Search Engine Optimization News Blog

The Google Maps Local Business Center was a magnet for spam, so Google changed a few things.  The new guidelines include a large laundry list of do’s and don’t’s, but the most important have to do with business names and location:

Business Name

• The business name on Google Maps must be your full legal business name.
• Do not attempt to manipulate search results by adding extraneous keywords or a description of your business into the business name.
• Do not include phone numbers or URLs in the business name.

(Apparently some businesses were keyword – or would that be keynumber – stuffing their business names.)

Physical Location

• Do not create listings at locations where the business does not physically exist.
• PO Boxes do not count as physical locations.
• Do not create more than one listing for each business location, either in a single account or multiple accounts.
• Businesses that operate in a service area as opposed to a single location should not create a listing for every city they service. Service area businesses should create one listing for the central office of the business only.
• Businesses with special services, such as law firms and doctors, should not create multiple listings to cover all of their specialties.
• The precise address for the business must be provided in place of broad city names or cross-streets.
• A property for rent is not considered a place of business. Please create one listing for the central office that processes the rentals.

(Apparently rental agencies were counting rental properties as actual business locations. I mean, come on.)

In addition, phone numbers, urls and business emails were addressed, as Google attempts to bring back some semblance of reality to business listings.

Some say that DBAs should be exempt from the moratorium ion using names that don’t accurately reflect the business.