Google Places categories
-
I work with a Local SEO company for troubleshooting our Google Places and optimization. They suggested that in order for us to rank for the keywords we provided them with they need to change the categories. Now, those categories do not exist in Google Places and I read on Seomoz and Google help forum that we should choose from the ones in the list provided by Google. I also know that Categories should not contain location-based information.
Should I let them do that?
-
Times these are a changing guys. Google just rolled out some new Google+ Page (which is where all Google Place Pages are going) updates. Apparently you can have up to 10 categories now, but none will be custom. This, however, is in the new Google+ Page dashboard. Your existing Google Place pages will be rolled into that soon and then your categories will probably need to be updated. I don't think Google said what they're going to do with your preexisting custom categories, but I wouldn't be surprised if they just disappeared. That's their way of getting rid of all those spammy categories.
-
Thanks Ian, the sad part is that this Local SEO company has been referred by a very trusted Local SEO member, which I am sure you heard about. Turns out that the company that she endorsed is not so good as she thinks it is.
-
Categories should depict what your business is (e.g. Hospital), not what it does (e.g. Vaccinations) or products it sells (e.g. Sony products or printer paper). This information can be added in your description.
Although it does not say "don't add a location" to your categories, there still isn't a good reason to. Google is well aware of your location, so the only reason any SEO would put the location in the category would be to manipulate Google. Once you do that, your listing is going to suffer. Based on experience, do not add location to our client's category listings. And to be blunt, if you're working with a Local SEO who insists on adding it your category, you may want to explore other options.
-
Thanks Ian, I should have looked this question up before posting..I see that your response is in line with all the other ones when it comes to Google categories. Follow up question: do you have the exact paragraph on Google guidelines specifying that you shouldn't add location based information to your categories?
Thanks!
-
There are 5 different categories you can associate your business with. Definitely use as many as you can from Google's pre selected categories. It is okay to come up with your own categories. Google's policy on this is to not add location based information to your categories. A good rule of thumb is to think of what your business is, not what it sells and use that as a category. You can use the additional info and description to mention what you sell.
To make it short, it's okay to use custom categories, just don't spam them for city name + keywords.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Updating address in Google Places
My client has moved address to a location in the same city. Will updating his Google Places page lead to a drop in rankings? If so, what is the best way to resolve it?
Image & Video Optimization | | neooptic0 -
Google maps displaying wrong image
Hi, I couldn't figure this out, how do i change image that shows up on the right side for maps results, do i change it in my Google places account ?(which i did and and its a first one) or in Google plus, i just cant get it? Thanks for help.
Image & Video Optimization | | Davidmez0 -
Reasons for store not showing up on Google?
Hi my client has a store which is not showing up on Google search results. E.g. if you looked up store name and store location on Google, all the stores in that particular city show up except one. Also even if you click the: More results near CITY, and State the stores listing still doesn't show up. So for some reason Google has excluded the store from Google search. But if you go to Google Maps directly, and type in the same keyword "STORE NAME CITY" the store is displayed and there. Does anyone know any reason why the store has been excluded from Google search results, but is listed successfully on Google Maps.
Image & Video Optimization | | MBASydney0 -
Google Place Result taking over Organic Search Result
Hey there, One of our client contacted as stating that their Google ranking dropped. It was originally listed No.2 on the organic search result, but now it shows up only as Google Place instead, and the ranking is lower than before. Apparently it happens in Japan quite often nowadays, does it happen in your country too? Especially on Google.com? Is it becoming a trend?
Image & Video Optimization | | YukiTokuda0 -
Issues with google places.
Hey there! A few weeks ago I made some changes to my client's "google places page". I am facing two issues there which I could not resolve on my own, they are: After I made changes and updated the page I could not see any activity on the analytics section whereas before I updated the page there was some metrics visible. The client had already claimed his places page before he came to me and entered some information. He just stuffed some keywords in the description section. I made necessary changes to the description based on the best practices for places page and according to Google's guideline for creating a great listing.The problem is the category did not update on the places page that show up in SERPs(it ranks top for four major keywords with geo indicators). However, the changes I made does appear when on the lower left side when I login into my places page. I don't see any link that will let me edit "description". Am I confusing some other section with category? I have tried to be as lucid as possible. I will appreciate any help. Thanks for your time. epMp kPWpf
Image & Video Optimization | | virtualhandshake0 -
Strange behaviour at google places
Hello Seomoz! I have strange behaviour at google places with one company. I have submitted company Air Condition SPB to goole places and it was on the 13th page at google places (keyword "продажа кондиционеров Санкт-Петербург"), and after some days it disappeared from google places at all for that keyword and many others. After that I did changes in company name at google places and that company appeared at google places again. And I was watching this strange behaviour at google places for that company many times. Could you tell me what can cause that strange behaviour? Thank You, Dmitri
Image & Video Optimization | | zhuk0 -
301 Redirect affects Google Places Listing?
Hi, A client of ours has a Google Places Listing but over the last few days we noticed that two duplicate listings have appeared with exactly the same information as the original listing. Only difference is the domain names. I did some investigation and my client says that a company cold called them recently and sold them two domain names www.bandbinbanbury.co.uk andwww.accommodationinbanbury.co.uk and it seems these two are redirecting to the main site which sits on www.hanwellhouse.com My question is can this cause that the redirected listing now appear instead of the original google places listing? Any help will be appreciated
Image & Video Optimization | | InTouchMarketing560 -
Meaning Behind Google Local Search Results Icons?
I can't seem to easily find this answer anywhere (even in the Google Places FAQ page), so thought I'd stop digging around and simply ask it here: What are the meanings behind the icons to the right of the link and to the left of the "place page" link in Google's local search results? I see a checkmark/question mark in a circle, then a bar chart with various levels filled in, then a dollar sign in a circle, then a magnifying glass. 1. What are these telling me, as a searcher? 2. What are they telling the owner of the business? Thank you for your help; I just can't seem to find a reference for this...
Image & Video Optimization | | keethgee0