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  5. What's the best way to keep Google My Business reviews when the business changes names?

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What's the best way to keep Google My Business reviews when the business changes names?

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  • obkommy
    obkommy Subscriber last edited by Aug 10, 2016, 1:08 PM

    I work with an interior designer who is re-branding and changing her business name to focus specifically on windows. Can she keep her GMB reviews and just change the name of her business, then reverify with Google? She doesn't want to lose her current local pack ranking.

    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
    • MiriamEllis
      MiriamEllis Subject Expert last edited by Aug 15, 2016, 6:02 PM Aug 15, 2016, 6:02 PM

      Hey There!

      It sounds like a new GMB listing is in order to me. Like you, I'm a Local SEO, but without having complete knowledge of the situation, I'm making a general guess instead of giving informed advice. It's not unheard of for marketers to pay to consult with others marketers when in doubt. If, with the business' whole scenario before you, you're not 100% convinced you know the right course to set, it could be invaluable to to reach out to someone else in the industry and offer to pay for their time to consult with you while looking at the actual business and its history and goals. In your shoes, if I wasn't sure my advice was perfect, that's what I'd do 🙂

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • obkommy
        obkommy Subscriber @MiriamEllis last edited by Aug 13, 2016, 10:18 AM Aug 13, 2016, 10:18 AM

        I am this client's local SEO consultant and was wondering what others have done in similar situations. I thought a new GMB page might be in order, too, though they're really just niching down further within the same industry and the reviews still apply to their updated offerings.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • MiriamEllis
          MiriamEllis Subject Expert last edited by Aug 12, 2016, 7:38 PM Aug 12, 2016, 7:38 PM

          Hmm, there's some grey area here. A different brand offering different services sounds like a new company to me, likely necessitating starting over. That being said, your situation is one in which I'd recommend hiring a really qualified Local SEO consultant for whom you can 'open the books' in private. You might want to get in touch with one of these folks: https://moz.com/learn/local/trusted-providers

          You want to be certain you're making the right move with this, as there are nuances to the situation a general discussion in a forum may not be able to pick up on/address. On that list, you might want to consider a company like Local Visibility System for some consulting to be sure you are correctly planning your rebrand and the citation work that will need to follow it. This is one of those business moves that can go well with proper planning or be a disaster if some element is missing from the strategy.

          Hope this suggestion helps!

          obkommy 1 Reply Last reply Aug 13, 2016, 10:18 AM Reply Quote 0
          • obkommy
            obkommy Subscriber @MiriamEllis last edited by Aug 12, 2016, 2:51 PM Aug 12, 2016, 2:51 PM

            Same location, just the brand name and services offered are changing.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • MiriamEllis
              MiriamEllis Subject Expert last edited by Aug 11, 2016, 5:47 PM Aug 11, 2016, 5:47 PM

              Hey there!

              Is she also moving to a new location, or just re-branding her existing business?

              obkommy 1 Reply Last reply Aug 12, 2016, 2:51 PM Reply Quote 0
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