Can you set up a Google Local account under a PO Box?

[BonsaiMediaGroup]

I have a client that wants a Google local listing in a town he serves but does not have a physical location.  Is it an issue to share an address with an existing company?  Is is it better to use a P.O. Box? or is there a forwarding address company? Is this considered a black hat Local SEO tactic?

[tomcraig86]

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/maps-archive/thread?tid=4fa32594aadb2e9f&hl=en

It looks like you'll have to use the real address!

[rhutchings]

Cant go the PO box route.  They are cracking down on local listings.  You need a physical address. Its not a problem to share the address if you have different suite # or something in.  There are also some companies out there that you can pay to give you a virtual office address in major cities, and you could technically use that.  Remember that you will need to verify the listing, and sometimes Google will not let you do it via the phone, they will only do the postcard route, so you will need to monitor the mail to that location.

[KeriMorgret]

Here are the quality guidelines for Google Local Listings. Related to PO Boxes, Google says "Do not create listings at locations where the business does not physically exist. P.O. Boxes are not considered accurate physical locations. Listings submitted with P.O. Box addresses will be removed."

http://www.google.com/support/places/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=107528&rd=1

However, they do now offer a way to list service areas for a business. Information about how to do this is available on the Google page for service areas.

http://www.google.com/support/places/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=177103

[rhutchings]

Along those same lines, does anyone else know of any good services that will provide physical business addresses in certain locations?  I know of some virtual office providers, but only found ones that do major cities, not smaller ones.