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Google Place listing local address question

by William Fox
20 replies
Hi,
I was reading a travel agent forum yesterday and noticed a few postings about Google Places. These people are trying to list their businesses on GP and with so many now home-based, they did not want to list their home address. They are in fear that a potential client would knock on their door. Basically, they just want phone calls.


My question is this: If you were a home-based business and were afraid of door knockers, how would you go about listing your address short of using a mail box rental like the UPS Store or similar?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Riley
#address #google #listing #local #place #question
  • Profile picture of the author benbro
    You can indicate home based business in places and that you go to your clients and it will ask you for your service area.

    But outside of that there's nothing wrong with a ups mailbox though.
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    • Profile picture of the author William Fox
      Originally Posted by benbro View Post

      You can indicate home based business in places and that you go to your clients and it will ask you for your service area.

      But outside of that there's nothing wrong with a ups mailbox though.
      Hey Benin,
      Thanks for the response. I have heard mostly good on having a UPS mailbox, but I guess I was wondering for a local travel agent if they supplied their home address (which is where they technically do business)
      AND did not want to pay for a UPS mailbox if there was a work around.

      I hope this makes some sense.
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  • Profile picture of the author William Fox
    Benin,

    You answered this perfectly! Thank you so much for taking the time to list the links. I'm clear on it now and yes, it makes sense.

    Riley
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    • Profile picture of the author benbro
      No prob pardner!
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  • Profile picture of the author VegasGreg
    Also note that Google does not want "home based businesses" on Google Places (very few exceptions). The ability to remove the address from showing in the listing is there, but you still need to have a real business and a real business address. The address removal and areas served settings are more for businesses that deliver or provide service at the customers location.

    In order to increase your Places rankings you need citations, which include the business address. And if you aren't going to submit the business address to all the citation sites, it won't really help to have a places account as the rankings will most likely be non existent.

    Agents that work from home really need to list their business address, or corporate address of the company they represent.
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    • Profile picture of the author Catalyst eMarketing
      Couple points to add.

      There's been a bug lately that does not let most set a service area.

      Can't use PO box or anything as someone suggested. Will get suspended if they catch you.

      Hiding your address is detrimental to ranking. Since it's map based service and since citations are based on name, address, phone - if you hide address it can mess things up on both counts.
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      ADVANCED Google+ Local Training :: Also offering White Label Local SEO
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      • Profile picture of the author William Fox
        Excellent points Linda! I appreciate the advice.

        Originally Posted by Catalyst eMarketing View Post

        Couple points to add.

        There's been a bug lately that does not let most set a service area.

        Can't use PO box or anything as someone suggested. Will get suspended if they catch you.

        Hiding your address is detrimental to ranking. Since it's map based service and since citations are based on name, address, phone - if you hide address it can mess things up on both counts.
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  • Profile picture of the author William Fox
    Here is a new Google Places question:

    If a client does not get mail delivery to their business address, but to a PO Box, how can they get their account verified by Google?

    It is a licensed real business, but due to being located in an area in the mountains in the USA where there is no USPS Mail delivery for their business location. What would you list as the address on the Google Places Listing? I have heard that Google will suspend you for listing a PO Box as an address.
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  • Profile picture of the author William Fox
    I did receive one answer who told me use a UPS Store type location, but I'm really looking for a better answer if there is one.

    Thanks for any help with this one.
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    Why would you want a home based business on google places? Google places is for customers to find your business location. Normal websites and normal seo is what home based should use IMO
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    Aaron Doud - Sales & Success
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    • Profile picture of the author William Fox
      Thanks for the reply, but this is NOT a home-based business. The area where the business is located does not have mail delivery, so I was asking how a Google verification would be received as Google uses the mail for verification.

      The business receives all of their mail to a PO Box. UPS does deliver to their business address.

      Hopefully I made this more clear.

      Originally Posted by lordauric View Post

      Why would you want a home based business on google places? Google places is for customers to find your business location. Normal websites and normal seo is what home based should use IMO
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    • Profile picture of the author Zen Warrior
      Originally Posted by lordauric View Post

      Why would you want a home based business on google places? Google places is for customers to find your business location. Normal websites and normal seo is what home based should use IMO
      Possibly so the business could be on page 1 of G along with it's competitors.

      I have a new client who is in the HVAC field, and works from home. So, his is a real business, but he just happens to be based from his home.

      He's not crazy about having his home address listed but can deal with it.
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      • Profile picture of the author JR Consulting
        Originally Posted by Zen Warrior View Post

        Possibly so the business could be on page 1 of G along with it's competitors.

        I have a new client who is in the HVAC field, and works from home. So, his is a real business, but he just happens to be based from his home.

        He's not crazy about having his home address listed but can deal with it.
        You can hide the street address, so the searchers will only see the city.
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        • Profile picture of the author William Fox
          How would you hide the street address? Maybe I'm slow, but I cannot think of how this could be done within Google's TOS.

          Originally Posted by Jeffrey Reidy View Post

          You can hide the street address, so the searchers will only see the city.
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  • Profile picture of the author kamaxi
    If you are afraid of door knockers and don't want your client at home then you should make this thing in your agreement or in terms and conditions. And you can do one more thing that you just fulfill all requirements of your clients which you say within time then you can be safe form door knockers.
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    • Profile picture of the author William Fox
      I don't understand what you are saying. I'm talking about getting a client listed on Google Places that does not receive mail delivery at his place of business (which is not his home) and was looking for advice on how this could be done.

      Originally Posted by kamaxi View Post

      If you are afraid of door knockers and don't want your client at home then you should make this thing in your agreement or in terms and conditions. And you can do one more thing that you just fulfill all requirements of your clients which you say within time then you can be safe form door knockers.
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      • Profile picture of the author Catalyst eMarketing
        Originally Posted by rileycoyote View Post

        I don't understand what you are saying. I'm talking about getting a client listed on Google Places that does not receive mail delivery at his place of business (which is not his home) and was looking for advice on how this could be done.
        There is a totally legit way to handle this problem without resorting to renting an address which is against the rules and will hurt his citations.

        There is a new support option called the Fix a Problem troubleshooter. I blogged it about it 1st of October.

        This tool generates a ticket that gets sent to the Places support team. The turnaround time for a response is about a week, but many report getting help in 48 hours.

        Google has ways of investigating and will confirm your business exists at the stated location and manually verify the listing for you.

        Places Help - Go down to fix a problem >> I'm having a problem verifiying my listing(s)

        Just keep answering questions and trying various options until you get to a form you can submit with your details.

        Hope this helps and best of luck!
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        Linda Buquet :: Google+ Local Specialist and Google Top Contributor
        ADVANCED Google+ Local Training :: Also offering White Label Local SEO
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        • Profile picture of the author William Fox
          Linda, Once again thank you very much for your help! Your knowledge is awesome with Google Places. I will work on your advice tomorrow.

          Thanks again!!

          Riley

          Originally Posted by Catalyst eMarketing View Post

          There is a totally legit way to handle this problem without resorting to renting an address which is against the rules and will hurt his citations.

          There is a new support option called the Fix a Problem troubleshooter. I blogged it about it 1st of October.

          This tool generates a ticket that gets sent to the Places support team. The turnaround time for a response is about a week, but many report getting help in 48 hours.

          Google has ways of investigating and will confirm your business exists at the stated location and manually verify the listing for you.

          Places Help - Go down to fix a problem >> I'm having a problem verifiying my listing(s)

          Just keep answering questions and trying various options until you get to a form you can submit with your details.

          Hope this helps and best of luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason X
    I think they need to get a UPS Store etc, they can purchase the cheapest one, if they want to be in GP and do not want to post their address they need to get a business address to recieve mail, if they want to be a real business they need to have a business address to recieve mail, that is my 2 cents.
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