Google’s “More Businesses” Button in the Local Pack Is Suddenly Breaking
Google appears to have made another quiet change to the Local Pack, and this one has some real fallout for local businesses. The “More businesses” link ( the one people click to see the full list of providers) no longer takes users into the familiar map listing. Instead, it jumps over to a “Places” tab that often doesn’t work.
Right now, when someone clicks through, the first few listings still appear. But the moment a user tries to move to the next page, the results often collapse. Sometimes the screen goes blank. Sometimes Google claims there are no matching places at all. And in most cases, it’s obvious that plenty of businesses simply aren’t being shown.
Why This Matters
Local visibility gets cut off early: The Local Pack is already one of the most competitive spots in search. The “More businesses” link used to give everyone else (the businesses sitting in positions 4-20) at least a fighting chance. With the new view glitching out, that opportunity is disappearing.
Only the top listings get meaningful exposure: If users can’t load additional pages, the handful of businesses at the top effectively monopolize the traffic. Everyone else gets pushed into invisibility, no matter how relevant they are.
User experience tanks: From a searcher’s perspective, clicking a link and landing on a broken interface feels sloppy. People may back out, try another keyword, or assume there simply aren’t more businesses. That hurts both searchers and the businesses they never get to see.
Lost leads for those outside the top 3-5 spots: Industries like legal, HVAC, plumbing, and contractors already fight for every inch of visibility. Losing a working “see more” option removes one of the few pathways customers use to discover additional providers.
So Is It A Bug or A Test?
The sudden change suggests this may be a glitch rather than an intentional redesign. But with Google, “tests” often show up looking exactly like bugs. It’s possible Google is experimenting with a thinner, more compact “Places” interface. Either way, it’s happening right now, and users are noticing.
Bottom Line
If your business relies on showing up just outside the top Local Pack positions, don’t count on the “More businesses” link to save you. With the current behavior, you need to focus on the fundamentals that push you into the visible section:
- Strong reviews
- A complete, accurate, and active profile
- Local relevance and proximity
- Solid engagement signals
Until Google fixes the interface or announces what this change really is assume that only the top few spots are consistently visible.
