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?
-
Hi Neooptic,
Here's a recent tweet from the Local Track at PubCon:
from Google's point of view, when you move locations, you're starting a new business @marybowling #pubcon
— Greg Gifford (@GregGifford) April 24, 2013
Unfortunately, there is some truth in this. I recommend you read this thread over at the Local Search Forum, outlining Google's most current change of address policies:
You may experience a fluctuation in rankings or not. You may also lose your reviews, so brace yourself for that. Changing an address or phone number can lead to some unwelcome surprises. Read up as much as you can on this topic so you are prepared to expect some fluctuations.
Good luck!
-
Also check out http://www.seomoz.org/webinars/a-foolproof-process-for-scrubbing-your-local-footprint about making sure your addresses are consistent across directories.
-
It's likely your client will still maintain his rankings for "city + service" searches since the city is not changing, but, remember, your client does have competitors out there working on local search too. Regardless of your street address change, rankings may fluctuate based on how hard they're working. A drop in rankings would occur if you sit back on your laurels and all of your competitors are working tenfold (naturally, organically) on local search, but I don't think changing a street address would have a major effect.
I hope someone on this thread will comment about their tested results with having to do the same thing, since I don't have direct experience here.
To add, you absolutely have a big task at hand to make sure all of the downstream listings that feed into the local search algorithm (and Local+) are all corrected to reflect the new street address.
Maybe check out this link from Blumenthal's about moving a business to a new location: http://blumenthals.com/blog/?s=changing+address
Also, the readers at Blumenthal's are also very committed to giving advice and answering q's. Might be another resource for you on this question.
-
nope though you may get a drop in traffic if there isnt as much search volume in the new local area
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
-
Does Google Image Search consider meta data (EXIF) when looking for a location?
Does Google Image Search consider meta data (EXIF) when looking for a location? Is it essential to define the meta data in order to rank top with images?
Image & Video Optimization | | fduo0 -
Changing / editing street view picture of premiss without drop in Google places ranking
Ive finally got a site quite high in the relevant Google places listings, after a year or so of trying. What ive noticed is that the auto generated street view image of the business is showing a row of garages round the back of the building, rather than the building entrance. Is there a way i can update the auto generated street view images of the business without risking the google places ranking / need to submit a move of address. Has any one had any experience with doing this in the past ?
Image & Video Optimization | | Sam-P0 -
How can we boost our rankings in a London-based Google search?
Hi all, I work for enterprise app development & mobile consultancy, Mubaloo. We tend to rank fairly well on Google for our targeted keywords in the Bristol area but not as well in London. Obviously there is more competition in London but that aside, we still don't rank brilliantly. We use our London address as our main address on our website, same for our London telephone number. Both of our offices are submitted to Google Maps and we include blog content with London and Bristol in the headers. Our main HQ is in Bristol but the London office is growing. What are the ways we can improve our rankings from a London-based Google search? Thank you in advance!
Image & Video Optimization | | donaldsze0 -
Google + local Multiple Locations
My client has three offices and I have created three separate Google + local listings for them - I have listed the specific locations page as the website address for each - Google specifies to add the coding to the homepage to link Google + however what do we do with the three different codes - does each one go on the home page or at the bottom of the specific landing page for that particular office?
Image & Video Optimization | | AllieMc0 -
Google Places Bulk Uploader
Hi we have 15 stores we want to transfer over to our main google places account. We can only claim them with google places bulk uploader. So from what i have read, i have to add each store to the spreadsheet then request bulk upload. Since these google places listings already exist, will the listings i create (via the spreadsheet) simply merge with the old ones? Or could there be a chance of the creation of duplicate listings (how can you avoid this). And is it necessary to add latitude and longitude points (because you don't have to add them)? The goal is to add the old listings into a our Google Places account, and can only use the bulk uploader. Thanks,
Image & Video Optimization | | Mattcarter08
George0 -
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?
Image & Video Optimization | | echo10 -
Would listing an address on a location page for a franchise count as a citation?
If a small franchise with 15 locations implemented location pages for each location including address and phone then made them crawlable by the search engines and also accessible through a store locator, would this be counted as a citation for the location?
Image & Video Optimization | | JoshuaRich60 -
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