Local SEO & Google Maps Question - 1 Company with Multiple Google Pages

[WhiteboardCreations]

Hey Mozzers! I'm working with a client who has 2 websites (different URLs completely), which one is for all parts and the other is for accessories only. They have multiple brick and mortar locations throughout the US and have done a nice job creating Google My Business pages for each and all verified.

Their question is will it benefit them to create and verify another GMB page with same address, but place in "Suite B", a new phone number and apply the other URLs for the accessories site. The business name would also be different, but similar meaning Business 1 = ABC where as Business 2 = ABC Accessories. Their goal would be to try to have both rank or display to improve their local SEO.

In theory it sounds like it will work given NAP would be satisfied within the GMB, but wanted to get the Moz community thoughts on this first before moving forward. Look forward to the replies.

• Patrick

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Patrick,

Good question! From your description, it sounds like a single business with a dual product lineup, both of which lines are sold from within multiple physical locations.

If I have that right, then, no, you don't want to cloud the NAP of the official business at the location by creating a second listing for a second product lineup, even if you slightly vary the name. Google pays no attention to suite numbers, and creating a listing at a false address is a guideline violation, so this is a non-starter, too.

Finally, if co-located businesses share a category, one or the other is likely to be filtered out due to basic similarity or the Possum update.

So, in a nutshell, no I wouldn't advise the client to do this, as it isn't guideline compliant, could cloud the clarity of the NAP for their brand and might lead to competition/ranking/penalization issues.

Hope this helps!

[WhiteboardCreations]

Thanks so much, Miriam! Your response is right where I was thinking. Makes complete sense. Now, to have the conversation with the client to come up with some other solutions. Cheers! - Patrick

[MiriamEllis]

Good luck on that, Patrick. The business may want to consider consolidating their websites so that all branding and marketing efforts are feeding a single super site instead of being bucketed into two sites.