We Migrated 150+ Google Reviews After a Business Location was Permanently Closed

Last Updated on February 5, 2026

Client: 

One of the Leading Car Dealers in Kerala

Industry:

Automotive (Automobile Dealership)

Service Focus:

Google Business Profile (GBP) Management & Review Migration Strategy

Client Overview

 It is one of the leading authorised automobile dealers in Kerala, operating multiple showrooms and service centres across the state. Over the years, the brand has built strong local trust and reputation through customer reviews on Google Business Profiles.

The Problem

They permanently closed one of its showrooms located in the city due to a business restructuring and a location strategy change.

However, the closed showroom’s Google Business Profile had 150+ genuine customer reviews, built over several years.
Closing or removing the profile without a plan would result in:

• Permanent loss of 150+ valuable reviews
• Drop in overall brand trust and authority
• Negative impact on local SEO performance
• Confusion among users searching for dealerships in Kerala

Direct review transfer between Google Business Profiles is not officially supported by Google, making this a high-risk situation.

Closed business profile on Google

Permanently closed Google Business Profile

Key Challenges

• The Calicut showroom was permanently closed and could not remain active
• Reviews could not be deleted or manually moved without violating Google guidelines
• Initial outreach to Google Business Profile support did not receive a response
• Risk of losing long-standing customer trust signals
• Need to protect brand reputation across Kerala locations

The Strategy & Solution

1. Strategic GBP Support Escalation

• Initiated formal communication with Google Business Profile support
• Clearly explained the business context:
  • We are the primary dealer network in Kerala
  • The showroom closure was due to a strategic location change
  • Business operations continued at nearby locations
  • Submitted documentation and clarification emails explaining why review continuity was essential
        

2. Location Transition & Business Realignment

• Updated and tracked the business presence to the nearest active showroom location
• Ensured the brand entity remained consistent across locations
• Maintained NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency to avoid trust loss

3. Review Retention & Reputation Safeguard

• Since the direct review transfer was not approved immediately:
  • All existing reviews were individually responded to
  • Responses clearly acknowledged customer feedback on behalf of the brand
• This ensured:
  • Reviews stayed active and visible
  • Trust signals remained intact
  • No policy violations occurred

4. Continuous Follow-up & Monitoring

• Regularly followed up with GBP support
• Closely monitored profile status, review visibility, and brand searches
• Prevented duplicate or conflicting listings from appearing

Results Achieved

• 300+ customer reviews successfully preserved
• No loss of brand trust or review credibility
• Smooth closure of the Calicut showroom profile without penalties
• Continued visibility and authority for other active locations
• Maintained strong local SEO signals across Kerala
• Avoided negative user experience or confusion

Permanently closed OLD Google Business Profile

Google Business Profiles Reviews are Migrated to NEW Profile

Business Impact

• Protected years of accumulated customer goodwill
• Prevented reputation damage during showroom closure
• Ensured seamless transition for customers searching for Kia dealerships
• Strengthened brand consistency across multiple locations

This case study highlights the importance of strategic Google Business Profile management during business transitions.

By combining structured communication with Google support, compliant GBP handling, and proactive review management, we successfully safeguarded Incheon Kia’s online reputation and local search authority, while also preserving valuable customer reviews.