Google Local / My Business / Maps

[JamesMason67]

Hey all
I have had a fair number of sites built across various industries for Glasgow and Edinburgh based businesses. These sites are built for a lead gen / rank to rent venture. My sites are starting to climb the organic rankings quite nicely, but I'm in a bit of a quandary about what to do about the Google 7 pack listing. For obvious reasons I'd like to have an optimised 3 pack listing, but anticipate problems.

My Glasgow based businesses are "based" in a virtual office in Glasgow, and Google has gone as far as sending out the verification letters to me which sounds promising.

As for the Edinburgh based business, I was hoping to use my business address for my main business in my sig which has a Google My Business listing.

However, I don't want to compromise my listing there by adding other businesses to this address.

How would Google view a number of businesses based at the same Edinburgh address from a Google My Business perspective.

I know Google doesn't like Virtual offices, but I see people using them in the 3 pack all the time.


I'm perhaps not wording this very well, but do any of the members have any advice? What would you do in my position?

Thanks guys,
James

 

[Ryan Scollon]

Hey James,

You are right, you can get away with a virtual office address. As for having multiple listings at the same address, it is possible but only in certain circumstances. If they are all the same type of business e.g photographer and all have similar business names, websites etc then Google are pretty good at noticing it. But if they are different types of businesses and with fairly different business names, you should be fine.

I hope I've answered your question, but feel free to share some more details if you want me to go in more detail

 

[Marek Skoczylas]

Don't hesitate to register another business (Google Maps) on the same address if property is not designed for virtual office purposes. Google easily recognize virtual offices.

 

[JamesMason67]

Thanks very much for that gentlemen. I own the office in Edinburgh so no problems there.

Do I have any options in Glasgow other than the risky Virtual Office?
Cheers
James

 

[JamesMason67]

I have found other ventures based at this VO that are in the local 3 pack.

For instance if you Google Payroll Service Glasgow, we see at the number 3 position Qualitas Payroll Services. One of my fellow "tenants". So I am hopeful it will be OK.

 

[JamesMason67]

You are right, you can get away with a virtual office address. As for having multiple listings at the same address, it is possible but only in certain circumstances. If they are all the same type of business e.g photographer and all have similar business names, websites etc then Google are pretty good at noticing it. But if they are different types of businesses and with fairly different business names, you should be fine.

The businesses are all very different Ryan
Thanks again

 

[UKSBD]

Google Maps/My Business is like other optimisation in that you do can things that are a bit grey to improve things but it's a gamble.

Big difference is, you're doing it with a signed in Google account and if the cards tumble the whole deck can go.

Maps is the biggest mess out, as you see people getting away with things for years. only you can decide how prepared you are to gamble and how far to push it

 

[Marek Skoczylas]

Well, Im a bit abashed now because this is one of few things Im not 100% sure - Im talking about VO and GMaps.

Its true - Google "dont like" virtual offices, however you can find some VO results in 3pack. I never have enought time to make some study end examine this problem.

If you can find others businesses registered in VO in G 3 back in town you're planning to run your business, I guess it will be the best option to choose this VO to register yours.

Maybe its about:

- number of businesses registered in one specific VO
- year of VO established (older = better?)

Who knows!

 

[Ryan Scollon]

In the experience that I have had with virtual offices and Google maps is that people only appear to get caught if someone i.e competitor reports it as a false address. Google don't seem to do any research in the verification stage, as long as you can get it verified by postcard.

 

[UKSBD]

The problem with Google My Business is it is still predominantly a Mapping service.

The idea is that when somebody is walking through a town with a mobile and does a search for something, they can walk to it and find it open and manned.

A lead generation service from a virtual office is a completely bad experience for the end user and what Google try to weed out.

The only businesses that should have verified My Business Listings are stores with physical addresses or service providers who have face to face meetings.

If the service providers isn't at a physical location he shouldn't list any opening hours at the address.

Off course everyone ignores this and 99% of the time they get away with it, what tends to happen with the 1% is an enthusiastic Google Map Maker spots them and then looks at all their other listings and tries to get them all shut down.

As I said in previous post, abusing Maps is a gamble which only you should decide (not a marketing company doing it on your behalf)

 

[Ryan Scollon]

The comment above is spot on. You have to try and understand the consequences for yourself, as only you can decide if you want to take that risk. Marketing companies can only help advise.

 

[Instabus]

Hi everyone,

I'm coming at this from the other side things in that a lot of my 'competitors' are lead generation companies who are dominating the top page of Google for most of my important keywords.
Is there an easy way to report them for using, what are obvious to me, virtual offices? And are Google likely to investigate my report and take action against them?

It infuriates me how they get away with this when they are blatantly deceiving the customers who often believe they are booking with a local company and often get a bad deal.

 

[NathanPayne]

I would strongly advise against the use of virtual offices. I have a local Edinburgh client that wanted to expand to Glasgow and choose virtual offices a few years ago. This was before I was signed up as their SEO company.

It all went great and they ranked 2nd of the 7 pack (it was that long ago) and then boom, they lost the Glasgow business page. On the same day their Edinburgh location took a nose dive also.

They have recovered but now use actual physical office that rent and occupy.

Also, as a side note Google do in fact do more than just the postcard these days. If they suspect your a virtual office or if the address is false they will call you (if you have cal ID on its a clear Californian number). Its happened for the last 3 business pages I have registered for new clients.