Trying to meet Google Local Guidelines for satellite offices

[LeeAbrahamson]

This post is deleted!

[MiriamEllis]

Hey Lee!

Kudos to you for being aware of the guidelines on this. That's excellent, and glad you've seen Linda's forum post on this important topic, too. Yes, if the offices are staffed, then I think you'll be fine. The main this is that you be sure the offices are staffed and that in-person contact is being made with the customers.

[LeeAbrahamson]

Thanks Miriam,

That's helpful. The phone numbers for these offices all ring through to the main office.

Do you have any thoughts about how receptionists should handle questions from Google if they call? Or what types of questions they typically ask?

I just read your post about the nitty gritty of city page optimization, BTW. Linda mentions it in her G+ course.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Lee,

So glad you know Linda. She's a veritable font of Local SEO knowledge, for sure.

Google is not a fan of central numbers. Guidelines state:

Use a local phone number instead of central, call center helpline number whenever possible.

Best advice here would be, if you're going to staff the offices, get them unique numbers. If you only go halfway with this, you're not really meeting the guidelines and your concerns about potential calls from Google would be well-founded.

[LindaBuquet]

Hey Lee!

For anyone else reading who may be in the same boat, hope it's OK if I copy over some of the advice we gave Lee at my forum. (I just try to help cross pollinate info when I can.)

Answering the original Q I advised:

Just realize there is some risk because Google has no way of knowing they are staffed so still could be guilty of association or assumption.

So I would make sure you send other clear signals for a moderator to see.

On the location page of the site I'd put we are available to meet you personally at the following hours and maybe in the G+ description say we are available to meet with you personally at this location at the hours above. Something like that.

Then Colan said:

I echo what Linda said 100%. I would try and add some photos of the staff and the interior of the office for some added value and trust.

And I totally agree with Miriam's advice on the phone #s.

[MiriamEllis]

Thanks for contributing, Linda Good tips - and very important to note the fact that 'guilty by assumption/association' is something to be aware of.