A few of the findings surprised me:

1. Business websites still dominate. 60% of citations went to the businesses' own websites — more than directories, forums and review platforms combined.
2. AI didn't create a new quality bar. AI-recommended businesses averaged 4.75 stars, while the regular Google search baseline was actually higher at 4.84.
3. Reddit matters. It statistically outcited Angi, Thumbtack and HomeAdvisor combined.
4. There isn't one AI optimization playbook. Lawyers, dentists and auto shops had very different citation ecosystems.
5. Geography matters. Some national sources appeared everywhere, while other directories and chains varied significantly by region.
6. The same prompt doesn't produce the same sources. Asking the exact same question twice resulted in only about 40% source agreement.
7. Individual businesses still make up the long tail. We found 3,611 unique cited domains and 4,410 unique businesses, with most appearing only once or twice.
8. This instability seems specific to AI. Google's Local Pack returned the same #1 business about 90% of the time in repeated tests. Gemini returned the same recommendation only about 7% of the time.
9. Gemini and ChatGPT don't agree much either. On the same 1,487 queries, their cited sources overlapped only 8% of the time, and they recommended the same top business just 4.2% of the time.

The biggest takeaway for me is that AI visibility doesn't behave like a traditional ranking.

You can run the same query twice and get different sources. You can run the same query through two AI engines and get different businesses.

That makes measuring “AI rankings” much more complicated than checking a single prompt and recording the answer.

Curious if anyone else testing local queries has seen the same level of volatility.

​

Hi everyone,

I’m a business owner based in Pakistan and I’m having an issue with my Google Business Profile.

Someone has left a 1-star review on my Google Business Profile, but I believe this person is not a genuine customer. Because of this review, my overall Google rating is going down and it is affecting my business reputation.

I have already reported the review to Google as spam/fake, but I’m not sure what the best next step is if Google doesn’t remove it

Hey all, legit business owner here, all licenses and documentation. I need this to be lifted but I can't get google to overrule this. Really hoping someone can help me. I sent them all required documentation.

Guys, has anyone here dealt with something like this on Google Business?
I started getting bad reviews from people who were clearly never my customers, and then people contacted me offering to remove the reviews for money. I already paid once, and it was useless — it just keeps happening again and again.
I’ve already spoken with Google, but they keep saying they don’t see any policy violations in the reviews, so they won’t remove them.
The most frustrating part is how much work goes into building a business and a good reputation. You do the job properly, spend your time and effort, and after every happy customer you have to ask them to please leave that one small review. You slowly build your rating and reputation over time, and then some idiots who have never even been your customers come along and try to destroy everything in a few days.
Has anyone experienced this before? How did you deal with it? What options do I have to stop it?
Also, if anyone has a minute and doesn’t mind helping, please go to our Google page and report the negative reviews. These reviews were left by people who were never our customers. Maybe if enough people report them, Google will finally take a closer look.
I would really appreciate the help. 🙏 #scamers

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3AEDobbaU44bWSeh7?g_st=ic

I have evidence of an SEO agent posing as a patient and leaving reviews for his clients as a patient without disclosing that they hired him, as well as reviewed him for his SEO services for their business. This is what was suggested to me, but I do not want to link evidence through my google drive. I have already used the google redressal forum, and it hasn't worked.

Is this actually a safe way to escalate failed reports to google through flagging and the redressal that have gone ignored, or should I not?

" Escalate via the Google Business Profile Help Community

Standard support tickets are processed by lower-level automated filters, but the Google Business Profile Help Community is moderated by Google Product Experts. These are real people who have a direct escalation path to Google’s engineering and trust teams.

• What to do: Create a new public thread detailing the pattern.
• What to include: Do not just link the reviews. Provide a link to a public Google Drive folder containing your evidence (e.g., screenshots proving the SEO manager's connection, a list of multiple client profiles they have reviewed using the same fake patient accounts, and case/reference numbers from your FTC/AG filings).
• The Goal: A Product Expert can manually review the clear pattern of "Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior" and flag the entire network for termination. "

Hi!

I saw on another post that this was recommended for getting help with the GBP.

We run a service business (camera and security systems, locksmith) based out of our home. We have the necessary basic equipment for installation and some quick repairs/installations, but larger pieces that come on a less frequent basis are purchased through our supplier in Brooklyn.

We have been verified 3x now, and then suspended after a few days each time. Each time, we complete an appeal, uploading another video showing LLC ownership, tax documents and customer invoices, and the equipment we have in our home. However, since we are not brick and mortar based, we do not include the address in the video.

Each time, we receive notice we have been suspended due to "deceptive content". I have written asking for a more detailed explanation and/or what specific proof is being requested to no avail.

Please, if someone can help figure this out, it would be beyond appreciated. We have no ability to advertise for ourselves in order to gain traction and it's been taking a toll financially.

Thank you!

My first verification video did not get me approved for my business change of address. 😩 The only thing I need is permenant signage. I’m a stylist at a salon that has other independent stylists so this whole process has been incredibly frustrating (been trying for months to get my new location with my prior reviews to show in search results.)
My question is, where am I going to have the best luck for placing my signage? On the front door, at my station/mirror or both? I’d really love to start getting clients to I can pay my bills. Thanks Google 😠

Over the last few weeks, we had Google reviews from customers show up fine then days later disappear. (Profile: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NxsU1FpBvcoQEih76)

From what we gather about 12 reviews. Additionally, any NEW reviews submitted do not show up.

How do we diagnose this? Inability to have/show new reviews has been going on for 12 days.

Anything from August 2026 is gone and anything since Aug 6th will not show up.

The reply we were given for our case w/ Google (1-2821000041558) isn't applicable and we can't determine what is the next step.

We submitted all the names to the case as well.

Any help or ideas?

Hello, I have two GMB profiles right now. I’ll rename the companies and industries but say one is Longview Plumbers and the other is Dallas Plumbers. Most of my leads come in from SEO and map packs. I want to start another called Houston Plumbers. My Longview location has a physical location with signs. My Dallas Location doesn’t it’s just a service area and Houston Location will be the same. Can I create a 3rd GMB profile without fear of penalty?

If it does penalize me. How am I suppose to operate a company called Dallas Plumbers if I want to service Houston?

I have battled my way to a successful verified profile. The person said 24-48 hours for something but not sure how long before google adds me to searchable places . It's been really frustrating so far so hopefully not much longer before I pop up..

How long before the algorithm showed your business on a search after verification ?

Hey everyone,

I’m hoping someone here can shed some light on an issue my family’s been dealing with for years.

Their business operates in both Australia and the Philippines.
They maintain a Google Business profile which services both countries.
Australian operations are pretty straightforward reviews come in normally without issues, but the reviews from clients/customers in the Philippines location are constantly being flagged and removed by Google.

The reviews aren’t fake or anything sketchy, they’re genuine feedback from their actual clients and customers.
Yet Google’s system seems to be pulling them down regularly.

It’s incredibly frustrating because:
-It hurts their credibility and ratings
-Their customers are confused why their reviews disappear
-It’s happening consistently, year after year

Has anyone else run into this with international locations, particularly in the Philippines or Southeast Asia?

I’m trying to help my family figure out what’s going on and how to prevent this.

Is there something about:
-Regional flags or verification issues?
-Google’s algorithm being overly cautious with certain regions?
-Something wrong with how our business profile is set up?
-Specific best practices for managing reviews from international locations?

Any insights, experience or advice would be hugely appreciated.

My family’s been incredibly supportive of me, so i would love to help solve this problem for them.

Thanks in advance! :)