Google’s automated link verification is pulling non-compliant Business Profile links daily. No warnings, no appeals — just gone.
Here’s what changed and how to fix it fast.
Why Your Links Are Getting Removed
Google introduced daily verification checks using their GoogleOther crawler. Unlike regular web crawlers, this system ignores robots.txt files and has zero tolerance for:
- Social media URLs in website fields
- Messaging apps as booking destinations
- Link shorteners and tracking redirects
- Bot-blocking security settings
A Brisbane mechanic lost their booking link because it redirected to WhatsApp. A Melbourne restaurant’s website link vanished when Cloudflare blocked the verification crawler.
The pattern is clear: links that worked perfectly in 2023 are failing Google’s stricter 2025 verification standards.
What Google’s Crawler Actually Tests
Response codes and loading speed
Your pages need clean 200 OK responses within reasonable timeframes. Server errors, timeouts, and security blocks trigger immediate removal.
Content accessibility
GoogleOther must load all page resources — CSS, JavaScript, images. Sites serving stripped-down content to bots fail verification.
Redirect behaviour
Single redirects usually pass. Multiple hops, cross-domain redirects, and link shorteners get flagged automatically.
Security restrictions
CAPTCHAs, login walls, aggressive bot protection, and geo-blocking all block GoogleOther access.
The Three Critical Link Types (And How to Fix Each)
Website Link: Business Sites Only
Compliant examples:
- https://yourrestaurant.com.au/
- https://lawfirm.com.au/locations/sydney/
- https://tradieservices.com.au/
Non-compliant (get removed):
- facebook.com/yourbusiness
- bit.ly/your-website
- instagram.com/yourbusiness
Action Links: Complete the Action On-Page
Your “Book Now” link must allow actual booking completion. “Order Online” must process orders.
Banned destinations:
- WhatsApp, Messenger, or any messaging app
- Social media platforms
- App store links
- Link shorteners
What works:
- Calendly booking pages
- Online ordering systems
- Quote request forms
- Direct reservation platforms
Social Media: Use the Dedicated Section
Google added specific social profile fields in 2023. Access via:
Edit profile → Contact → Social profiles
Add Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn here — never in website or action link fields.
Test Your Links Right Now
Check what GoogleOther sees when it hits your website:
bashcurl -A "GoogleOther" -I https://yourdomain.com.au/Want to see: HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Red flags: 403 Forbidden, 404 Not Found, 500 Server Error
Test booking links the same way:
bashcurl -A "GoogleOther" -I https://your-booking-url.com/Most business owners won’t run these commands themselves, but any web developer can test this in minutes.
Security Settings That Kill Verification
Cloudflare Bot Fight Mode
The biggest culprit. Blocks GoogleOther aggressively. Create specific allow rules for GoogleOther user agent.
WordPress Security Plugins
Wordfence, Sucuri, and similar plugins often block bot traffic by default. Whitelist GoogleOther in your settings.
Rate Limiting & DDoS Protection
Your hosting provider might be rate-limiting Google’s verification attempts. Request exceptions for legitimate crawlers.
Quick Fix Checklist
Priority 1: Website link compliance
□ Points to your actual business website
□ Returns clean 200 status to GoogleOther
□ No social media or shortened URLs
Priority 2: Action link cleanup
□ Remove messaging app destinations
□ Ensure booking/order completion on landing pages
□ Test each link with GoogleOther user agent
Priority 3: Social links repositioning
□ Move social URLs to dedicated Social profiles section
□ Remove from website/action link fields
Priority 4: Security adjustments
□ Allow GoogleOther through security systems
□ Disable bot challenges on business landing pages
□ Check SSL certificates are current
If Your Links Are Already Gone
Don’t re-add immediately. Fix the underlying problem first.
- Identify the issue using curl tests above
- Fix security blocks or page errors
- Wait 24-48 hours for Google’s system to register changes
- Re-add the corrected link
- Monitor daily for the first week
Links removed and re-added without fixing root causes just get removed again.
Real Examples: What Works vs What Fails
| Link Type | ❌ Fails Verification | ✅ Passes Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Website | facebook.com/cafe | mycafe.com.au |
| Booking | wa.me/61400123456 | calendly.com/mycafe/booking |
| Ordering | bit.ly/order-now | mycafe.com.au/order |
Long-Term Maintenance
This isn’t a set-and-forget fix. Google verifies links daily, so problems can emerge whenever:
- Your hosting changes
- Security settings update
- SSL certificates expire
- CDN configurations shift
Monthly monitoring prevents emergency fixes.
Set calendar reminders to test your links using the curl commands above. Include GoogleOther verification in your regular website maintenance routine.
Professional Help vs DIY
Most link compliance issues take 30-60 minutes to fix once properly diagnosed. The challenge is knowing exactly what Google’s crawler sees and which fixes will stick.
DIY if you have:
- Technical team familiar with curl commands
- Access to security/CDN settings
- Time to monitor and retest
Get professional help if:
- Links keep getting removed after fixing
- Multiple compliance issues need addressing
- You’re losing significant Google-sourced traffic
Book a technical audit to identify and fix problems within 48 hours. We’ll show you exactly what GoogleOther sees and provide a priority fix list.
The businesses addressing this now will keep their Google Maps traffic while competitors lose clicks to broken or missing links.
Don’t wait for Google to remove more links. Fix them today.