LOCAL CITATIONS - SHARED ADDRESS, DIFFERENT BUSINESS ENTITIES, DIFFERENT PRACTICTIONERS
-
I am trying to to boost my clients online presence through Local Business Listings but am running into a few issues that I would like to get some feedback on. First, I will provide some background information and then provide my questions that I am seeking feedback on! Your help is greatly appreciated.
**BACKGROUND INFO: **
- Client has little online visibility and is looking to optimize his Local Business Listings to boost his online presence.
- Client is a Chiropractor that just registered his own business, has a unique local phone number, his own website.
- The facility that the Chiropractor works out of is a shared office space, known as a "Wellness Center"
- This facility has other chiropractors, doctors, & massage therapists who fit the same criteria as my client.
I understand that in order to qualify for a local business listings your business must meet **CRITERIA. **This is the only one he does not meet, but the way the businesses are ran, it seems like to me that he should be eligible for local business listings.
- Have a dedicated physical street address (not a shared address, PO box, or virtual office)
I don't understand why a shared address isn't allowed. This seems pretty legit to me. And is similar to a Doctors Office with multi-practitioners but slightly different because they each have their own business not all working for one business owner. All working for themselves.
Everyone recently moved and joined this wellness center. Everyone generates their own leads and clientele. One thing to note is that no other business in the wellness center currently has optimized their online presence using this address. But address is present on other business owners websites.
If my client uses this address and builds his local listings, is there a chance he can get penalized if the other business owners build their business listings on sites like, yelp, yellowpages, google maps, citysearch, etc.
What are the chances of him getting penalized/the entire shared office being penalized due to this shared office space.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Thank You
-
Hi Bethany!
So glad you've provided these clarifying answers. The business model seems a bit unusual, with all practitioners using the same room, the building not being a business, etc. So there is some grey area here, but here's what I believe is applicable:
- Google can typically sort out different businesses being located at the same office, but you need to be aware that there is, indeed, some risk here. It is possible that:
-
Should other practitioners using the building create GMB listings, there is a chance their details could get merged with your client's details, particularly if those practitioners don't know what they are doing and don't adhere to Google's guidelines. Hopefully this will not happen, but, there is a lack of control here that makes me a little nervous. Should one of the other people working in the office knowingly or accidentally spam Google, it could negatively impact your client.
-
There is a possibility that, in looking at the street-level signage of the business, Google could become confused by not seeing your client's name on the building. This could lead to a lack of trust.
-
So, given the above, what you will want to do as the Local SEO for this client is to be sure you set up a regular schedule of checking his GMB listing to be sure the NAP and all other details have remained accurate and haven't suddenly changed (indicating a merge). And, you'll want to be on the alert for any sudden ranking drops (which might indicate a red flag being raised at Google due to the activities of other people using the building).
-
I do not advise you to go with the suite number suggestion of the Google rep to whom you spoke. I'm afraid they might not have been acquainted with Google's very adamant policy stating that the address must be exactly as it is in the real world. That rep needs more training.
-
The one thing that gave me pause about the business model you are describing is this guideline from Google stating that this type of business is ineligible for a GMB listing:
An ongoing service, class, or meeting at a location that you don't own or have the authority to represent. Please coordinate with your host to have your information displayed on the page for their business within their "Introduction" field.
But, in this case, because the building isn't actually a business and has no brand, my conclusion on this is that the guideline doesn't apply, and that your client would be eligible for a GMB listing.
Whew! Lots to consider but the devil is in the details with Local SEO. Hope this helps!
-
Thanks for your feedback.
Yes unique NAP consistency is key!
-
Hello! Thanks for your response.
Glad we are on the same page. Thats interesting that The Google rep recommended to just add a suite #. I thought of this as well! My concern with that is the United States Postal Service has guidelines and protocol for modifying a street address. For example, I can't just tear down my house, build a duplex and have unit A and B without some type of authorization from the city. This is a super interesting topic in my eyes. I wonder what Google would say if I requested a Certified Photographer to come conduct a Virtual Tour. How would a certified Google Street Viewer see this type of business.
Thank you!
-
Hello! Thank you for your response.
-
Building Multiple, unrelated doctors using , entity is not being marketed.
-
No
-
9-5 M-F
-
No, going directly to him. No receptionist - he is start up - his business phone that forwards to his cell phone.
-
Yes, in the same rooms.
Thanks so much!
-
-
I had a similar problem when working at a coworking space. I couldn't get listed. I finally had a conversation with someone from Google (can't recall if it was an actual phone call or an online chat) and expressed my opinion that it was no different than renting a floor in a skyscraper. The Google rep saw my point of view and advised that if I had a suite number as part of my address, Google would see it as a different facility and lift my prohibition. Good luck!
-
Bethany, it sounds like what you're describing is sort of like a mall. There's multiple businesses in one location, each with a different business name and phone number. They just happen to be at the same address.
It works for malls, so in essence, it should work for the doctors at this wellness center as well. The key is that everyone has a unique NAP (name, address, phone number). Combined, these three bits of info are their "thumbprints" even if they are at the same address.
To help reinforce this, just make sure your NAP is cited on all the right directories.
Note: Miriam asks some good questions. My answer above was assuming the doctors had their own individual offices within the wellness center and that they operate independently of eachother.
-
Hi Bethany!
I want to be sure I'm understanding this correctly. Would you be able to provide some answers to these questions, please?
-
Does the wellness center have a name? Is it an entity that is being marketed on its own, or is it just a building multiple, unrelated doctors are using?
-
Does your client not have his own office inside the building, with its own postal mailbox, perhaps as a suite?
-
Does your client operate from 9-5 Mon-Fri at this location or is he only there part time for appointments?
-
Does you client have a receptionist answering his own phone, or is it going through a switchboard/answering service/phone desk?
-
Do the other doctors work full time at this same building, in the same rooms, or are they in offices of their own within the building?
Your answers will provide some important clues that should help determine your client's options. I'll look forward to popping back by!
-
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
-
Not Showing Up in Local Pack - Possible Possum Filter?
We have a medical practice client who isn't showing up at all on local category searches for their zip code. Wondering whether it's a Possum algorithm filter, and if so, how we can resolve this. The client is named Wall Street Dermatology, and is located in the same building as two other medical practices in the same dermatologist specialty. They share the same address (65 Broadway, New York, NY), but have different unit numbers. My client is Suite 904. To be clear, these are entirely separate businesses that are not affiliated with each other. They happen to be located in the same building. When running local searches (for example, in US zip code 10004) for the category term "dermatologist", my client is not appearing at all. The two other practices are appearing just fine. In fact, one of the competing practices has not only their practice listed, but one of their doctors individually and even one of the physician assistants. My client, Wall Street Dermatology, isn't showing up. IMO, the GMB profile is robust, with more reviews than competitors, and more content overall. While there's SEO work to be done, the citations and link profile exceeds some of the other practices who are showing up in "dermatologist" (use zip code 10004) searches. Google is showing profiles of dermatologists who haven't even claimed their profiles or have websites.One more thing: For a two-week span, the business was showing up in the 3-pack for "dermatologist" after making upgrades to the GMB profile. This was a first. So they've been there before. However, they made some changes to NAP. 1) added the providers name to the business name: "Business Name: Provider Name". 2) Updated "Suite" to "Ste" in order to match USPS. After that change, the business fell off entirely again.Note: We do appear on searches for the business name. And we do appear for some secondary keywords (for example, "Cosmetic Dermatology"), but not for the main keyword. Is this related to Possum (https://moz.com/learn/seo/google-possum)? Is Google confused that my client is related to the other practices in the same building? Any suggestions?
Local Listings | | sponnu01230 -
Home Page not Ranking on Local Community Sites
I am helping out with a couple of community sites and am seeing the same problem on both. They are small non-commercial local websites. One has 5 or 6 relevant links to the home page, and the title tag and content have been optimised for the name of the group and the location (and in any case the phrase is completely non-competitive). The other one has few links and isn't optimised. Both sites are fairly new. Both sites have the same problem in that when you search for the name of the group, it is not the home page that comes up but another page. My experience is mainly in the more competitive commercial arena, so I thought that these community sites would be simple! Can anyone point me in the right direction as to why this might be? No spammy links on either. These are community sites that are not particularly well maintained, but the phrases I am searching for are non-competitive. I have checked that the home pages are not no-indexed. Any tips much appreciated!
Local Listings | | Wagada0 -
Location pages for Two location business
Hi friends, I have a website with two brick and mortar locations. Right now I have both NAP's listed on every page on the sidebar and footer. I don't have either in schema format yet, as I don't know if I can have two schema's on the same page. 1. In the near future, I will be publishing pages for each individual location, but I want to keep the NAP of the other location on that page also, in case the visitor would prefer that location (they are only a few towns away from each other) Is that going to cause issues? Should I only have the NAP of that location? Which should I have schema data for? 2. Also, I have location pages for the surrounding cities, which we have added a Google Map with directions to the closest location, written directions, a few local reviews, and a paragraph about services. I want to publish these asap to rank in those ~10 other nearby locations. What NAP should I have on those pages? The closest location, or both? 3. Linking in the Google Local/My Business. I have verified both locations Google Local's, and I want to link them into the respective Two locations once published, but I want to do it properly. I read on one location seo article that I should change the website listed on the Google Local profile to the new url of that location, and link to the Google Local on that page. Is this correct? Which Google profile do I link to in the other location pages? or both?
Local Listings | | JustinMurray0 -
Can I add multiple listings for my business for the different services I provide?
Hi there everyone. I'm a Moz Local user and I have a quick question. I'm a music teacher. Can I add multiple listings for my business for the different services I provide? For example - Saxophone lessons, Piano lessons etc...? That way I would have different listing profiles for each instrument - all pointing to a different landing page on my website? Or is this considered to be bad practice? Many thanks for your help in advance.
Local Listings | | JackMSVaughan1 -
Google my business
Hi, I have implemented the code [https://plus.google.com/+Thezenagency](<a href=)" rel="publisher"> on my website. I have also linked my google+ page which shows a tick with the words "verified local business" next to my logo and name. The problem is however i still do not have the box appear on the right hand side of a branded web search with my location, picture, reviews etc. Is there another step which needs to be completed? This was a couple of weeks ago it was done. Thanks in advance
Local Listings | | TheZenAgency0 -
Combining Law websites to boost local results?
So we currently have 2 separate websites for the 2 areas of law we practice, Criminal Defense and Family. Currently our Criminal Defense website is the one affiliated with our google+ page and so it ranks well in local results, where as our Family website does not rank at all locally. Would it be best for our Family practice if we merged it with our Criminal site? We all work out of the same office and share address and phone number, so I don't believe we can associate the Family website with a google+ page, but I am wondering if each site would show up in Local results for their individual keywords if the criminal site and law site were both subdomains of a main Firm website.
Local Listings | | MyOwnSEO1 -
Correlation between ranking on Google organic result page and ranking on the local listing
Hi Moz fans, A quick question: any correlation between ranking on Google organic result page and ranking on the local listing or vise versa? Thnx Saab
Local Listings | | S.Saab0 -
Any ranking success with Moz Local?
In the last three months, our Tampa office has gone from a listing score of 2% to 72% and is considerably higher than everyone else on the first page for Moz Local...but we are on the 13th page! We have not improved at all, even though our score has dramatically. I know that the listing is only a part of the local equation, but it just a little shocking to me we haven't moved up even one page. Anyone have any success with this tool that translated to increased rankings for local? If so, how long did it take you to see results? Thanks, Ruben
Local Listings | | KempRugeLawGroup0