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Google Business Profile now limits service area zip codes

Local SEO

Posted by Kevin Paulson On December 9, 2019

As many of us know, a lot of businesses don’t simply operate out of one specific location. Some provide services at multiple locations such as AC service providers, plumbers, lawyers, etc. Other businesses might provide services in and outside of their main location such as restaurants that carter, pizza delivery, mobile medical services and so on.

This is one of the huge benefits of utilizing the ‘Service areas’ section within a Google Business Profile listing. Each listing provides it’s user a service area feature indicating area radiuses that a business owner would be willing to travel out to for provided services.

This has provided a huge benefit to the business owners that provide services purely offsite.

Not only are you able to add entire cities and districts to your GBP’s service areas but you can also add postal codes, neighborhoods, or other areas that you serve as well. Some big cities might be too expansive for certain business owners to cover. Adding specified locations can be exceptionally helpful to the new business owner who might not be able to travel out a great distance to provide services right away.

Limited Service Areas

On November 5th Google limited the amount of service area options one can add to their GBP listing. 20 service areas are now the limit for what Google will allow for.

This might be worrisome to some business owners who find they need many service areas implemented.

However, 20 areas still provide a wide amount of options for GBP users.

Many users can get stuck into the mindset of adding one specific type of service area. Some GBP users still only add cities. Others might only be adding entire counties. And this method can still work well for many. However, those who add wider service areas from the distances they can actually cover can cause some prospective customers/clients to be displeased.

What can help is narrowing down the service areas more directly. Zipcodes, for example, are great for narrowing down sections within the city or cities one might service. If a zip code area is smaller than the area you service another option might be the town/district areas. Utilizing town areas is another great method to section off areas within the GBP.

Utilizing these methods can help you to not overly add service areas to your GBP and yet help to add not too few. Providing the most accurate information you can to your GBP will help your business in the short and long run and the same goes for service areas.

If you are looking for assistance in growing your business’ GBP presence – V Digital Services is the digital agency for you! If it’s GBP service area assistance you are in need of, GBP management, or other digital marketing services, feel free to reach out to us. We have dedicated digital marketing professionals that are here to help you grow your business to its highest potential!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should Service Areas on GBP Be Updated?

Review service areas quarterly. Update immediately when expanding into new ZIP codes, retiring outdated coverage zones, or after acquiring a new business with different service boundaries. Stale service-area definitions can suppress local visibility in growth markets.

How Many ZIP Codes or Cities Should Be Listed?

List only ZIP codes or cities where the business actively services customers. Google recommends staying within a 2-hour drive radius of the registered business address. Listing 20+ unrelated ZIP codes triggers spam-detection systems and can lead to profile suspension.

Can Service Area Updates Affect Existing Rankings?

Yes. Adding new service areas may temporarily disrupt rankings while Google re-evaluates the profile’s geographic relevance. Most rebounds occur within 7 to 14 days; significant ranking drops typically indicate over-expansion or NAP inconsistency rather than the update itself.

Should Service-Area Businesses Hide Their Storefront Address?

Yes, if customers do not visit the business physically. SABs should toggle ‘I do not deliver to my business address’ in GBP to hide the storefront. Mixed-mode businesses (some in-person, some on-location) should keep the address visible.

Does Adjusting Service Areas Improve Map Pack Visibility?

Service area adjustments primarily influence rankings within the new geographic zones added. Adding service areas does not boost rankings in the original primary zone, and over-expansion can dilute relevance signals where the business is most established.

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Kevin started with V Digital Services in 2018 and is an accomplished, results-driven Digital Web and SEO Organic Marketing Professional. With more than 20 years of experience in a broad range of Digital Marketing, including SEO strategy, Analytics, Web Management, Technical and Creative Development.

In his free time, you can catch him reading up on the latest breakthrough in AI-driven trends, following the latest Google algorithm updates, or enjoying outdoor activities in Arizona and California.

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