How to rank in google local listings with multiple entities?

[mememax]

I actually have a portal with multiple listings from different users. Every listing is a physical shop with a different address, but more than the half of them doesn't have a website.

I was thinking on creating a local business for them and then add a link to my website in the section where google asks for your web address.

Does anyone already made something similar? does google allows links to inner pages and from multiple domains? Do you have any other and better idea on how to show in local results if you're like an affiliate and not the direct owner of the shop?

With google local listings crowding the serps it should be interesting to know how to fit in there.

[mememax]

Hi Myriam, I totally agree with you, is always good to have such good opinion from other experienced SEOs. I also think that you're right when trying to encourage someone in building a good website and invest on it, they'll be happier and the users too.

My idea got out after seeing how much google is pushing their products into serps, I own a  portal which has many features but mainly lists different shops in categorized pages.It's quite frustrating to have the same rankings as last year but lower traffic due to  due to local listings and 7pack serps pushing my listing back and deep into the serp.

I was both trying to optimize for broader keywords without locations which are not affected by local listings and also trying to find a spot inside the locals. I know that this may be a further question, but how are you guys recovering the lost traffic due to the serps giving every month less exposure to SEO results?

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Mememax,

Good question and you're getting some good feedback here. Honestly, what these business owners need to do is have a website, even if it's only a single page. Barring this, Google will show their Google+ Local page as their home base these days, but having these listings link to their page on a directory site is not something I would recommend. Even if the business is broke and wants to set up a generic, free WordPress.com (not .org) site, that would be preferable to any arrangement that puts the control of their home base on the web in any other person's hands.

I'm a strong advocate of clients owning everything in their name, even if it's just a freebie website to start out with. And, as the website is such a HUGE local search ranking factor, modern business owners have got to understand that having the best website they can afford is a must, not an option, if they want to compete and use the web as a tool that drives business to their business. If they can't manage to make this investment, they will be left behind. That's just the way things are now, so it may be that the best thing you can do is make them understand that their primary investment needs to be in getting a website before they even consider where to list themselves. Hope this perspective is helpful!

[mememax]

That was what I was thinking about, give support in exchange for a link in their google + page as the main web address

[AgentsofValue]

Hi Mememax,

I think your idea of providing Google Places support for local businesses with no website is a really good idea. But linking them to your site might be tricky. I havent seen any google places listings which are hosted on a only one, and non-related, website.

For one, if the listing is being searched and people will want to learn more, will you be able to provide those details in your site? Also, pointing them all to one domain is kind of risky.

Maybe you can offer google places and website support. Then include your link as the host on either the google places or site. That would mean more links for your site. Just a thought...

[mememax]

thanks for your answer roger, I generally agree with you, as you can't take the initiative and start spamming glocal with new businesses, but what if I contact the shop owner and give him the support to create that page? we can create it for them and then include a link to our website which is hosting the only available version of that shop online (because they don't ahve a website). So when someone's clicking on the glocal result will go to the google local business entry but thispage will also ahave a link to our website which the user may reach to buy what they want directly online.

[itrogers]

It is against the Google Places guidelines to setup a Google+ Local page if you are not a business owner or representative of that business. They may never approve the listing.

Places / +Local listings are meant to give the user / searcher direct access to the business, not their affiliates or advertisers.

If you want to promote your clients' businesses then you should help them get it setup under their own accounts with all of their direct information.

There are ways to market local businesses online but in my opinion (and I' pretty sure Google's) a inauthentic Places page is not the answer.