Can we place a FB business page link instead of direct domain link in a Google My Business listing?

[RosemaryB]

A client of ours asked if we could place link to their local Facebook page instead of a link to the direct domain in their Google My Business listing.  Will Google allow this?

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Rosemary,

Glad you've asked. Google has just become quite specific about this practice. Here are their guidelines:

Website & Phone

Provide a phone number that connects to your individual business location as directly as possible, and provide one website that represents your individual business location.

• Use a local phone number instead of central, call center helpline number whenever possible.
• Do not provide phone numbers or URLs that redirect or "refer" users to landing pages or phone numbers other than those of the actual business, including pages created on social media sites

So, in short, no. You should not link to the client's Facebook Place from their Google+ Local page. Studying the guidelines can be super helpful in researching the answers to client questions like these: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177?hl=en

Google is sometimes totally clear about a policy, like the above. Other scenarios have grey areas. This one is, fortunately, easy to answer:)