Google Maps Center Algorithm May End You In Another Country

Oct 25, 2011 - 8:32 am 2 by
Filed Under Google Maps

Google Maps KenyaDoc Sheldon's Clinic, a business that operates in San Diego, California, was being reported as operating in Kenya. But why?

The reason a business can show up in a country it has no reason for being in, is when you target multiple service areas around the world.

In this case, the business was listed as services the following areas: Reykjanesbaer, Iceland; Toronto, ON, Canada; Tasmania, Australia; Perth WA, Australia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Queensland, Australia; Manchester, UK; Montreal, QC, Canada; New York, NY, USA; Houston, TX, USA.

When you plot the center point of all these locations, you get Kenya.

When you select the option to "hid your address" and list multiple service areas, this is how Google works. Joel from Google said, "We're to find the 'center' of all these service areas. It appears that Kenya is the center of your service area."

He recommended that he remove the hid address feature and things will go back to normal, and they did.

Forum discussion at Google Places Help.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Follow

Search Video Recaps

 
Google Core Update Rumbling, Manual Actions FAQs, Core Web Vitals Updates, AI, Bing, Ads & More - YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: March 15, 2024

Mar 15, 2024 - 4:00 pm
Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Core Update Rumbling, Manual Actions FAQs, Core Web Vitals Updates, AI, Bing, Ads & More

Mar 15, 2024 - 8:01 am
Google Updates

Google March 2024 Core & Spam Update Movement Today

Mar 15, 2024 - 7:51 am
Google

Google Image Search Results Testing Like Button

Mar 15, 2024 - 7:41 am
Google

Google Merchant Center Product Studio With Themed Templates Including St. Patrick's Day

Mar 15, 2024 - 7:31 am
Google Maps

Google Search Dishes Nearby Carousel

Mar 15, 2024 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: Yahoo Up For Sale Again? Google Potential Buyer?