Best strategy to merge duplicate Google Places Listing?

[TomBristol]

This post is deleted!

[AmberRobinson]

Tom,

I think optimizing the listings for the doctor AND the practice wouldn't hurt. Or is there a reason that he wouldn't want his practice to potentially show up in the 7-pack?

Do you have the account information for any of these listings or are they claimed under accounts that you cannot access? Either way, the following article from Blumenthal's blog might be of some help to you

http://blumenthals.com/blog/2013/01/08/google-local-now-providing-phone-support-for-verification-issues/

Best,

Amber

[TomBristol]

Hi Amber,

Thanks! I think the reason for wanting to merge it here is two-fold.

1. So we don't compete against ourselves.

2. We can direct all our reviews to a single listing.

Regarding the weird non-updating issue of the claimed listing. I didn't know that Google offered phone support on the verification issues. That's amazing! I don't know if that will be helpful in our case as they were verified, they're just not updating. Do think I should try and call?

Thanks again,

Tom

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Tom,

Specific issues have arisen around the issue of doctor and dentist multi-listings that you need to know about. I'm going to link you to a bunch of stuff here, rather than trying to recap it all. Linda Buquet has been especially prolific in writing about this topic. I suggest you read these in the order I list them:

http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-duplicates-doctor-dentist-lawyer.html

http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-duplicates-merges/861-dr-dupes-google-local-user-edits.html

http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-duplicates-merges/887-google-no-longer-deletes-duplicates-hmmmmm-thats.html

Sincerely hope this mountain of reading will point the way for you, Tom!

[TomBristol]

Thanks! - Yeah, I found some of those in my research, but I'll read through the ones you mentioned here. There are some that I hadn't seen yet.

I actually was thinking of taking Linda's class here soon to get the full scoop on this stuff.

Thanks again,

Tom

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Tom,

Great. And if you're in the dental industry, I can't think of a better person to learn from than Linda. She's awesome! I work as a mod in her forum, as well and give her my highest recommendation as a teacher for dental industry Local SEOs.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Tom,

Thought I'd stop back quickly here with one more link, this one from Nyagoslav Zhekov:

http://www.ngsmarketing.com/overcoming-google-local-listing-mergers-with-additional-citations/

I think you'll find that very helpful!

[TomBristol]

That last article was by far the best. Gave specific guidelines on what to do with doctors, etc. I have a good strategy now.

Thanks!

Tom

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Tom, So glad to hear it!