Manage GBP Q&A: Report duplicates, answer common queries proactively, and keep information updated.
Some types of businesses may receive the same question from multiple searchers (e.g., "How much is admission to the attraction?") in the Q&A section of their GBP listing. Posting the same question over and over by the same person is subject to correction by Google directly, but it never hurts to report duplicate questions that are coming in from different users on the same listing. Keeping the Q&A clean will make lists of relevant questions easier to follow.
But what sorts of Questions and Answers are not permitted by Google? Which types would merit removal? From their own support thread, Google states that they will remove Questions and Answers that violate these policies:
- Advertising: Do not use Q&A for advertising. Don’t add links to other websites or phone numbers of a different place. Questions and answers should be a genuine reflection of your experience with a place.
- Spam: Do not spam. Do not include promotional or commercial content, do not post the same content multiple times, and do not write questions and answers for the same place from multiple accounts.
- Phone numbers or email addresses: To help prevent advertising and spammy Q&A, we don’t allow phone numbers or email addresses. If you want to add an updated number or email address, use the Report a Problem link to report that information instead. If you're a registered Business Profile owner of a listing, you may post phone numbers in your answers.
- Off-topic Q&A: Do not post answers based on someone else’s experience or that aren't about the specific place you’re answering about. Q&A isn’t meant to be a forum for general political or social commentary or personal rants. To report a wrong location or a place closed, use the Report a problem link instead of posting a Q&A. Only use the "Ask Question" box to post questions. Reviews and comments will be removed.
- Keep it clean: Do not use obscene, profane, or offensive language. We’ll also remove Q&A that represents personal attacks on others.
- Conflict of interest: Questions and answers are most valuable when they're honest and unbiased. Don’t offer or accept money, products, or services to write questions or answers for a business or to write negative questions or answers about a competitor. If you're a business owner, do not set up stations or kiosks at your place of business just to ask for a Q&A written about your place of business. In addition, upvote Q&A in an unbiased manner, rather than a promotional one.
- Illegal content: Do not post Q&A that contain or link to unlawful content, like links that facilitate the sale of prescription drugs without a prescription.
- Copyrighted content: Do not post Q&A that infringe others' rights, including copyright. For more information or to file a DMCA request, review our copyright procedures.
- Sexually Explicit Material: We don't allow Q&A that contain sexually explicit material. Do not seek or provide information on content that exploits or abuses children. Questions and answers related to this subject will be removed. Google will take appropriate action, which may include disabling accounts and reporting to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and law enforcement.
- Impersonation: Do not post Q&A on behalf of others or misrepresent your identity or connection with the place you’re reviewing.
- Personal and confidential information: Do not post Q&A that contain another person’s personal and confidential information, including credit card information, government identification number, driver’s license information, etc.
- Hate Speech: We do not allow Q&A that advocates against groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
- Regulated Goods and Services: Do not use the service to sell or facilitate the sale of regulated goods and services, such as alcohol, gambling, pharmaceuticals and unapproved supplements, tobacco, fireworks, weapons, or health or medical devices.
How to notify Google about inappropriate or duplicate Questions and Answers:
- Directly in Google, next to the question or answer, tap More. There should be three vertical dots next to the More button.
- Tap the Report question or Report answer.
- Please give Google time to manually review this claim. The Question or Answer will be removed if successful without notice.