LOCAL CITATIONS - SHARED ADDRESS, DIFFERENT BUSINESS ENTITIES, DIFFERENT PRACTICTIONERS

[InternetRep]

I am trying to to boost my clients online presence through Local Business Listings but am running into a few issues that I would like to get some feedback on. First, I will provide some background information and then provide my questions that I am seeking feedback on!  Your help is greatly appreciated.

**BACKGROUND INFO: **

• Client has little online visibility and is looking to optimize his Local Business Listings to boost his online presence.
• Client is a Chiropractor that just registered his own business, has a unique local phone number, his own website.
• The facility that the Chiropractor works out of is a shared office space, known as a "Wellness Center"
• This facility has other chiropractors, doctors, & massage therapists who fit the same criteria as my client.

I understand that in order to qualify for a local business listings your business must meet **CRITERIA.  **This is the only one he does not meet, but the way the businesses are ran, it seems like to me that he should be eligible for local business listings.

1. Have a dedicated physical street address (not a shared address, PO box, or virtual office)

I don't understand why a shared address isn't allowed.  This seems pretty legit to me.  And is similar to a Doctors Office with multi-practitioners but slightly different because they each have their own business not all working for one business owner. All working for themselves.

Everyone recently moved and joined this wellness center. Everyone generates their own leads and clientele. One thing to note is that no other business in the wellness center currently has optimized their online presence using this address.  But address is present on other business owners websites.

If my client uses this address and builds his local listings, is there a chance he can get penalized if the other business owners build their business listings on sites like, yelp, yellowpages, google maps, citysearch, etc.

What are the chances of him getting penalized/the entire shared office being penalized due to this shared office space.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thank You

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Bethany!

I want to be sure I'm understanding this correctly. Would you be able to provide some answers to these questions, please?

1. Does the wellness center have a name? Is it an entity that is being marketed on its own, or is it just a building multiple, unrelated doctors are using?

2. Does your client not have his own office inside the building, with its own postal mailbox, perhaps as a suite?

3. Does your client operate from 9-5 Mon-Fri at this location or is he only there part time for appointments?

4. Does you client have a receptionist answering his own phone, or is it going through a switchboard/answering service/phone desk?

5. Do the other doctors work full time at this same building, in the same rooms, or are they in offices of their own within the building?

Your answers will provide some important clues that should help determine your client's options. I'll look forward to popping back by!

[bdiddy]

Bethany, it sounds like what you're describing is sort of like a mall. There's multiple businesses in one location, each with a different business name and phone number. They just happen to be at the same address.

It works for malls, so in essence, it should work for the doctors at this wellness center as well. The key is that everyone has a unique NAP (name, address, phone number). Combined, these three bits of info are their "thumbprints" even if they are at the same address.

To help reinforce this, just make sure your NAP is cited on all the right directories.

Note: Miriam asks some good questions. My answer above was assuming the doctors had their own individual offices within the wellness center and that they operate independently of eachother.

[julie-getonthemap]

I had a similar problem when working at a coworking space. I couldn't get listed. I finally had a conversation with someone from Google (can't recall if it was an actual phone call or an online chat) and expressed my opinion that it was no different than renting a floor in a skyscraper. The Google rep saw my point of view and advised that if I had a suite number as part of my address, Google would see it as a different facility and lift my prohibition. Good luck!

[InternetRep]

Hello!  Thank you for your response.

1. Building Multiple, unrelated doctors using , entity is not being marketed.

2. No

3. 9-5 M-F

4. No, going directly to him.  No receptionist - he is start up - his business phone that forwards to his cell phone.

5. Yes, in the same rooms.

Thanks so much!

[InternetRep]

Hello!  Thanks for your response.

Glad we are on the same page.  Thats interesting that The Google rep recommended to just add a suite #.  I thought of this as well!  My concern with that is the United States Postal Service has guidelines and protocol for modifying a street address.  For example, I can't just tear down my house, build a duplex and have unit A and B without some type of authorization from the city.  This is a super interesting topic in my eyes.  I wonder what Google would say if I requested a  Certified Photographer to come conduct a Virtual Tour.  How would a certified Google Street Viewer see this type of business.

Thank you!

[InternetRep]

Thanks for your feedback.

Yes unique NAP consistency is key!

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Bethany!

So glad you've provided these clarifying answers. The business model seems a bit unusual, with all practitioners using the same room, the building not being a business, etc. So there is some grey area here, but here's what I believe is applicable:

1. Google can typically sort out different businesses being located at the same office, but you need to be aware that there is, indeed, some risk here. It is possible that:

• Should other practitioners using the building create GMB listings, there is a chance their details could get merged with your client's details, particularly if those practitioners don't know what they are doing and don't adhere to Google's guidelines. Hopefully this will not happen, but, there is a lack of control here that makes me a little nervous. Should one of the other people working in the office knowingly or accidentally spam Google, it could negatively impact your client.

• There is a possibility that, in looking at the street-level signage of the business, Google could become confused by not seeing your client's name on the building. This could lead to a lack of trust.

2. So, given the above, what you will want to do as the Local SEO for this client is to be sure you set up a regular schedule of checking his GMB listing to be sure the NAP and all other details have remained accurate and haven't suddenly changed (indicating a merge). And, you'll want to be on the alert for any sudden ranking drops (which might indicate a red flag being raised at Google due to the activities of other people using the building).

3. I do not advise you to go with the suite number suggestion of the Google rep to whom you spoke. I'm afraid they might not have been acquainted with Google's very adamant policy stating that the address must be exactly as it is in the real world. That rep needs more training.

4. The one thing that gave me pause about the business model you are describing is this guideline from Google stating that this type of business is ineligible for a GMB listing:

An ongoing service, class, or meeting at a location that you don't own or have the authority to represent. Please coordinate with your host to have your information displayed on the page for their business within their "Introduction" field.

But, in this case, because the building isn't actually a business and has no brand, my conclusion on this is that the guideline doesn't apply, and that your client would be eligible for a GMB listing.

Whew! Lots to consider but the devil is in the details with Local SEO. Hope this helps!