Would duplicate listings effect a client's ranking if they used same address?

[CeCeBar]

Lots of duplication on directory listings using similar or same address, just different company names... like so-and-so carpet cleaning; and another listing with so-and-so janitorial services.

Now my client went from a rank around 3 - 4 to not even in the top 50 within a week.

-- -- -- Would duplication cause this sudden drop?

Not a lot of competition for a client using keyword (janitorial services nh);

-- -- -- would a competitor that recently optimized a site cause this sudden drop?

Client does need to optimize for this keyword, and they do need to clean up this duplication. (Unfortunately this drop happened first of March --  I provided the audit, recommendations/implementation and still awaiting the thumbs up to continue with implementation).

--- --- --- Did Google make a change and possibly find these discrepancies within listings and suddenly drop this client's ranking?

And they there's Google Places:
Client usually ranks #1 for Google Places with up to 12 excellent reviews, so they are still getting a good spot on the first page.

The very odd thing though is that Google is still saying that need to re-verify their Google places.

I really would like to know for my how this knowledge how a Google Places account could still need verification and yet still rank so well within Google places on page results?  because of great reviews? --- Any ideas here, too?

_Cindy

[CodyWheeler]

In the local search realm, you want to have every directory listing exactly the same as it appears on your contact page. This allows search engines to associate those listings with your business without a doubt. As a good practice, I'd go ahead and make sure they all match, especially Google Places vs. your client's Contact Us page on their website.

Also, Penguin hit directories pretty hard. There is no penalization going on from what I have read, but there has been some major devaluation in links. It's likely the case that your client is not getting nearly as much weight from the directory links as they once were. Check out the link profile and see how many of these there are. I would imagine more reputable links now need to be acquired.

About the places listing, I'm not sure why that would occur, but it really doesn't matter for the end result here. If the Big G says you need to re-verify I would do it. It's a quick thing to do and that can't be helping their rankings.

[CeCeBar]

Perfect, thanks Cody, helps a lot.

And thank you for advice on matching contact page and Google Places!

_Cindy

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Cindy,

I would definitely suspect either a penalty or a bug of some sort in regards to the drop from #1 to not in top 50.

What happens when you do a direct business name or phone number search within maps.google.com for the business? Are you able to find their Place Page, or, possibly, getting a 'Do Not Support' message.

Check out this thread at the Google Places Help Forum to see if you recognize your problem in it:

https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/business/technical-issue/9JszqkewMVU

Regardless of this, you have clearly identified problems with the business that need to be fixed ASAP. There is no question in my mind that the data confusion could be precisely what has caused the ranking drop. Data consistency is the number one requirement of a good Places record, but, a business can get by for months or years with high rankings and bad data. Then, one day, it all goes away. This is something I see being reported constantly in the Google Places Help Forum, and the major lesson is that if you find problems, make every effort to clean them up as swiftly as possible. Then, once you've cleaned up the record to the best of your ability, you need to wait for the effects of what you've done to settle in. So, it becomes about patience.

Hopefully, the client will give you the go-ahead to get cracking on this. Good luck!

[CeCeBar]

Miriam,

Thank you very much. I believe I am starting to see the whole picture of possibilities for this drop in rank. And excellent info about Google Places.

I do need to visit the Places help forum and add it to the list of resources!

Much appreciated.

_Cindy

[MiriamEllis]

Glad to be of help, Cindy. Good luck!

Miriam