Local SEO for E-commerce

[Insightful_Media]

Hi there

I am running an ECommerce site that supplies products globally!

We have 2 administrative offices - the UK and Ireland. When setting Google my business, do you suggest setting 2 listings - one for the UK and one for Ireland? Both listings will link to the same E-Commerce homepage but with different phone numbers.

Please give me advice=)

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Lee!

Thanks for clarifying this. Yes, then, if your offices are staffed during stated business hours by your own staff, have unique phone numbers for each office, and are meeting face-to-face with customers you are:

• Eligible to have 2 listings

• Free to link those listings to whatever page on your website you want to.

But, now, let's get into the nuances of this. Which page/pages is it best to link to from GMB listings? This is a subject of long debate in the local SEO industry. The two schools of thought  go something like this:

1. You should link all of your listings for a multi-location business to your homepage, because homepages typically have the strongest DA and this can then boost the local pack rankings of all locations.

-or-

2. You should link each location's listing to that location's landing page on the website, because it's better Usability. UX would suggest that the local customer clicking on the GMB listing wants to be taken to the page for that listing's location - not taken to a homepage and then having to click around to find the address/phone number/other details for the location they want to visit.

Option 1 might work best for you, because if you've only got 2 locations, you can likely display their complete NAP on your homepage without it being burdensome. But, it's a decision you'll need to make based on whether you believe rankings or UX  need greatest emphasis  for your customers and your business.

Hope this helps!

[Insightful_Media]

Hi Miriam,

Yes! we have the customer service team in the 2 locations and the 'real people' there are definitely ready to meet customers personally. But we just don't have products in the office!

So, do you think both listings (UK+IE) can be linked to the same E-Commerce homepage?

Thanks

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Lee,

I want to be sure I've understood your business model. E-commerce businesses are not typically eligible for GMB listings.

Google's guidelines state:

In order to qualify for a Google My Business listing, a business must make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours.

At your offices, are you making face-to-face contact with customers? If so, you are eligible. If not, then you aren't.

[effectdigital]

https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177

"Make sure that your page is created at your actual, real-world location.

• Suite numbers, floors, building numbers and so on may also be included"

"Don’t create more than one page for each location of your business, either in a single account or multiple accounts"

"If your business rents a temporary, 'virtual' office at a different address from your primary business, don’t create a page for that location"

Sounds like you are ok to create multiple GMB pages. Your pages will be assigned to physical (non-virtual / temporary) real-world locations. You won't be creating 'more than one page' for each location, you will only be creating one page for each location. If you stick to  Google's guidelines, you should be ok

This post from Bounteous also seems quite helpful: https://www.bounteous.com/insights/2016/04/07/managing-multiple-locations-google-my-business/