Attention Business Owners and Local Search Agencies
Showing Your Business Address May Get You De-Listed on Google Places
As you are probably aware, I do my best to keep up with the Google Places changes. You also know that Google Places changes all the time – mostly minor.
I just got some great information on a recent change that everyone should understand.
Here is the issue:
If your Google Places page lists your address (which almost all businesses do) AND you do NOT serve customers/clients at that location (i.e. you service your clients at THEIR location), Google will DE-LIST your Google Places page!
This usually happens after a Google representative calls the business and asks “Do you provide your services at your location?” If you answer “No”, then your Google Places page may become de-listed if your Google Places page is not set to HIDE your location.
Here is an excerpt from a blog post on SEOMoz by Miriam Ellis, owner of Solas Web Design on Google Places addresses.
She cites some research from Mike Blumental and Andrew Shotland, and has basically completely changed how all of us should handle the following question on the Google Places page:
“Does your business provide services, such as delivery or home repair, to locations in a certain area?
No, all customers come to the business location
Yes, this business serves customers at their locations”
In the past, Mario and myself along with many other experts have advised you to always choose “No, all customers come to the business location”. After the Google Venice update, this has truly changed.
Miriam says:
“Thanks to Google Places Help Forum Top Contributor, Mike Blumenthal, I feel that I have arrived at a fairly clear understanding of how Google is now classifying different business models. I’d like to pass this information on in hopes that it will help you determine whether your business needs to hide its address on its Place Page.
Type A
Your business is brick-and-mortar and serves all customers at its location. Show your address.
Type B
Your business is home-based and serves some customers at your home and some on the road. Show your address and use the Service Radius tool.
Type C
Your business is home-based and does not serve any customers at your home. Hide your address.
I believe these are the parameters in a nutshell.”
Reading further through the comments section, I find that as a business or if your agency has clients that fit into this type of listing ( You service clients at THEIR location) then you should always answer the Google Representative’s question with a “YES, I service customers at MY location.” Even if you only, rarely, occasionally, or sometimes service at your location, you should tell the Google Rep, “YES”. This will keep you from getting de-listed.
Here’s to your success,
Richard Bivans
PS – if you want to read the full article, here is the link: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/why-you-may-need-to-hide-your-google-places-address-asap
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