We shut down a branch, should I delete the Google Business Profile or mark it permanently closed?

The most common mistake is hitting that "remove business" button. That button doesn't wipe the profile off the internet, it just strips your admin rights. Once the profile is orphaned, some user suggests an edit saying "it's open" and the shop stays marked active on Maps. Mark it permanently closed and don't give up ownership.

Mark it permanently closed from the business hours section right away. Then publish a Google update post and add the addresses for your Alsancak and Karşıyaka shops. Forward your phone line to the Alsancak location immediately too, so calling customers don't hit a dead end.

When you mark it permanently closed, Google pushes that map pin way down in the search results. If someone searches for the shop name directly, a bold red "Permanently closed" banner appears over the profile. That way users clearly see it's closed and won't leave angry reviews.

We made the mistake of deleting a profile from the dashboard during a similar branch closure. The listing sat unmanaged on Maps for seven months, racking up 8 one-star reviews. We had to reclaim ownership via postcard just to set it to permanently closed; the complaints dropped to zero within two weeks.

whatever you do don't click delete the business ends up stranded on the map and then nobody can remove it. tbh just mark it permanently closed and move on that's the cleanest way.

Did the closed branch's customers mostly reach out by phone or walk right up to the door? If you have delivery volume have you considered keeping that number active and delivering to Bornova from the Alsancak branch?

Even if you mark it permanently closed, neighboring shopkeepers or local guides might suggest an edit on the map saying "a new shop opened here." So it's best to keep ownership of the profile and check the dashboard once in a while.

Sorry to hear that, closing a branch is a tough call. Don't take the negative reviews to heart either; prepare a polite canned response mentioning you're closed and invite them to your Alsancak branch, that way you won't lose brand-loyal customers.

The most overlooked point about deleting google business profile is this: Everyone rushing into deleting google business profile gets stuck at the same point.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Let's separate the concepts, they're getting mixed up. Hasty decisions become decisions you have to fix six months later.

If I were you, I'd go this route.

Let me share what happened to me; it might be useful... Any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later as both sides remember it differently.

I felt relieved reading this answer, so it's not just me. If rankings stay the same but clicks drop, the issue isn't your page, but the search result appearance.

Mistakes made on the deleting google business profile side are usually reversible but expensive.

If you're going this route, sort this out first. Internal linking is the cheapest and most neglected task.

If I were you, I'd go this route.

It's rare to find an explanation this clear. Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late.

Proven by experience.

I have an objection here. A competitor's ranking might come from years of accumulation, not just their content.

The biggest time-waster for us was not knowing who had the final say. If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

Noted, thanks.

We experienced almost the exact same thing last year. Any comment made without a control group is just a guess.

If you post the result here, it will help others too.

Timely topic.