Feb 4, 2020

Dealership's service department listing suddenly is showing up for dealership branded search.

Having separate department listings for car dealerships is the recommended strategy by Google, and I have seen and recognize the benefits. So I am not interested in merging listings. This is incorrect strategy. I wondering if there is a known issue with Google ranking right now? Or if there is a general fix or strategy adjustment without deleting or merging listings? Each situation might be a little different, but I am going through and making sure all GMB listings are properly updated, like no overlapping categories, etc.

Recently though I have been seeing a trend across many dealership GMBs that I manage where Service department listings show in the knowledge panel for a branded search instead of the main listing. This started happening in the last couple of weeks. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Here is an example of it happening for the search "eddy's mazda of lee's summit" in Google Search and Maps, national and local searches. Notable is that for some reason I have lost access to the service listing and have to reclaim it. Not the same for every situation though.
Service listing that shows in knowledge panel in SERPs: https://goo.gl/maps/WzVt96Js89iMLJvm8

The main sales listing: https://g.page/eddysmazda?share

By all accounts, reviews, posts, optimization, citations, etc, the main sales listing should be outranking the service center listing for a simple branded search.

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Joy Hawkins

Owner @ Sterling Sky (Local SEO Agency in the US & Canada)

Feb 21, 2020

FYI - this might fall under the search team (not the Google My Business team) but they are also aware of the issue and working on it:

https://twitter.com/dannysullivan/status/1230922011100082176

Krystal Taing recommended this

Helpful?

All Replies (54)

User 3649054511603515889

Feb 7, 2020

Exactly the same issue here. Exactly as you describe. Subscribed. Help!

Ellen Works

Apr 28, 2020

Hi All,

I know this may have taken a back seat because of Covid-19 items, etc., but until told otherwise, I will continue to post examples of this occurring.

Here's an example of the dealership Greiner Ford of Casper's service department showing instead of the dealership's main Google My Business listing.

Ellen Works

Apr 28, 2020

And here is another batch. Typically, this will flip-flop over a few days between showing the correct main GMB listing and showing the department listing for brand searches. Again, if no more examples are needed anymore for this thread, kindly let me know and I'll stop sharing:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Lithia+CJDR+of+Twin+Falls
https://www.google.com/search?q=All+American+Chrysler+Jeep+Dodge+of+Midland
https://www.google.com/search?q=Baierl+Ford
https://www.google.com/search?q=Bennington+Honda
https://www.google.com/search?q=Lithia+Chrysler+Dodge+Jeep+Ram+Fiat+of+Bryan+College+Station
https://www.google.com/search?q=Carbone+Subaru+of+Utica
https://www.google.com/search?q=Honda+of+Ames
https://www.google.com/search?q=Lithia+Chrysler+Jeep+Dodge+of+Helena
https://www.google.com/search?q=Lithia+Ford+of+Missoula
https://www.google.com/search?q=Lithia+Nissan+of+Ames
https://www.google.com/search?q=dch+subaru+of+riverside

(Sharing these 11 URLs as opposed to 11 images this time.)

Thanks!

Ellen Works

May 8, 2020

Here is another one for awareness. Looking forward to an update from Google Search team. Thank you!

Anthony Roderman

May 12, 2020

Hello,

Another example of this issue:

https://www.google.com/search?q=gullo+toyota

Thanks!

Nate Schoell

Original Poster

May 26, 2020

Hey! Is anyone still experiencing an issue? I am having a hard time finding an example of this still occurring even after going through my client list that I was tracking this issue from. Fingers crossed that the recent algo updates made positive changes here! Please share examples if you are still seeing the issue!

Kelcey Drapp

May 26, 2020

I would also like to know if there have been any additional issues for others. Several of my automotive clients are hesitant to create their service department listings, and I haven't seen anything official from Google regarding this bug... would love it if anyone else could share their experience to corroborate mine.

Joy Hawkins

Owner @ Sterling Sky (Local SEO Agency in the US & Canada)

May 27, 2020

Hey Guys,

I think this might be resolved now! The cases I was tracking have been fixed.

Ellen Works

May 28, 2020

I still have a few showing incorrectly.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Lithia+Ford+of+Missoula
https://www.google.com/search?q=Lithia+Nissan+of+Ames
https://www.google.com/search?q=Lithia+Chrysler+Dodge+Jeep+Ram+Fiat+of+Bryan+College+Station

Joy Hawkins

Owner @ Sterling Sky (Local SEO Agency in the US & Canada)

May 29, 2020

Ellen,

I noticed a few issues with those last examples.

For the Nissan one, they have a duplicate listing for their service department which you should get merged with their other one - https://www.google.com/maps?cid=10539225539756535029

For the Chrysler one, the service listing isn't set up correctly as a department of the dealer listing. It doesn't show up as a department in the Knowledge Panel.

I'd ask Google My Business support to fix those issues.

Ellen Works

May 29, 2020

Hey Joy --

Thanks for the feedback. We'll reach out to GMB Support for the Nissan one.

Regarding the Chrysler, do you have more insight as to why that one is not set up correctly? The DBA of the store is "Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Bryan College Station", so is the naming convention of "Lithia Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat of Bryan College Station Service and Parts Center" causing issues? Or did you mean reach out to GMB to try to get them to incorporate it as a department?

Last edited May 29, 2020

Joy Hawkins

Owner @ Sterling Sky (Local SEO Agency in the US & Canada)

Jun 2, 2020

Hey Ellen. I would recommend they get set up as departments.

Ellen Works

Jun 5, 2020

Thanks Joy.
I'll reach out to Google My Business Support again.