Google Business Profile Categories Issues

Professor M

Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) Expert, Trainer, Speaker

Google Business Profile Categories Issues

Table of Contents

GBPedia

Google (My) Business Profile Management & Optimization Guide

only $49

If you want to know how a real expert resolve issues and increase clients’ Google ranking, sales, and customers.

Unfortunately time to time, there are issues with Google Business Profile (prev. Google My Business) Categories and I will advise those on this page to keep you informed.

For updated information on these issues, solutions and notifications when issues are resolved you should look at GBPedia.

Why Google Changed Your Google Business Profile Category and Previous Category Is Not Available

Your Google Business Profile category has been changed (but not by you), and when you try to change it back, Google doesn’t accept the change showing a warning message:

  • “Your business category requires a location customers can visit”
  • “Not available unless your business location appears on Google Maps”

What is happening? Since the beginning of July 2021, some GMB categories seem not to be allowed anymore for Service Area Business Profiles. Below is a list of some of the categories affected (in front I added Google suggestions of a suitable category) are:

  • Cremation Service – Google’s suggestion: “Pet funeral services or ritual service”
  • Auto Dent Removal Service – Google’s suggestion: “Auto painting”
  • Tire stores / Tire Shop – Google’s suggestion: “Wheel Store”
  • Auto glass shop – Google’s suggestion: “Glass Repair Service”
  • Auto repair – Google’s suggestion: “Car Repair”
  • Pilates studio – Google’s suggestion: “Body Shaping Class”
  • RV repair shop – Google’s suggestion: “Car Repair”
  • Window tinting service – Google’s suggestion: “Auto window tinting service”
  • Baker – Google’s suggestion: “Catering”
  • Film and photograph library – Google’s suggestion: “Photography”

Unfortunately, Google decided to change the criteria on some Google Business Profile categories, only allowing businesses with a physical location (Storefront Businesses). However, Product Experts are trying to understand the extension of this issue and if those categories can become available for Service Area Businesses again.

Google Business Profile Categories Missing (Healthcare mainly)

Dozens of healthcare categories apparently have been removed, to what appears to be a bug. Users are seeing this error: “This business category isn’t available in your region”.

A bit of good news is that whatever is going on it does not seem to be impacting the categories on the front end or rankings.

Google has been alerted and I am waiting for their response.

Screen Shot 2021-11-15 at 1.00.24 PM.jpg
Full List of Missing Categories

Venereologist
Vascular surgeon
Urologist
Transplant surgeon
Surgeon
Speech pathologist
Sexologist
Rheumatologist
Radiologist
Pulmonologist
Psychosomatic medical practitioner
Psychoanalyst
Proctologist
Physician assistant
Physiatrist
Pediatrician
Pediatric urologist
Pediatric surgeon
Pediatric rheumatologist
Pediatric pulmonologist
Pediatric orthopedic surgeon
Pediatric neurologist
Pediatric nephrologist
Pediatric hematologist
Pediatric gastroenterologist
Pediatric endocrinologist
Pediatric dermatologist
Pediatric cardiologist
Pathologist
Pain management physician
Otolaryngologist
Orthopedic surgeon
Occupational medical physician
Obstetrician-gynecologist
Nurse practitioner
Neurosurgeon
Neurophysiologist
Neurologist
Nephrologist
Neonatal physician
Men’s health physician
Kinesiologist
Internist
Intensivist
Infectious disease physician
Immunologist
Hyperbaric medicine physician
Hepatologist
Hematologist
Hand surgeon
Gynecologist
Geriatrician
General practitioner
Gastrointestinal surgeon
Gastroenterologist
Fertility physician
Family practice physician
Endoscopist
Endocrinologist
Doula
Diabetologist
Dermatologist
Cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon
Cardiologist
Bariatric surgeon
Audiologist
Anesthesiologist
Allergist

Some users are even having issues with healthcare facilities’ addresses, showing the business category error.

2021 November 19- I am seeing that the missing categories are back now, but I am still getting an error message when I try to select them. Looks like this bug is close to being fixed, hopefully.

I hope this article helped you.

If you need further help, I am here for you. It does not matter if it’s your business or you are a professional that wants help with a client case, you can find more on my Consultancy service page

To learn the latest about Google Business Profile (Google My Business), you should check these articles:

Share it:

Online Self-Paced
Google Business Profile (Google My Business) Training Course

Updated Frequently, Unique & Secret Tactics used by Me and Other Leading Experts, Includes Optimizations and Tips Not Used By 99% of Competitors

Sign up to the best Newsletter for Google My business, Local SEO and Local Marketing

Connect with Me for more Google My Business Resources

Copyright 2021 Professor M is a trading name of GMB Experts

[cookies_revoke]

Professor M's Monthly Newsletter