Google Places, Google Plus, Oh my!

[DylanPKI]

Ok - So I am in the position to try and clean up the current Google places nightmare for a company. Right now there is about 3 or 4 different google places listings for them that they have no control over. So here is what I did:

1. I took control of them all by verifying via phone and confirmed all of them.

2. I suspended all the listings but 1

3. I edited the one listing to be accurate and complete.
Then I waited, and waited... A month later, the old listings are still up and none of the changes to the one listing have been made.

Today it gets a bit more complicated. Today I created a Google+ page for the business which seems like it may end up adding yet ANOTHER Google Places listing, is that correct? They are sending a post card to verify, but I have the page all set up ready to go and plan on tying it to the website.

I am not exactly sure what my specific question is, but I am looking for any advice anyone has on the best way to go about this situation.

Thank you in advance!

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Dylan,

This is, indeed, complicated, and tough to give you specific advice without actually sitting down with you and the listings. My advice here will have to be general. *Note, I strongly advise you not to create any new listings of any kind for your client until you've resolved their issues.

You didn't mention your client's industry, but provided they are not a doctor or a lawyer, my recommendation to you would be to attempt to get into direct touch with Google via their data issues troubleshooter:

http://support.google.com/places/bin/static.py?hl=en&ts=1386120&page=ts.cs

Log into your client's account, go through the troubleshooter and, if you're lucky, you may get Google's new phone number for data issues. This is the fastest way to seek resolution for duplicate listing issues that I know of. Again  - don't move forward in any direction until you get this cleaned up or you will only be multiplying your problems. Hope this helps!

[Hospitality-SEO]

Why don't you call 1-855-500-2762 and tell Google you want to do an Express Ad but need to clean up your listings. You will at least get a live person and they should be able to help or point you in the right direction. Money talks right!? http://www.google.com/adwords/express/how-it-works.html

[TammyWood]

I agree with the others- Money Talks with Google, a walk through of the issues with the promise of paying for an advertising may be the quickest form of communication.

Sadly, they are making many changes there, a few things to keep in mind:

1. NAP - the absolute same everywhere on the web.

2. Verification Process/ Ownership/ Author Tags/ Publisher Tags- EVERYTHING is through a domain level email address. ALL references to your client's URL/ Business needs to be the exact same email address.

Good luck- it's a jungle in there- frankly Google+ is modifying and merging so quickly this spring it's difficult to keep up.