This is hard to believe – but Google just announced that they’re going to make it easier for people to edit OTHER people’s Google Maps listing.
See post, “A new way to edit places on google maps.”
Basically – they’re telling people that if you see something wrong on a business listings page, you can just go in and edit it yourself. Anybody can do it. Doesn’t have to be the business owner.
So I tried it! No ulterior motive, honest – I had a business owner call me last week to say that the PREVIOUS owner of her hair salon was still listed at her current address. So the address was right but the business name was wrong.
So I found the listing that was wrong in Google Maps, clicked on the Edit Place button:
By golly, they let me edit the info! Once I hit “Publish” I got a message that that it would be “reviewed” – I don’t know how – so I’ll wait a few days and see what happens.
This is disturbing to me. ANYBODY can go in and edit details about YOUR business – UNLESS YOU CLAIM YOUR LISTING, FIRST!
Here’s the message I saw when I tried to edit my OWN listing:
As you can see, because it’s been claimed, someone else can NOT edit it.
Don’t delay in getting your OWN business listing claimed!