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A recent development has sparked concern within the local SEO community—Google seems to be experimenting with removing the call button from local business listings. It’s unclear whether this is a technical glitch or an intentional part of the updated Web Guide interface that more users are beginning to encounter. Regardless, many believe this might be an oversight, and it would be preferable for Google to reinstate the call button.
The initial report came from Jason Hennessey, who shared his observations on Facebook. Darren Shaw then highlighted this on a professional networking platform, emphasizing that a decline in calls from Google Business Profiles might be linked to this change. Shaw quoted Hennessey, noting that Google could be testing the removal of the call button from organic search results while maintaining it for paid advertisements.
A screenshot shared by Hennessey depicts the Web Guide interface, which appears to lack the call button. This visual evidence suggests that the user interface might be undergoing modifications, possibly explaining the missing feature. Another image shows a side-by-side comparison of search results with and without the call button, illustrating the apparent discrepancy.
While it’s uncertain whether this is an intentional update or an error, the consensus leans toward this being a temporary oversight. Many argue that Google should add the call button back to ensure users can easily contact local businesses directly from search listings.
Gagan Ghotra also spotted a similar interface, sharing a video demonstrating its functionality. In this video, “near me” search results for food-related queries on mobile devices are loading the Web Guide in the “All” tab, which hints at ongoing interface adjustments in search results.
This topic continues to generate discussion within professional forums, with industry experts sharing their insights and concerns regarding the potential impact on local search performance and user experience.
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