Apparently now OK to use PO boxes to optimize local search?
-
I've always stood behind what I thought was Google's policy of not recognizing PO boxes. But it seems like all you have to do now is create one and take 2 seconds to create a low-quality G+ page.
The below link is to a screenshot that shows my guy (yay new, high quality site with growing, relevant, authoritative content!) just out of the local results. He's not technically in Athens, so we knew it was an uphill battle. What's annoying though is the low-quality G+ PO box result above him.
https://www.diigo.com/item/image/4bxh7/yi1x
I know the PO Box result is not great in a vacuum in terms of conversion, but fact is if it's just phone numbers you're after they're at a distinct advantage, with no effort.
For my client, we've indicated in G+ that he has a service area that extends into Athens. If Google is now favoring G+ results, I'm wondering if my guy should get a PO box instead?
-
Great response. Stick with the legit tactics and the cream will rise to the top eventually.
-
Agree with Miriam! Google did not change its rules on P.O. Boxes, they are not okay for Google Places, despite some results still showing up here and there.
-
Hi Perfect Pitch Concepts,
Google's rules have not changed regarding P.O. boxes (see: https://support.google.com/places/answer/107528?hl=en). Google states:
Do not create a listing or place your pin marker at a location where the business does not physically exist. P.O. Boxes are not considered accurate physical locations.Your business location should be staffed during its stated hours.
What you are seeing in the screenshot you've attached does not reflect a change in Google's rules, but a failure on Google's part to uphold their own rules. The P.O. box listing you've referenced is in violation of the guidelines and will likely eventually be taken down by Google, but this could happen tomorrow, next month or two years from now. It is not uncommon to find spam like this is the local SERPs, unfortunately, but it is definitely not a good idea for any Local SEO to advise any client to violate Google's guidelines. We have to teach clients how to succeed while adhering to the guidelines. Feel free to use the 'report a problem' link on the competitor's listing to report the P.O. Box as spam.
As you know, in most cases, Google deems a business as most relevant to its city of location. Because of this, if your client is not located in Athens, he is unlikely to appear in the local pack of results for searches stemming from Athens-based devices or containing the term 'Athens'. There are some exceptions to this, but they typically involve geographic regions or niche industries about which Google has less information and in which there is a low level of competition. A roofer outside a major city is unlikely to appear in the pack for those major city terms, regardless of what type of service radius he sets on his local listing. It looks like you are achieving high organic results for the client for a term that is important to him, and this is typically the best you can do for any SAB who lacks a physical location in a service city.
I totally understand how frustrating it can be to see spam in the local results. In some ways, Google has made major improvements in this area, but, as you can see, there is still a lot of junk getting through their filters. A Local SEO can set himself the task of using all available allowed method for his clients with the confidence that they will ultimately stand the test of time, whereas spammers' listings have a definite shelf life and may expire at any time. Hope this helps!
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
-
Why Do Some Organic Search Terms Not Rank a YouTube Video?
I have a video that is number 1 in the video search terms that is very well optimised and quality backlinked. Yet it does not rank in the organic results. Anyone any idea why, or what to do to achieve this? Many thanks in advance
Image & Video Optimization | | WSIDW0 -
URL has on Page Grade "A" - Now What?
Nevermind, got some good ideas and i'll look into it and report back. thanks anyway
Image & Video Optimization | | Prime850 -
Google Carousel - What Should We Now Be Doing Differently?
Google Carousel is rolling out for even more topics. How does it affect or change tracking in Google Analytics? For example, if I am in the Carousel and someone clicks my listing, then Google completes a search for my property… then the searcher clicks through to my site organically. Will I know that someone originally clicked the Carousel or will I have no idea and simply see a Google organic click? Should we be optimizing our Google+ Places listings differently? How does this change our own organic keyword targeting? In other words, if I am in the Carousel should I go after a different keyword organically? Does anyone know how many people are clicking into the Carousel vs. the organic listings or even pay per click below? Searchers behavior will be altered because of this change. What say you all? Articles That Relate: http://blog.autorevo.com/2013/06/new-local-search-layout/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=local-carousel&r44b=no http://searchengineland.com/google-knowledge-graph-carousel-sightings-becoming-more-frequent-within-a-wider-variety-of-searches-163562 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2013/06/14/google-local-carousel-display-showing-more-frequently-in-more-categories/
Image & Video Optimization | | Hospitality-SEO0 -
How likely it is to rank both locally and organically
I think the question summarizes it pretty well. Did anybody experienced this, to rank for one or multiple keywords in both local and organic search results?
Image & Video Optimization | | echo10 -
Local SEO, hard time ranking a keyword
Hello. Im working with beauty salon client, i do rank them for top services, but there a term that i can't rank for, my page it optimized for this keywords (url,h1,h2) i have this keyword in Google places, as a category, and in description. i have build many citations with this term, BUT still cant rank it. If anyone can help me on that, ill be really appreciated, as i'm still learning this. Thanks You!
Image & Video Optimization | | Davidmez0 -
Using Facebook for Places page
I have been using Facebook for my website for some of my client, Previously it use to get ranked fast and I have one of my client of the very top for one of my clinets main keyword. I took another the same Nitch but in a different location, but they don't seem to be getting ranked.
Image & Video Optimization | | joeuglyhat0 -
Local Targeting without the city’s name
Here’s an interesting one for you guys: We show up on page 1 for “Edmonton web design,” (our website is http:web3.ca), however when you search for just “web design” in our city, we don’t seem to show up at all. I know Google is now placing a higher percentage or local companies in a search. So my question is: how can we show up better for a local search that is just “web design”? Does this just come down to domain authority & content or are there other key local factors at play?
Image & Video Optimization | | Web3Marketing870 -
Using 1 main site for many branch office locations
I have 1 main site with many many city/state pages within the site. I would like to use this site as the 'website' on the google local places pages for all my branch office locations, however I am worried that if my domain authority isn't high enough for the site, google will think I am spamming 'google places'. Are there any best practices I can follow to do this? Ideally I would like my blended search to show www.site.com/boston not as www.site.com
Image & Video Optimization | | ilyaelbert0