1,000 miles away.

This has me baffled as the local map pack should just be local results right?

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Jacob!

This does sound totally odd. Let me be sure I have the facts straight:

1. You have an MCC account via which you are managing Google Ads and it includes both your agency and your clients Google Ads campaigns.

2. You are also managing local search for your clients. Have their GMB listings been created in their own accounts, or were they created under your agency's account?

3. When you search for "Happy Floors Orlando Florida" (fictitious name), Google is bringing up a local pack of results that shows your client (Happy Floors) but also shows your agency's listing in it 1,000 miles away?

4. The only link between the two is that you have your client listed in your portfolio?

Please, let me know "yes" or "no" to each of these.

Also, as you can't publicly share the details of the business/agency in question, please ask a friend (maybe someone at another agency) to do the search you're doing and tell you what they see. I'd like to do this myself, but understand if you need to keep that private. Tell me what comes of that, please.

You've definitely gotten me curious!