Url in Google Places bulk upload

[nvs.nim]

Hi,

I'm preparing a bulk upload for Google Places and have a question about the url of every individual place.

The website is structured this was:

www.website.com/entrepreneur-X
www.website.com/entrepreneur-Y
...

But you can reach every individual entrepreneur like this as well:

www.entrepreneur-x.com
www.entrepreneur-y.com
...these URL's redirect to the pages listed above

and they use the e-mail address info@entrepreneur-y.com

Should I use www.website.com/entrepreneur-X  or www.entrepreneur-x.com in the bulk upload?

I think it's best using www.website.com/entrepreneur-x because the other url is a redirect. What do you guys think??

[RobertFisher]

nvs.nim

I believe you are correct and would go with what you have for a couple of reasons.

First I believe due to the redirect it is best to use the site it resolves to.

Second, if you were doing this as a franchisor/franchisee this would be very common. The main company as the domain with each location. Even if there is no rule associated with it (and I am not aware of one) it follows a convention that is already established and sometimes that is a good thing in and of itself.

I think you asked an excellent question and I appreciate it.

Let us know how you go with it and how it works out. You can even PM me with it if you wish as I would really like to know.

[MiriamEllis]

Greetings nvs.nim,

Thanks for coming to Q&A to ask your question. I apologize if my response is run together in a single paragraph. We've been having an issue with that today in the forum.

Google's guidelines state the following:

• Do not provide phone numbers or URLs that redirect or “refer” users to landing pages or phone numbers other than those of the actual business.

Thus, the answer to your question is that you should not use the re-directing URLs.

Hope this helps!

[nvs.nim]

Hi Robert,

Just finished preparing the bulk upload, and we're using

www.website.com/entrepreneur-x for the different entrepreneurs.

Now let's hope that Google will verify it quickly.. Last time we did a bulk upload for a franchise business we had problems with the Business Name. It took us more than 2 months to get it the way Google wants it. Upload, waiting for 4 weeks, denied, changed the file, upload again, ...

We used the name of the Brand for all locations, but the listing was denied and we had to use the name of the local business of the entrepreneur. So if I have a business called NIM Coffee and I run a Starbucks here in my town, they wouldn't let me put Starbucks in the business name (maybe Starbucks isn't the best example, but I think you get what I mean, right?   )

[RobertFisher]

The issue is going to be around how you use the name. What Google does not want is what I would call a misdirection by a business (and many unscrupulous ones try often). So, if you are in a town and your business is John's Coffee in town, but your national brand is HotTime Coffee, the issue will be around who you are. Due to the number of people utilizing Places, you need to be clear prior to the upload that you are using a viable (within the guidelines clearly) method or presentment. 
My suggestion would be to first do one or two. You can get those verified in a day or two. Once you have the format of presentation correct, try one more to be sure always utilizing a distant location so you have a good view of the landscape. Then do your bulk upload. 
To me, this would be better as you would spend 2to 4 days getting ready and reduce time on the backend by having had it right to start with.

Best to you