Can Virtual Businesses Stay Visible in Google's Local Packs Without a Physical Address?

[FriarTuck00]

After reading Joy's latest blog post about businesses losing ranking in Local Packs when hiding/not having a physical address, I have a question. What are considered Best Practices for GBP where a business is 100% virtual and does not occupy a physical space? How can businesses who have gone from brick-and-mortar to virtual be within Google's guidelines but not disappear from Local Packs? Is that even possible?

 

[Colan Nielsen]

Technically, if a business does not make in person contact with customers, they aren't eligible for a GBP. Google made some exceptions for businesses that went virtual during the pandemic, but the in-person contact rule still stands as of today.