How to remove a former business location from Google Places?
-
I've received a strange response from Google Places on local listings for a home builder. Google's rep suggested that we not list the new home sales center (a model home) since at some point it will change from being a business listing to a residential listing. That is just wrong. It will be a place of business for the next 3 years and then will flip to being a private residence.
These days it is uncommon, but not that rare to turn over ownership from public to private or vice versa (A residence becoming a law or other commercial establishment. Or a whole office building becoming condos.)
The issue is, when it does happen, how do we get Google and others to recognize that a business is no longer a business location? I've had trouble bringing down the address of former former model home sales centers on Google Places much to the chagrin of the residents.
-
Hi Blair,
Funny, I recalled this question, too, but didn't realize it was yours
I wish we could get an 'official word' from Google on this, because it's something the guidelines hint around but don't speak to directly. Have you ever posted this question in the Google And Your Business Forum, just to see if you get any feedback from the TCs there? Maybe even from a staffer? What's really important, I think, is the distinction between what Google's guidelines state about rental properties, etc., and the fact that a main office is being located on the property for several years. I mean, if it were a watch repair store that opened for several years and then closed, no one would fault them for having a G+ Local page, right? So, I think there is grey area here. You've been told by a Google rep not to do this, but I am truly curious as to the reasoning behind that individual's advice, and whether they could have been misinterpreting the guidelines.
Blair, as this is a business model you deal with constantly, I'd suggest trying again to get feedback from a Google staffer on this, maybe via their forum. If that doesn't work, you might try contacting a TC, like Linda Buquet or Mike Blumenthal to see if they would consider writing about your topic ... because there just isn't a clear guideline for this, in my opinion, given the exact details of the business model.
-
Miriam,
Not sure how I missed your response. Great answer. We are really a consortium, so I am seeking a general solution not just one for a client. Based on the linked thread and your advice, here’s what I think all home builders should do regarding their sales offices and Local SEO:
- If you have an onsite sales office, do a Google Places listing for it. Blow it out with pictures, relevant copy and anything of use to the target persona.
- Make sure you add a geo coordinates as Google and others may be lagging your land development efforts.
- When the sales office is ready to close, delete everything that is possible to delete in the Google Places account. Makes sure names, pictures, and other content are removed.
- Market the business as closed. At the time of closing, check for options for reclassifying as a residence. While they do not have this function today, those #googlers are darn smart and they will figure out a way to allow locations to change from residence to business or the reverse someday soon.
-
Hi Blair,
I am a bit surprised, too, by the advice you were given. I wonder if the rep could possibly have been thinking of this entry under the heading of 'ineligible business models' on the Google Places Quality Guidelines:
"Rental or for-sale properties, such as vacation homes or vacant apartments, are not eligible to be listed on Google Maps and should not be verified. Instead, verify the listing for your sales or leasing office or offices. If you have a property with an on-site office, you may verify that office location"
It says right there in the guidelines that if you have a property with an onsite office, you can verify it, and that appears to be what you are describing, even if it will be closing in three years. I guess maybe it's a grey area and you probably shouldn't go against what Google has told you.
If, despite what they said, you decide to go ahead with the plan, it's a bit hard to advise you. Right now, if a business needs to be closed, there are specific options, some of which are described well in the Google And Your Business Forum thread:
But, what the options will be 3 years from now, who can say? So, you'd probably need to look into this again when the time comes.
You would also need to try to shut down any citations you may have built, or they may cause a new Google+ Local page to be automated. Hope this helps!
-
A good place to start is here if it has a physical location: http://www.google.com/mapmaker
From mapmaker you can close the business (it isn't immediate as they use crowd sourcing). You can also report the business as being closed through the maps listing.
If you do a search for the listing in question, in the list view (http://maps.google.com) you'll see an option that says 'more' with an arrow pointing down. Click that and hit 'report a problem'.
Hope it helps.
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
-
Managing Multiple Outdoor (unverifiable) Locations in GMB.
Hello Guys, I have a question about GMB best practice for a physical location, it actually applies to two sites I have. 1. A predominantly online fitness site but with two 'clinic' locations, which are rooms i hire and cannot claim the location. 2. An in-person fitness service, with no physical location, other than my actual home, and 10-20 location pages that have in the past (pre-GMB) ranked quite well. My question really is, what is best practice here, how to you deal with multiple locations when you cannot actually verify you own them, because they are just areas you work in, run classes or meet clients etc? Thank You!
Local Listings | | scott_laidler0 -
Promoting three businesses at the same locaiton
Hi,
Local Listings | | corn2015
A potential client has three busiensses at the same location. Does google allow for three business listings at the same location?promoting three businessess0 -
Local Help! Google+ Accounts for New Brand & Service Sites
Hi Mozzers! I have a lot of knowledge in local search, G+ page setup/optimization, etc, etc... However, I'm about to begin a business based around "home services". The brand will be ABC Home Services as the umbrella. Then under it will be the individual services like "ABC Carpet Cleaning" "ABC Roofing", etc... Each service will have it's own website for optimization purposes and local search authority building as well as the services will be developed over the course of a couple years ie: carpet cleaning would go up 1st, then the next service and so on... I have purchased all of the domains I want for the services to focus on. What do you recommend I do in terms of setting up Gmail accounts/G+ accounts? Individual service related Gmail accounts and have a main "ABC Home Services" Google account and then add in the service G+ pages over time? I'm open to any questions, but trying to make this the most efficient for me and my team and also the best if can be for local optimization goals and criteria. Thank you! - Patrick
Local Listings | | WhiteboardCreations0 -
My website Not ranking in google
Hey there, My website Created in wix , & its Ranking in google, i have searched & get know That Websites By wix are nt getting indexed by google is this true?? If not then what are steps i can take To boost MY Site SEO I have Read article Of Wix Here . please check, Thnx in advace
Local Listings | | falguniiepl10 -
How to make same places listings show up for variations of brand term?
My client's brand name is a similar case to "Dolce & Gabbana" in terms of two names with an ampersand in between. There is also a high number of searches for a spelled out 'and' in between, i.e. "Dolce and Gabbana" using this example. In fact, if you perform a search for both variations, you will notice that only the first version with the "&" shows a places listing in the results. The same is happening when people search for my client. Is there a way to ensure that different variations of my clients' brand searches display with places listings in SERPs? Thanks.
Local Listings | | DinaDiligent0 -
Google + / Local for Business. How to SEO ?... Done the basic but no real change.
Hi All, We have set up all of our Google local for business pages which are verified and these link to the relevant branch pages on our website. The branch pages also link back to the relevant google local page. We only appear for one category on the google local pages and we have also done a large number of citations (NAP) across all locations and the text used in each of the google pages is keyword rich and we mention the city in there as well to localise it. We have a few google + likes and we have used hootsuite to publish the same content across some of the google local pages which links back to our website blog , we are not appearing in local search whereas our competitors seem to be appear for all their branches. Is there any fundamental tips or things we need to do to def. get up on the rankings.. Or any good articles worth reading ?.. I've had a look but can't seem to see anything relating a google local business bible.. thanks Pete
Local Listings | | PeteC121 -
Google Maps: Submitted Feedback Changed Results
I came across something interesting today. So there is a business in one of my clients areas that had submitted and was being listed on google maps for some spammy locations. I went in and submitted feedback informing google of bad listings. Within 30 minutes or so my results for the same key phrase was different. I decided to see why. I went to other browsers on my computer and searched that key phrase and the results went back to how I originally saw them before the feedback submission. I then erased my browsers cache and after this the results now showed the original results. Does anybody know what cookies and such get placed in a browser that affect listing results? Sincerely, Garret
Local Listings | | eWebify0 -
Google+ Pages and the old places listing dashboard
I'm wondering if anyone can help me... I'm trying to set up Google+ and Google Local pages for some of our clients. For the newer clients this is easy as all their accounts are using the new Google Places dashboard which allows you to create the Local Listing and then the partnering Google+ page. Simples. Example: https://plus.google.com/+twistfix/ (A verified Google Local listing, with a verified Google+ page for the company) The problem I'm having is some of our older clients already had a Google Places listing from years ago, but this is on the old Google Dashboard (doesn't allow me to create a partnering Google+ page for the business). What is the best way around this? Do I delete these old listings and start fresh using the new Google dashboard (creating the local listing and Google+ page together?) or is there another fix?
Local Listings | | bricktech0