Is the Google Local Descriptor compatible with MOZ Local?

[irapasternack]

If I'm understanding Google correctly, we can use a single descriptor as part of a business name, and to do so, you use the following format in the business name field:

Business Name - Descriptor

Is this correct?   If so, is it not compatible with MOZ Local?  I used the format above, and MOZ seems to see the descriptor as part of the business name, and won't let me verify.   Is the best approach to using a descriptor to get verified first, then add it?   Or will that mess other things up?

[ErinMcCaul]

Hi there! Thanks for reaching out! My name is Erin, and I'm on the Moz Help Team! Google isn't one of our partners, so we don't actually use their basic formatting. The formatting we use is compatible with the requirements of our partners (Axiom, Localeze, Factual, Foursquare, Best of the Web, Infogroup, and Superpages). When uploading your CSV to Moz Local, you'll want to follow these guidelines.

Once you purchase a listing through Moz Local, we push your data out to our partners. From there they push your data out to their partners, and so on, and so on.... There's a really great visual of how the local search ecosystem works here. Since it's considered a best practice I recommend you upload your listing with your actual business name, and keep the formatting that way moving forward. That said, if you really want to use Google's formatting, you can manually edit this in Google AFTER you've gone through the verification process with Moz Local.  If you run into any issues with your CSV, just email us at help@moz.com

I'll leave this question marked as "unanswered" in case anyone else from the community wants to chime in! I hope this helps, and have a great day!

Erin

[irapasternack]

Thanks for clarifying things.   The fact that Google is not an actual partner, despite the fact that you use them as an option validate listings, seems to be the key here.   We'll try it the way you suggest, manually changing after validation (in the few situations where the client insists, or there are valid reasons for adding the level of detail).