Yahoo Local Basic Listing Verifications Failing
-
Hey everyone,
Over the last few weeks Yahoo Local's Basic Listings have been failing left and right for me. When working to verify a business listing, I have been trying the phone, snail mail and email verifications specifically, and am 100% sure I've been inputting the correct code, yet no matter how many attempts I make, I get the following error:
http://i.imgur.com/pJ7ggBx.jpg
This is for multiple accounts, not just a single instance. Seems Yahoo's just got an unfixed, prevalent bug. I've reached out to their Support for information, but they have been unresponsive.
Anyone else running into this issue?
-
We're actually in the middle of this problem and found a work around. If you get the invalid pin message:
- Login to your Yahoo biz dashboard, navigate to your client's listing and click edit.
- Make a quick edit (doesn't matter if you change it back before hitting submit).
- After hitting submit, it should take you right to the verification screen to either a) send a new pin, or b) enter your pin.
- Use the PIN you already received to verify the listing.
We've done this a couple times already, and it seems to be working.
-
I have been trying also to verify a business. I have had the give me a PIN 3 times to no avail. Each time I recieve a "The verification code you submitted was incorrect. Please enter the correct verification code." message. I have tried to copy and paste the pin as well as manually enter it. I have also tried logging out and back in. Nothing works and I'm getting frustrated as heck with their obvious glitches. To make things worse I read that yahoo won't provide support to their free listing service. What a scam.
-
Have only tried phone call verification, but experiencing same issue and error message. This happened on 6/11/14. Several clients, different accounts, same error message that the verification code is incorrect. Opted to use postcard method. Not expecting different results but wanted to at least try.
This has happened in the past with Yahoo. We've had postcard PINs repeatedly declined as "incorrect." This was around the time they were making changes to the Local Directory. Another problem we experienced during this time was that listings were not being saved under the dashboard. So every time we tried to claim a listing we had to go through the process of identifying and editing it.
There is definitely a strong correlation between Yahoo updates and Yahoo services being inoperable during these times.
-
Hi Jackson,
Glad to hear that. I do hope others will comment if they're having problems with Yahoo Local verification. Posts like yours make we wonder about bugs.
-
Thank you for the response, Miriam, that's very helpful!
-
Hi Jackson,
While I do see people reporting recent verification problems (https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130519195150AAFcNr8) I don't see anything about your specific error message anyplace I would normally look.
If you can't get the phone support to help you, a possible workaround is to ensure that you clients are listed on Yelp as Yelp is now distributing listings and reviews to Yahoo! Local. Here's more on this:
http://searchengineland.com/yahoo-goes-live-yelp-local-reviews-186354
I wonder if Yahoo is having wonky issues as of this new deal with Yelp. I haven't had a chance to test this, but I believe it should work out if the client is listed on Yelp that they will eventually appear on Yahoo! Kind of early days on this.
If anyone else in the community is experiencing the problem Jackson is describing, please chime in!
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Best address to use on Google business listing for youth sports program
Hello, Moz Community! I'm helping a friend with some local marketing for his youth sports program. He trains his kids at a community center and a public park where court times are managed by the city. His address in his Google business listing is currently the community center, but that is shared with multiple businesses including the community center itself. I know he needs an address that is unique to his business, but he lives outside of the city in which his program is located. Our goal is to boost exposure in the city in which his program is located. Since 1) his business address is located outside of the city in which he conducts business and 2) the addresses at which he conducts his business is utilized by multiple businesses including the actual property owner, what options do I we have for an address that Google will recognize as valid and won't cause ranking issues? If there is nothing we can do in the current situation, what are steps we can take to address this issue for his business? Thanks a lot!
Local Listings | | Tony_GP0 -
Google listing only appears when I move / zoom in or out of the map
Hi everyone, We are having an issue with this local business. The Google listing isn't immediately appearing on the map. You have to move the map or zoom in and out for the listing to appear. I find this really odd as our competitors - with no reviews and way further in proximity - are appearing with no issues. The listing is only about 4km where I'm doing the search, while competitors with no reviews are about 20km away. We are ranking in the top 5 organically for the search term I used (pool renovations brisbane), but nowhere in local unless the map is moved. When the listing appears, sometimes the pin also looks grey instead of red, while others are red (if that makes sense). On top of this, their organic rankings have also been on a downward trend since June. I'm currently doing a backlink audit to see if it's contributing to the issue. If anyone also has other ideas, could you please let me know? Thanks.
Local Listings | | nhhernandez1 -
Has anyone tried using AMP links in Google Business Listings?
We have a client with multiple locations, and Google Business listings for each location. We've also created AMP pages for each of those location landing pages, and they're ranking on page one of their main queries, just below the local pack. We're wondering if anyone has tried pointing a GMB website listing at an AMP page, or if there are considerations to keep in mind before testing it out. So far, we've discussed whether to use the AMP url (amp.domain.com) or the Google viewer url (google.com/amp/s/amp.domain.com), and potential concerns for desktop users.
Local Listings | | WompM0 -
GMB listing not showing for local searches
Hi all, I've optimised an existing GMB listing that has been in place for over a year. The client is a yacht/boat broker and marine repair outfit based in Mallorca. When I search for terms that they 'should' be ranking for on Google and on a Maps search, they are nowhere to be found, yet their listing does show when you type in their company name. I've read lots of Local SEO guides and followed their advice but I'm not sure what I'm meant to do next?
Local Listings | | Bee1590 -
Google Business listing algorithm when listing the top 3 locations in Google Search
Hi, awhile back I decided to make separate website contact pages by location and Google Business listings(some being just a service location with no address displaying) for Greenshield Pest Control Inc to help better target per city key term searches. Please refer to screenshot A http://puu.sh/qxWjH/6153c0edf2.png and B http://puu.sh/qxWfJ/bff7ad02cf.png. A) Searching "pest control belleville" brings up the Belleville Greenshield business listing in the top 3 as desired. B) Searching "pest control brockville" brings up the Kingston Greenshield listing in the top 3. While they do provide service for the Brockville location we don't have a dedicated Brockville service location and listing setup. I'm happy the Greenshield listing shows up in the search for case B but my question is does anyone know why Google decided for two out of the top 3 listings(Greenshield and Enviro Guard Plus Inc) to use a non-Brockville business listing? Kingston is 45mins away from Brockville and Harrowsmith about 1 hour away. Is there a certain distance range a Google business listing has to be for it to have a chance to be included in the search besides the actual city I'm searching for?
Local Listings | | FPK0 -
Rankings on Google local search
Hi, I have been experiencing different rankings while searching with Google local site such as on: google.com.mt > English interface google.com.mt > native language interface but still searching in English. The search phrase is always in English. Also in both occasions the SERPs would contain English listings. There would be no Local/Map listings that affect results order. What is the solution to increase visibility on both English interface and native language interface? Thanks! Conrad
Local Listings | | conalt0 -
What are your experiences using the new Google Local Descriptor feature?
I'm looking for any insight from those who have used the Descriptor feature on your Places listings. Has it helped in any way? Caused issues? My issues with this feature are described in this question I posted the other day. But I haven't tried using the feature yet, and I'm hoping to learn from some of you who have.
Local Listings | | irapasternack0 -
Google+ Local and a Google+ Company Page
I have an established G+ company page but also want a G+ Local listing in order to appear on Google maps. The company does have a physical address, phone number etc. to qualify for a G+ Local listing. No current local listing exists to claim. Should I: a) Switch the currrent G+ company page to be a G+ Local page; or b) Create a new G+ Local page and keep the G+ company page; or c) Ignore G+ Local and create the listing through Google Places Thanks
Local Listings | | bjalc20110