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Local SEO - Citation Issues Using Suite

by HangTenSEO
9 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I was recently setting up a client that has 2 businesses at the same location.

When setting up the Google My Business account we spelled out Suite as part of the address

Business 1
100 Example Way
Austin, Texas 78703

Business 2
100 Example Way
Suite A
Austin, Texas 78703

When the validation card came to the house, Google had shortened Suite to Ste, which is the USP abbreviation for Suite.

Business 2
100 Example Way
Ste A
Austin, Texas 78703

Now here is the rub. Some listing services aren't going to shorten Suite, some might not even pick up the 2nd address line.

We decided to change the address to
Business 2
100 Example Way, #A
Austin, Texas 78703

We are hoping that by having the street/suite on one line and using the pound sign, that everything will be consistent, because with Local SEO and Citations, consistency is a ranking factor.

Anyone run into this situation?
#citation #issues #local #seo #suite
  • Profile picture of the author Broland
    As far as "citations" and NAP data are concerned with Google the suite is pretty much irrelevant. So don't worry about it. It's going to be formatted differently across various sites depending on how each site handles their address formatting anyways.

    Google when identifying business data for an address uses the most common and prevalent identified version or even a longest matching prefix, such as "123 main" to better find variations of 123 main st, 123 main street.
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
      Originally Posted by Broland View Post

      As far as "citations" and NAP data are concerned with Google the suite is pretty much irrelevant. So don't worry about it. It's going to be formatted differently across various sites depending on how each site handles their address formatting anyways.

      Google when identifying business data for an address uses the most common and prevalent identified version or even a longest matching prefix, such as "123 main" to better find variations of 123 main st, 123 main street.

      Exactly.

      The whole "your citations have to be exactly the same" thing is a tactic SEOs and local citation building services use to scare business owners into action.

      It might have carried some weight years ago. It certainly does not today.
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  • Profile picture of the author NateOlsen
    If you can keep them close at the beginning you will rank faster but in some situations, it can't be avoided and Google has code put in place to fix this issue over time so it won't matter. But on a different note having multiple businesses out of the same address will most likely cause issues with Possum.
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
      Originally Posted by NateOlsen View Post

      If you can keep them close at the beginning you will rank faster but in some situations, it can't be avoided and Google has code put in place to fix this issue over time so it won't matter. But on a different note having multiple businesses out of the same address will most likely cause issues with Possum.

      Unless the businesses are the same type of business, there is no reason to believe that Possum would be an issue.
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      • Profile picture of the author savidge4
        Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

        Unless the businesses are the same type of business, there is no reason to believe that Possum would be an issue.
        Yes and no on this one... Multiple doctors in a building appears to be an issue ( regardless of specialty ) Lawyers again an issue. I HAD 7 non related affiliate / commerce based sites running from the same address and they were hit ( I have since changed the addresses to 6 of them - wasn't fun ) I have a pair of clients a doctor and a lawyer in the same building, only one of them was listing at a time - so they were hit.

        I strongly believe Google is trying to rid the "Mail Center" listings that people use to create a physical address. Will they come up with some type of work around.. only time will tell. Until then, its kinda sketchy. I don't have any clients in High-rises.. I wonder how that's working out? LOL
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        • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
          Originally Posted by savidge4 View Post

          I have a pair of clients a doctor and a lawyer in the same building, only one of them was listing at a time - so they were hit.
          Why would a doctor and a lawyer ever both come up in the same search?

          I don't think anyone is searching for "family doctor who can also draw up my estate plan".
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          • Profile picture of the author yukon
            Banned
            Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

            Why would a doctor and a lawyer ever both come up in the same search?

            I don't think anyone is searching for "family doctor who can also draw up my estate plan".


            What about a rocket surgeon?
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          • Profile picture of the author savidge4
            Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

            Why would a doctor and a lawyer ever both come up in the same search?

            I don't think anyone is searching for "family doctor who can also draw up my estate plan".
            I don't think you understand... only one of their listings appear say on Monday, then on Tuesday it may or may not be the other.. its random to say the least. The point being if there are 2 business' with the same address only one of them appear. I really cant explain it other than that. There just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason in it.

            Using my own 7 local targeted web properties as examples.. I had 2 of the 7 that got the majority of traffic over a months time.. the others fell off the 3 pack as well as local organic. As soon as I transferred each of these to separate addresses give or take a few days.. the listings re-appeared. Without question it was the multiple business' at the same address.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dream IT Solution
    Hi,
    I am a citation builder and i worked for so many clients. Faced many problem like this. My many client have Suite as you said they also have "floor" "shopping center" etc in 2nd address. Many citation site will shot those as Suite to ste , floor to fl and some site like getfave will not take any 2nd address , they just take the 1st address which matches with google maps. And many site have their own format some may take Ste and some may # for suite. Its difficult to keep that accurate but you must use one format for those site in which they not allow their own format.
    Thanks.
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