Any Legit Local Address Services Out There?

[iAnalyst.com]

I have a client who lives in the UK but runs a US ecommerce site. I'd still like to get him some local trust signals but he has no options when it comes to getting an address here.  Has anyone found a reputableplace where you can rent an address that isn't already being used by umpteen other companies?

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Erick,

Good question. There are services like ActivSpace.com which will rent a small, legitimate office with a front door and phone hookup for a modest fee. This would normally be utilized by local business owners who do not have an established professional office, do not want to publish their home address as their office, and who are hoping to make headway in the local search engine rankings with a modest but legitimate local address that will be staffed during normal business hours so that customer can come to conduct face-to-face business.

In my opinion, this would not be an appropriate option for your client for two reasons:

1) You do not mention that your client plans to staff an office. Without staff in place to accept face-to-face business and phone calls during normal business hours, the location does not qualify as truly local.

2) E-commerce businesses are not deemed to be truly local, and therefore must pursue organic rather than local visibility.

Here are the sections of the Google Places Quality Guidelines which refer to this:

"Only businesses that make in-person contact with customers qualify for a Google Places listing."

"Do not create a listing or place your pin marker at a location where the business does not physically exist. P.O. Boxes are not considered accurate physical locations.Your business location should be staffed during its stated hours."

While it may make sense for your client to set a goal of establishing a physical presence one day in USA as his company grows, it would not be honest for him to fake a presence in the meantime. I would explain to the client that honesty in business trumps all other concerns as there is no more important factor that earning client trust. In order to earn real trust, he must present his business as it genuinely is.

Hope this helps!

[Ron_McCabe]

Often you can use the address of an attorney as a local address.  If you have a relationship they may not charge you.  They will charge you time for any calls they have to answer as well as the time and cost associated with forwarding any mail.  If these terms are acceptable this works fairly well.

[CleverPhD]

But if he is not trying to get a Google Places listing, but just establish that they are a US based business for Google.com organic listings, then I think that would be appropriate use of a mailbox service in the US.  He is trying to show to Google that they do service the US via an ecommerce websites.

I have used Earth Class Mail  earthclassmail.com as we are a virtual company in the US. Everyone works out of home offices, but we deliver services via the web.  ECM can give you a physical address (not a PO box) and scan all your mail in and then you can access online.  If you need the actual copy, you just pay the forwarding fees.  Has worked great for us.

[LesleyPaone]

There are actually a lot. One thing it depends on is the price range. One that I have had clients use before is regus and using their virtual office packages. http://www.regus.com/products/virtual-offices/virtual-office-bundles.aspx

[US_Delivered]

might be best to use a professional mailing company. that could also help if you get any actual mail there. most mail forwarding companies will do additional services like mail scanning too. we recommend- US GLobal Mail- www.usglobalmail.com