Apparently now OK to use PO boxes to optimize local search?
-
I've always stood behind what I thought was Google's policy of not recognizing PO boxes. But it seems like all you have to do now is create one and take 2 seconds to create a low-quality G+ page.
The below link is to a screenshot that shows my guy (yay new, high quality site with growing, relevant, authoritative content!) just out of the local results. He's not technically in Athens, so we knew it was an uphill battle. What's annoying though is the low-quality G+ PO box result above him.
https://www.diigo.com/item/image/4bxh7/yi1x
I know the PO Box result is not great in a vacuum in terms of conversion, but fact is if it's just phone numbers you're after they're at a distinct advantage, with no effort.
For my client, we've indicated in G+ that he has a service area that extends into Athens. If Google is now favoring G+ results, I'm wondering if my guy should get a PO box instead?
-
Great response. Stick with the legit tactics and the cream will rise to the top eventually.
-
Agree with Miriam! Google did not change its rules on P.O. Boxes, they are not okay for Google Places, despite some results still showing up here and there.
-
Hi Perfect Pitch Concepts,
Google's rules have not changed regarding P.O. boxes (see: https://support.google.com/places/answer/107528?hl=en). Google states:
Do not create a listing 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 you are seeing in the screenshot you've attached does not reflect a change in Google's rules, but a failure on Google's part to uphold their own rules. The P.O. box listing you've referenced is in violation of the guidelines and will likely eventually be taken down by Google, but this could happen tomorrow, next month or two years from now. It is not uncommon to find spam like this is the local SERPs, unfortunately, but it is definitely not a good idea for any Local SEO to advise any client to violate Google's guidelines. We have to teach clients how to succeed while adhering to the guidelines. Feel free to use the 'report a problem' link on the competitor's listing to report the P.O. Box as spam.
As you know, in most cases, Google deems a business as most relevant to its city of location. Because of this, if your client is not located in Athens, he is unlikely to appear in the local pack of results for searches stemming from Athens-based devices or containing the term 'Athens'. There are some exceptions to this, but they typically involve geographic regions or niche industries about which Google has less information and in which there is a low level of competition. A roofer outside a major city is unlikely to appear in the pack for those major city terms, regardless of what type of service radius he sets on his local listing. It looks like you are achieving high organic results for the client for a term that is important to him, and this is typically the best you can do for any SAB who lacks a physical location in a service city.
I totally understand how frustrating it can be to see spam in the local results. In some ways, Google has made major improvements in this area, but, as you can see, there is still a lot of junk getting through their filters. A Local SEO can set himself the task of using all available allowed method for his clients with the confidence that they will ultimately stand the test of time, whereas spammers' listings have a definite shelf life and may expire at any time. Hope this helps!
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Local seo strategy for local gardening business ideas?
Hi all, I am just setting up a local organic garden maintenance business in my home town. I have set up the website, got social media accounts active (FB, Twitter and G+), set up google local listing (currently 5th in the local maps thingy), I have done loads of citations (many more than my competitors, but not a ridiculous amount), I've got 4 customer reviews on google so far, checked my DA against my competitors (mine 1, my comps 8-9), checked my comps links (less than 10) and been writing a blog on my website every couple of days. I realise the one thing I have against me is that my domain is just less than a month old. How long until google builds a bit of trust in it to see it come up in the serps? Also, I would love some ideas of what else I can be doing in the mean time. The idea here is to get the site rocking on all cylinders before the gardening season starts again in March. Do-able?
Image & Video Optimization | | HappyOx0 -
To use or not to use YouTube - That is the question!
We often get clients asking us what is the best option for getting the most out of their videos. We typically default to this blog post: http://moz.com/blog/hosting-and-embedding-for-video-seo We have had clients question this information, sending us such links as: http://marketingland.com/infographic-video-youtube-wins-google-universal-search-37971
Image & Video Optimization | | Booj
http://www.seoinc.com/seo-blog/why-you-should-embed-youtube-videos/
http://www.sitepronews.com/2012/07/03/how-to-use-youtube-to-boost-your-web-sites-seo-rankings/ Would you consider the information in the Moz blog post to still be accurate. What are your opinions on the perspectives presented in the other posts? Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you 🙂0 -
Once you start fixing Local citations with correct NAP, is it normal for your rankings to plunge at first?
I strongly believe that I have received the most solid Local advice I could from these forums and have started (in just a few days) to make the needed corrections. At the same time I'm somewhat excited and optimistic that it will be a long journey but that it's a learning process. About 5 days ago, I set my website up with "City landing pages" and I started plundering through google, fixing and claiming and correcting as many citations as I could with correct NAP. The journey still continues today as I just got my Bing Local card in the mail and verified. I went to check my rankings on Google Maps, just to see if anything had changed and sure enough it had. My listing had been holding strong at page 10 (which drives me nuts) and now after 5 days of solid work its on page 18. I have to assume that because I'm stirring the dust perhaps Google is confused and maybe in a month or so things might start moving the other way? Thoughts?
Image & Video Optimization | | jonnyholt0 -
Good Example of Local Pages With Multiple Services
Can I get a site that is well optimized and has a good landing page for a business that serves multiple regions with multiple services. For example they may have construction and mold removal services and serve Indianapolis, Columbus Ohio, Louisville Ky.
Image & Video Optimization | | Atomicx0 -
Can SEO companies be listed on Google Local, Bing Local, and Yahoo Local?
Can anyone confirm if SEO companies can be listed in the local results for Google, Yahoo, and Bing? I'm asking because when you search for most local terms, it will return their local listings. However, that doesn't appear to be the case when searching for SEO or marketing services - or at least none show up when searching from Houston and I'm pretty sure we have quite a few SEO companies here 😉
Image & Video Optimization | | ChaseCameron0 -
Local Targeting without the city’s name
Here’s an interesting one for you guys: We show up on page 1 for “Edmonton web design,” (our website is http:web3.ca), however when you search for just “web design” in our city, we don’t seem to show up at all. I know Google is now placing a higher percentage or local companies in a search. So my question is: how can we show up better for a local search that is just “web design”? Does this just come down to domain authority & content or are there other key local factors at play?
Image & Video Optimization | | Web3Marketing870 -
Google Place Result taking over Organic Search Result
Hey there, One of our client contacted as stating that their Google ranking dropped. It was originally listed No.2 on the organic search result, but now it shows up only as Google Place instead, and the ranking is lower than before. Apparently it happens in Japan quite often nowadays, does it happen in your country too? Especially on Google.com? Is it becoming a trend?
Image & Video Optimization | | YukiTokuda0 -
Local SEO: What is the largest Google Places bulk upload you have ever done?
Hi All, One of my clients recently requested my team at our agency to do a bulk up load of business locations. We did the bulk upload and it came to around 652 or so locations in the form. I have done some serious bulk uploads in the past around 500 locations but never this high. My question is to SEO moz what is the largest bulk upload or single upload you have done on Google Places?
Image & Video Optimization | | JamesNorquay0