Have you noticed that your business seems to be invisible on Google Maps while your competitor at the same address or in the same neighborhood is ranking highly? This issue has become more prominent since Google introduced the Possum filter on September 1, 2016. Google filters out companies that they consider too similar when they are in close proximity to one another in an effort to deliver diversity in search results.
If you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry. There are ways to address this issue. One extreme option is to relocate your business to a different part of town where you don’t have to share a location with competitors. However, a more practical approach would be to conduct an audit of your competitor’s metrics and compare them to yours. By analyzing the results, you can develop a strategy to improve your search ranking and surpass your competitor so that Google recognizes your business as the more relevant option.