What is the best NAP format to use?

[rayvensoft]

Canadian client with a suite number in a shopping center.

Does it matter if the NAP is the way it's displayed on Google Maps? Canada Post (or in the US, USPS)?

Or does it only matter that all the citations are as similar as possible to one another?

Canada Post says:

400-3033 IMMEL ST
ABBOTSFORD BC  V2S 6S2

But if I look that up on maps.google.com, it defaults to:

3033 Immel St Abbotsford, BC V2S 4L3, CanadaAnd the client does not appear in the list of about 20+ businesses at this address.Which should I use for Places (and I assume any other citation)?

[AmberRobinson]

I try to represent our clients online just as they are seen in the real world. So, I start with some research of where the client is listed and how consistent their NAP is. Usually the biggest issue is a client's business name being listed 3 different ways:

Houston Chiropractics

Houston Chiropractics Center

The Chiropractic Center of Houston

Then compare this with the information displayed on Google Maps and ask the client what their business name would be if they had a sign or have a sign.

Once I have the official NAP I will make the edits/updates to Google+LocalPlaces page and continue on to the citations that my client is listed on.

Also, Google has been known to make calls to the business and expect to hear the business presented exactly as it is listed on it's Google+LocalPlaces page

[rayvensoft]

I know the P (phone) matters too, but what about the A (address)? Amber, how have you decided which is the address (especially street, suite #) format that Google likes most?

Thanks for the name info -- helpful!

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Raymond,

This issue with the way Google formats Canadian addresses comes up often in the Google And Your Business Forum.

See:

http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!searchin/business/canada$20address/business/VqptZa8vcVM/jItn_Vm9LPoJ

I would recommend that you start a thread in that forum, perhaps with Flash's name in it. Something like:

Can MM RER Flash Help My Canadian Business, Please?

Then reference the thread I've just linked to, and give full details about your situation. This is just an ongoing issue, but Flash is a high level MapMaker RER and may be able to give you actionable help with this.

Hope this helps!

[AmberRobinson]

I'm sorry, Raymond. When I replied the last sentence I saw of your post was "Or does it only matter that all the citations are as similar as possible to one another?" and did not see your examples.

Thanks for the post, though! This is an area I will be looking forward to learn more about.

Best,

Amber