Have you ever noticed links on your Google My Business (GMB) profile that you don’t want? Maybe these links go to websites that don’t show your business correctly. This can be really frustrating! But there’s good news: you can remove these unwanted links easily. Thankfully, Google now allows you to remove unwanted third-party links more easily. In this guide, we will explain step by step how to Remove Third-Party Links from GMB Profile. Keeping it clean helps your customers find you and trust your business.
What Are Third-Party Links?
Third-party links are web addresses that other people add to your GMB profile. They can lead to other websites that are not related to your business. Sometimes, people add these links by mistake. Other times, they may not even know they are adding them. This is why it’s important to check your profile often. By knowing what these links are, you can decide which ones to keep and which ones to remove.
Why Remove Third-Party Links?
Third-party links are web addresses added by outside providers to your GMB profile, often for ordering or booking. These links aren’t always helpful and can sometimes create issues for your business:
- Customer Confusion: Too many options can make it unclear where customers should click, possibly leading them away from the right services.
- Trust and Reputation: Unwanted links might connect customers to unfamiliar sites, which can make your business seem less trustworthy.
- Better Customer Experience: A clean GMB profile with only essential information makes it easier for customers to find what they need.
With Google’s new rules, third-party providers must now offer businesses an easy way to remove their links if they’re unwanted. This keeps your profile neat and helps you focus on what matters to your customers.
How to Find Third-Party Links
Finding unwanted links is the first step. Here’s how you can do it:
- Log In to Your GMB Account: Open your internet browser and go to the Google My Business website. Enter your email and password to sign in.
- Check Your Profile: Once you are signed in, look at your profile. You will see all the information about your business. This includes your address, phone number, and links.
- Look for Links: Carefully review the links listed on your profile. They might be under a section called “Website” or “Links.”
- Write Down the Links: If you see any links that don’t belong, write them down. You can use a piece of paper or a note on your phone. This will help you keep track of what you want to remove.
Steps to Remove Third-Party Links from Your GMB Profile
To help business owners take control of their profiles, Google has added an opt-out process in the New Merchant Experience (NMX) dashboard. Here’s how you can use it:
Step 1: Access the NMX Dashboard
Sign in to your Google My Business account and navigate to the NMX dashboard. This is where you’ll find all the options to manage your profile, including third-party links.
Step 2: Choose the Third-Party Provider You Want to Remove
Look for the section that lists third-party providers on your profile. It might include booking and ordering services that are connected to your business through links.
Step 3: Click on ‘Remove Provider’
When you find the provider you wish to remove, click the “Remove Provider” option. This action will start the process of disconnecting that service from your GMB profile.
Step 4: Save Changes
After removing the provider, make sure to save your changes. This final step ensures the unwanted link is no longer visible on your GMB profile.
Note: Providers’ Opt-Out Pages
Each provider should now offer a landing page explaining how you can disable their service. Some may include step-by-step instructions, forms, or options to contact their support directly for help. If you run into issues, these resources can be helpful.
For further assistance, you can visit Google’s support page for reporting third-party link issues.
What If You Can’t Remove a Third-Party Link?
In some cases, you may find that a link doesn’t get removed immediately. If this happens, here are additional steps you can take:
- Report the Issue to Google: Google’s new guidelines require providers to remove third-party links within five days of a removal request. If the link isn’t removed, you can report a violation.
- Contact Google Support: If the issue continues, reach out to Google Support. They can assist with specific cases and help enforce the new guidelines.
Things to Consider Before Removing Third-Party Providers
While unwanted links can make your profile look cluttered, removing them isn’t always the best choice. Third-party providers can impact your GMB metrics in positive ways:
- Performance Metrics: Interactions on your GMB profile, such as clicks and bookings, count toward your performance stats. These stats help show how active your profile is. If a third-party link directs customers off-site, however, that activity may not be counted, which could impact your metrics.
- Weighing Pros and Cons: Think about what’s best for your business. If the third-party service brings value and drives customer engagement, it might be worth keeping.
Conclusion
Cleaning up your GMB profile by removing unnecessary third-party links can enhance your customers’ experience and strengthen your business’s online presence. Thanks to Google’s new guidelines, taking control of your profile has become much easier. If you want to streamline your GMB profile, use the NMX dashboard to manage your third-party links effectively.
If you need more help or have questions about managing your GMB profile, feel free to contact us today to learn more!
If you need to know about a similar problem-fixing guide “How to Remove OOOT.com from Online Bookings Link” then read this blog post.
FAQs about Remove Third-Party Links from GMB Profile
1. What Are Third-Party Links on My GMB Profile, and Why Are They Even There?
Third-party links are added by other companies that provide services like booking or ordering. These companies sometimes put their links on your GMB profile to help customers access their services directly. Google allows this, but if you didn’t ask for them, it can feel like they’re just showing up uninvited!
2. Can I Pick and Choose Which Links to Remove, or Do I Have to Remove Them All?
Yes, you can actually remove just the links you don’t want! In the NMX dashboard, Google lets you select specific third-party providers to remove. So, if you want to keep a booking link but ditch an ordering link, that’s totally doable.
3. Will Removing These Links Affect How My Business Shows Up on Google?
Not directly. Removing third-party links doesn’t change your ranking in Google search results. But, if people interact a lot with those links, like by making bookings, those actions help your profile seem more active. So, it might change how your profile stats look, but it won’t knock you down in search rankings.
4. Do I Need to Contact the Third-Party Company to Remove Their Link?
Usually, no! Google’s made it easier with new rules, so you should be able to remove these links yourself right from the NMX dashboard. But, some providers might still have an extra step, like a form to fill out. They should give you clear instructions if that’s the case.
5. How Long Will It Take to Get a Third-Party Link Removed?
After you request a removal, Google’s guidelines say that providers have up to five days to take the link down. If it’s still there after that, you can let Google know, and they’ll help sort it out.
6. Will Taking These Links Off My Profile Change My Performance Stats?
Yes, it could. Any clicks or bookings made through third-party links add to your profile’s performance stats. If you remove a link, you’ll lose those actions from your stats, which could make your profile look a little less active. But if it’s better for your brand, it might still be worth it!
7. What Can I Do if These Links Keep Coming Back?
If a link keeps showing up after you remove it, it might be due to automatic updates from the provider. This can be annoying, but you can report it to Google Support, and they’ll help make sure it’s taken down for good.
