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If you've checked your heat map audit lately and thought, “Huh, that’s weird...”, you’re not alone. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a noticeable dip in local rankings across the board, and it’s not just your business, it’s happening globally. Businesses that used to rank in a nice, wide service area are now shrinking back closer to their physical locations. Combine that with lower engagement metrics like views and clicks due to how many people use Google AI Mode now, and yeah, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher. We’re tracking this trend closely and will share anything new we uncover, but for now, don’t panic - just stay consistent with your optimizations since now they help on Google Search, Google Maps, and AI Mode.
But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom! Google just rolled out a very welcome improvement to its suspension appeal process. If your appeal gets denied (womp womp), Google now tells you exactly why. This means you’re no longer left in the dark playing GBP detective trying to figure out what triggered the suspension. It’s a massive step in the right direction, especially since suspensions can be business-killers. Google started doing this with failed verifications last year, and they’re finally applying that logic to suspensions too. They’ve also expanded AI Mode to Google Workspace accounts now, so nearly everybody is using it at this point. Progress!
At the end of the day, it’s clear that Google’s algorithm is evolving and becoming more refined in how it ranks and displays local businesses. We’re seeing tighter service areas, shifting engagement metrics, and more sensitivity to small changes, which tells us the algorithm is getting pickier. The best move right now is to double down on the fundamentals: keep your profile fully optimized, get great reviews, and stay active. As always, we’ll keep tracking these changes and let you know if (and when) it’s time to pivot.
Don’t have time to keep up with Google’s complex algorithm changes? Sign up for Paige and let our AI optimize your profile for the latest updates! Start your trial today for just $1!
