Creating Listings For Doctors and Dentist aside from the Business Name

[scott315]

What is the best way to create listings for Doctors/Dentist and keep them from showing as duplicates. Should they just have there name without the company name in the title but yet the address and same phone or no separate listing at all.

I have noticed in Moz Local that these show as duplicates when listed in this format.

Thanks Scott

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Scott,

I wouldn't recommend tracking or redirecting phone numbers, actually. Google has historically had issues with both. The unique phone number is ideal, but I understand it's quite uncommon in medical practices. Normally, all calls are answered by the front desk in medical practices, so this may not be a safeguard you can comply with. If your clients were realtors or insurance agents, it would be more typical for them to have their own phone numbers, but doctors don't usually seem to. So, the upshot here is going to be that you're likely to have to use the same number on the listings and cross your fingers that the other areas of differentiation will help Google keep the various practitioners separate.

Google is better than in the past about preventing merges, but they still happen, so you'll always want to keep an eye on the listings and if you notice details getting mixed up or discover a sudden drop in rankings or something along those lines, you'll need to investigate the presence of merging and duplication. Likely - it won't happen - but it's best to be prepared:)

[scott315]

Great info, thank you.... Best explanation yet.

If they don't have separate lines but rather extensions I guess you really can't put extension in listings. I guess maybe a tracking number would be ok in this case forwarded to the regular number even though you don't recommend tracking numbers for listings?

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Scott!

The best way to differentiate practitioners in the multi-practitioner scenario is to aim for as many of these as you can:

1. Put only the doctor's name in the business title. So, Dr. John Johnson - not Dr. John Johnson, Greentree Dental

2. If possible, list a unique phone number for each doctor/dentist at which he/she is directly contactable. I know this isn't always possible, but if it is, it can reduce the risk of merging.

3. Do not share Google My Business categories between the practitioners. If possible, divide the chosen categories between the practitioners.

4. Set up a unique landing page on the website for each practitioner and point the Google+ Local page to it, instead of pointing them all to the homepage. Be sure the complete contact info for the practitioner is on this page and the content is unique.

5. Write a unique Google+ Local description for each practitioner.

All of these precautions can help reduce the chances of accidental merges and duplications.

Hope this helps!