Additional Details in Google Places - Should I bother?
-
I see that the Additional Details I've been inputting in Google Places aren't publishing while everything else is. Why would they offer those fields if they aren't even displayed on the G+ page?
Is it recommended to fill them out anyway?
-
I'm intrigued by the on-site local SEO recommendation. It's been in my periphery, but I'm wondering how to pull it off with a financial institutional website with 70 locations. They are broken in down in regions. Would a viable solution be setting up regional pages? I don't know about our CMS capability, but it seems like it would be beneficial to treat is like an SM feed, posting our press releases local to those areas and including local announcements such as paper shred days.
Thoughts? I'm going to carry this over to another Q&A.
-
I'm doing each manually.
-
Since you have 70 locations, are you doing bulk? If so, you may have a long time, because I don't think they've announced a new dash for bulk.
-
That's a lot to think about, especially since I have 70 locations and can lose the old dashboard at any time. And the details are good information, stuff that I actually wanted our customers to know, not just SEOwise. Stuff I researched for weeks, but mercifully this wasn't the only impetus for that exercise, which ended up being a really good thing to do anyway.
So if this was removed for being spammy, I'm assuming they couldn't police it? So perhaps it stays gone? Then again, it's Google. Who knows, right - same reason to consider inputting the info anyway, but considering the density of the information and that there are 70 pages, I guess I should wait for a bigger nudge before moving forward.
I'd like to stay on top of this. Aside from checking the new dashboard to see if it ever pops up again, do you have any other recommendations? I imagine you and others would be blogging about any developments?
Thanks again,
Sarah -
.
-
Agree
-
Hi Sarah,
Like I said for a long time I recommended adding that info as Google DID say they looked at it. However the new dash is right around corner, then that info will be gone. So if there, leave it. If not I would not bother adding. You could get the new dash next week.
PLUS stuff down there never did directly impact ranking. There are far more important areas you could spend time. Doing really smart local on-site SEO moves the needle the most these days.
Yes there is a new help forum that's been up for a couple years now. I'm a Google Top Contributor there.
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!categories/business But it's mainly a peer support forum and Google will not answer any questions about ranking and seldom comments on other questions.
-
Hi Linda. Yes, I found in my research that this has been the case for quite some time! Any theories on why they didn't take the option out of the dashboard? I had all this awesome non-spammy stuff to add and now I don't know what to do with it. Any suggestions?
Do you agree with Miriam's statement - and the sentiment of the others - that "Even if this isn't being displayed, I would assume that the data exists behind the scenes in Google's cluster of information about the business... " ?
I am curious to know what the official word from Google is on this. Is there a way for me to track that down? I saw there was a Google Places Help board, but it's now dead. Did it relocate and/or is it called something else now?
Thanks guys!
-
Actually, the additional details section disappeared over 2 years ago - July 2011.
So I don't think that section going away had anything to do with the new dashboard. My assumption is that it was removed for space and because that section was spammed to death.
In my training for a long time I have said to still add certain types of specific data there, because for awhile Google said she still looked at that section. But I don't believe that's true any longer. Plus any new listings will get the new dash and the update to the new dash is starting to escalate, so soon everyone will have it. So I just don't think it's worth the energy to populate that section now. If you already have it won't hurt as long as you don't violate any unwritten rules down there.
-
Good luck with your project, Sarah!
-
Thanks everybody for the great answers. With 70 locations to update, this will take more time, but absolutely worth it.
-
Very good point.
-
Thanks Miriam! Yes, I've been going with pre-set categories from the get-go and this sounds like another reason to do it. We haven't transitioned over to the new dashboard yet.
In a way I'm lucky to still have a chance to do this because I'm on the ground level of my Local SEO campaign, so I can just do all this now and not have to come back to this when/if these fields are re-introduced.
-
I love that graphic - it's printed out and hanging up in my cubicle.
-
I'd fill them out anyway- Google has been rolling out all sorts of interesting things, and there's probably going to be some sort of benefit to it. I'd assume that it gives you some sort of advantage over those of your competitors that don't take the trouble to do it. It shouldn't take too long, anyway!
-
Hey Ron,
That's a good resource you've linked to, but I think what SEOSarah is talking about is growing pains switching from the old dash to the new one. Some of the old fields no longer exist in the new dash and the data in them isn't being displayed on the new +Local pages, so I think this is causing some confusion for people.
-
Hi SEOSarah,
You know, this is such a good question and is one I am positive must be occurring to many Local SEO and local business owners as we transition from the old Places dashboard to the new Places for Business Dashboard. As you've correctly observed, the old dashboard contains those additional details fields, but the new dashboard lacks them. So far as I know, nobody knows whether Google ever plans to re-introduce those fields into the new dashboard They may or may not, but these clearly have not been transferred over from the old dash to the new. A similar conundrum has arisen over the old custom categories and the new dash which allows for 10 categories but will only accept pre-set choices.
If you are still seeing the old Places dashboard then, yes, I would take the time to fill out the additional details section if appropriate. Even if this isn't being displayed, I would assume that the data exists behind the scenes in Google's cluster of information about the business, so why not fill it out? It should only take a few seconds to do and can't hurt you.
As to categories, though, if you are still seeing the old dash, I would recommend against choosing any custom categories as these are definitely not making the transition to the new dash. I would choose from Google's pre-set category taxonomy only.
Hope this helps!
-
Sarah,
I thought the graphic on this link would help you visualize what I am talking about:
https://getlisted.org/static/resources/local-search-data-providers.html
Ron
-
Sarah,
It is absolutely worth filling everything out. Google is coming out with several different ways to display the information outside of your G+ account. Google is a source that other data aggregators get their information from. This information propagates to these other directories. This creates additional inbound links and local visibility. So yes it is very worth filling this information out.
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
-
Unusual Google+ Local listing ranking well
If you search for locksmith Phoenix, this Google+ page is ranked #3 in the local results: https://plus.google.com/117543374216451236579/about?hl=en The phone number is a VOIP number, they don't appear to have many/any citations, no reviews, etc. They've listed the Yelp search results page as their website. Strange. How are they ranking so well? Is Google ranking them well because it's associating them with Yelp.com? Any thoughts?
Image & Video Optimization | | AdamThompson2 -
Merging Google+ with Google Local
Greetings Mozzers, I'm having a tough time merging my Google+ page with my Google Local page and wanted to see if anyone could give me some additional information/advice for progressing on this. Google+ Profile: https://plus.google.com/112342618763108384372/about?hl=en Google Local: https://plus.google.com/104995472630988321277/about?gl=us&hl=en Both of them have been verified and "managed" via postcards, however the Local one never seems to get "managed". I look forward to hearing back on any guidance/advice. Much appreciated,
Image & Video Optimization | | MonsterWeb28
Ryan0 -
Sat in a York Based Office but I get a Google Lincoln local listing :-(
Buongiorno from 27 degrees C Wetherby UK 🙂 Imagine this scenario... I'm sat in a York Based HQ law office and Google term Langleys and the Local listing is for Lincoln is rendered 😞 The lincoln office is the smaller sister site 75 miles south of where I'm sitting as illustrated here appears (this is wrong) -
Image & Video Optimization | | Nightwing
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc53/zymurgy_bucket/langleys-local-listing-jinxcopy_zps26e3492a.jpg I then do the same thing in a wetherby based office and get the York based local listing appears. So my question is please" what is influencing which local listing is rendered?" Confused,
David0 -
Google Places For Display Homes
Hi all, We have a client who is looking to get their Display Homes on Google Places. The main issue is as they are display homes, they do not get post delivered to them yet. So the old 'postcard verification' is not going to work, but its the only option we are getting. I would normally say, this might not be possible. Unfortunately one of their key competitors has somehow got all their Display Homes verified - so I was looking for some insight as to how this is possible? Am I missing something here? Thanks! J
Image & Video Optimization | | Jon_bangonline0 -
Is specifying a floor descriptive enough for Google Places?
Hello everyone, I have a quick question regarding Google Places. I have a client who operates her business in a building with multiple other businesses. This address is completely legitimate and our client provides fitness services at this location. We have asked her for a more specific location, but she does not have a suite or room #. The best we can do is the floor #, but there are other businesses on her floor as well. Would this lack of specificity affect her ability to rank in local results? There are 4 other businesses at the address. If we provide strong and relevant citations, will this be enough? Thank you and my apologies if this has been asked before. I searched the previously asked question but didn't find what i was looking for.
Image & Video Optimization | | Robertnweil10 -
Google Places Local Submission
Hello We're going to upload a bulklisting to Google Places for multiple locations. However, there are existing Google places listings for these locations. The bulklisting is being used to undertake a refresh of all the existing data. How do we go about updating the existing data i.e. do we have to delete the existing information prior to submitting the bulkload, or does a new submission over write the existing data. In addition, how does Google Places verify a bulkload submission i.e. do they make contact with the designated business owner. How long does such a process actually take (roughly!). I know some of this is touched on in the Goolge Places help section, but it is not clear and I don't want to get this wrong for obvious reasons. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Rgds Neil
Image & Video Optimization | | mccormackmorrison0 -
Getting indexed into Google video search
I have a website that has videos hosted from youtube.com embedded onto it. I created and uploaded the videos to youtube and want them on my website. My question is which would be a better option, hosting the video on my website or embed them from youtube? I currently have them embedded onto youtube but when I do a Google video search I cannot find my company's website anywhere. My videos are shown on the results but they are linked to youtube and not my website. Is there a way to get the search results to show listing of the videos posted on my website?
Image & Video Optimization | | Shawn1240 -
Google Maps Service Areas
Hi, is there a limit on the number of service areas I can choose for my Google place/map listing.? For optimization purposes should I include the whole state, or each specific city. My keyword for google maps is not very competitive and I want to cover a few different states , I have the time to put specific cities just not sure if there is a restriction on number of service areas. Cheers
Image & Video Optimization | | pablogalante0