Early last month we reported that Google will remove unverified listings from the Google My Business listings area but we didn't know exactly when.
It seems like this will start to go into effect this Tuesday, July 28, 2015.
A Local Search Forum thread has one person who posted an email he received, it read:
On July 28th, Google will begin shutting down those GMB–associated Google+ pages that have not been associated with user accounts and are also not verified. You may find that some of your Business View tours also sit on such pages, but note that after this removal of unverified Google+ pages, the Business View tours will still remain available on Google Maps and Google Search.Here are a few recommendations for informing any business customers that may be impacted by this:
- Encourage your business customers to verify their listings if they wish to retain their Google My Business page. Information on how to do this can be found here.
- If a business owner decides later that they would like to have a Google My Business page, please advise them to create a new page and verify their listing. The Business View virtual tour can be then transferred to the new verified listing. Please log a case to our support teams to request that images for your business customer be forwarded to the new GMB page.
- Please point your business customer to their images in Google Maps.
This email was sent specifically to Google Photographer for Business Views to help them notify those they went out to take photos for, to tell their clients to take action.
Linda from the forums added:
Essentially it sounds like what will happen is the unclaimed pages will no longer be viewable. They are still out there but will not show up. Those listings will still however show up in search and maps. (Unless it's an SAB with hidden address.) There just won't be a G+ Local page. The links to the G+ Local page stopped showing up awhile back anyway.So if a business has a bunch of unverified dupes or practitioner pages or old closed listings that are hurting their ranking - we will no longer be able to see those G+ pages to be able to diagnose the problems or do ranking troubleshooting. And Michael Cottam's dupe finder will cease to work. So we'll have to use Map Maker to do that type of research now I guess. But there will be no page to look at per se, just whatever data shows up in MM.
So make sure to verify your business listings in Google My Business asap.
Forum discussion at Local Search Forum.
