Default Local SEO question: Does Google really do improptu check ins?

[LeeAbrahamson]

I have a client who has multiple locations within his state, many of which are satellite offices.

Although they don't have anyone working at these satellite offices full time, they have office space available to them their, someone who can take calls/mail and do use the space frequently in person.

We've been in the process of cleaning up duplicate and incorrect listings in directories to get on the map in the SERPs in these markets, but the local SEO outfit we've hired has come back with a problem I found surprising.

In order to clean up the duplicate & incorrect Google+ profiles that we've got out there for these offices, we evidently need to work with an actual Google moderator. This moderator has said that the satellite offices in question are actually not real business locations and are in violation of G+ guidlines.

The local SEO I'm using says that it's not uncommon for Google to actually send someone out to do an in person improptu visit when they are suspicious that a listing might not belong in their listings, and I find this really surprising.

Do any of you have any experience with whether this is the case?

FWIW, this is a real business that could have someone working remotely in these offices remotely if that's what it took to make Google happy, but they'd rather not and certainly don't need to in order to offer their services in these markets.

[GPainter]

MiriamEllis is a bit of a local search wizard Id recommend popping her a PM.

[KeriMorgret]

I've already flagged this question for her attention, via our secret admin-only system.

[spencerhjustice]

It is possible that he called Google to fix the issues and they said that they were not real locations. They do have customer service reps for local businesses, but if it's an actual office that you can recieve mail and phone calls at their really shouldn't be anyway for them to know you don't actually have an office there.

I have a decent amount of experience in local SEO and I've read tons of local SEO articles and I've never even heard of Google sending out people to check on local businesses and I highly doubt that they do. My best guess would be that the SEO thinks it's not best practice to use the satellite offices because they're not a regularly staffed offices, so they're making up something to convince you to scrap the idea of using them.

[LindaBuquet]

Actually locations like you mention are not allowed. I'm a Google Top Contributor and we deal with this often at the Google Business forum.

I know attorneys for example that have gotten 10 listings suspended. The entire account, including the main location they actually work out of.

And yes Googlers and mappers sometimes do stop by to check a location in person. (Not very often but it happens.)  They also call and have ways of trying to find out if the location is valid according to their guidelines.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Lee,

Excellent question! Let's take a look at the Google Local Business Information Quality Guidelines together to understand why Google has let you know that some of these locations for your client are not acceptable (see: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177?hl=en). The applicable part states:

Do not create a page or place your pin marker at a location where the business does not physically exist. P.O. Boxes are not considered accurate physical locations. Your business location should be staffed during its stated hours.

What Google means by this is that they find staffed locations acceptable, and what you are describing is office space that the business uses from time to time - so a very different scenario than the one which Google allows.

I have heard rare anecdotal evidence of physical visits from Google, and it looks like Linda Buquet has, too. More common would be something like Andrew Shotland's story of his infamous call from Google that resulted in his listing being yanked (see: http://www.localseoguide.com/hey-seos-if-google-maps-calls-dont-answer/). So, that sort of thing definitely does happen and this is the sort of story it can help to share with clients to illustrate for them Google's activities when it comes to attempting to enforce compliance with their guidelines.

Best suggestion here would be to get rid of the Google+ Local listings for the non-compliant listings and create a better strategy for seeking organic (rather than local) visibility for non-physical-location cities. You might like to read:

http://moz.com/blog/local-landing-pages-guide

Hope this helps!

[MiriamEllis]

Nice of you to say, Pixel!

[LeeAbrahamson]

Pardon my delayed response here, but wanted to thank you all for your input. I was pretty confused about the issue at the time, and your advice/info proved to be very helpful.