Schema for same location on multiple sites - can this be done?

[EvolveCreative]

I'm looking to find more information on location/local schema. Are you able to implement schema for one location on multiple different sites? (i.e. - Multiple brands/websites (same parent company) - the brands share the same location and address). Also, is schema still important for local SEO? Thank you in advance for your help!

[MiriamEllis]

Hey There! If your scenario is like those in which two brands share a location, Google speaks to this in the guidelines, which read: ------ Two or more brands at the same location If your business location combines two or more brands, do not combine the brand names into a single listing. Instead, pick one brand’s name for the listing. If the brands operate independently, you may use a separate listing for each brand at this location. Not Acceptable: "KFC / Taco Bell" or "Dunkin' Donuts / Baskin Robbins" Acceptable: "Taco Bell", "KFC", "Dunkin’ Donuts", "Baskin Robbins" ------ So, in this scenario, Google does permit a unique GMB listing if the brands 'operate independently', and, one could infer from this that separate Schema would be okay. To be honest, the part of this I'm not totally clear on is Google's personal definition of what 'operate independently' means, and my best advice would be to get on the phone with them to request a specific definition. In your shoes, if your brands do not have the recognition of KFC or Taco Bell, I would feel some concern about merging or listing takedowns, if Google were to determine internally that you've got 1 brand trying to appear like 2. So, best advice: call Google on this and be prepared to show exactly what the 2 businesses are. Hope this helps!

[EvolveCreative]

Hi Miriam,

Thank you for your response. I agree with what you're saying, but have a quick question about your response. The businesses that I'm working with have the same parent company and they fall under the same general category. i.e. 2 different home improvement stores (different products) and/or food (2 different product offerings). These businesses have the same address, hours and usually the same phone number, but the following things are different: URL, exact product offering, local Google+ page and email address. I think now that these brands have two separate Google+ pages we should be good to implement schema for each of the locations.

The best example that I can give/think of when thinking about schema mark is when a Baskin Robbins and Dunkin Donuts share a location. They may have the same address, offer food, etc. but they are two different business units.

Thanks again for your response and help!

[MiriamEllis]

Hey there!

Sorry I was slow to pick this up again. I think the issue here is likely deeper than what you do with Schema. Schema, after all, simply exists to make NAP a bit clearer. I think the core question here is whether you are genuinely running two different businesses, in which case, you would have a unique legal business name, unique phone number and website for each. Google can generally handle two businesses occupying the same address. I don't recommend, at this point, creating a fictitious suite. Represent the business/es exactly as in the real world. Google has gotten better at not merging the listings of truly distinct companies occupying the same address provided all other signals besides the address are unique.

What Google would have a problem with would be a single company promoting itself as two companies. So, for the sake of example, let's say you are a landscaping materials company called Greenscape. You deliver compost, gravel, etc. You also do custom landscaping consultations. So, you've got two services (product delivery and consultation) operating out of your site at 123 Main Street. In this scenario, you are only entitled to 1 Google+ Local page. You aren't entitled to one for the delivery service and another for the consulting service. A business that decided to bend the guidelines on this would be in danger of punitive action on Google's part, which could hurt both listings they've created. I think the guidelines are very clear about this.

The only other proviso here is that merging is a possibility, even if it seems to be less of an issue now than formerly. So, there is a possibility that even if you are running two absolutely distinct businesses out of the same building, Google could mix them up, and the chance of that happening is likely greater if there is some unifying factor between the two businesses (two podiatrists, two auto service businesses, etc.). So, do be sure you're doing everything possible to keep two companies in this scenario distinct, including different legal business names, phone number, websites, citations and, of course, totally unique content.

Hope this helps!

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi again

If they don't have separate numbers (as you said they are part of a larger company) I would focus on building citations for the main parent company, and attach the "subsites" as part of the brand through Schema on their respective websites. You can still mark up the address/contact information, but make sure that you utilize "brand" in the schema markup to the parent company on the "subsites" so that crawlers can associate the smaller brands to the larger brand.

There's also subOrganization opportunities as well.

Let me know if this makes sense.

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi there

No, it doesn't. Try the resources above, look into citations, and also Google My Business for each business. If they have different numbers that's helpful.

I would see if there is a way you can figure out a suite situation with your landlord if possible.

Keep in mind, through Schema you do have brand opportunities as well as connecting products to a brand. So you could markup on the product sites that connect them to the brand. Does that make sense?

Let me know if this helps at all - good luck!

[EvolveCreative]

Hi Miriam,

I added more details in my response to Calin. Let me know if that answers your questions and/or if you have any more feedback for me. Thanks!

[EvolveCreative]

Hi Calin,

Great questions. This is for a business that has multiple companies at one location, but the companies serve two different target audiences/demographics. Which results in two different location pages on two different URLS for the same location. The content on these pages are unique since they'e about two different product lines. As we continue to optimize the sites, we're looking for different ways to optimize the location pages.So what I'm gathering from your response is, Schema mark up should only be added to one of the locations, unless we separated the addresses by suite number (the address isn't currently set up this way).

Thank you again for your help!

[MiriamEllis]

Hey There,

My thinking is along the same lines as Calin's here. Assuming that it's your NAP you're encoding with Schema, why are you putting the same NAP on more than one website? It could be I'm not quite understanding the scenario you're describing.

[calindaniel]

Howdy,

I can back up Patrick's sage-like advice. Schema is still important for local SEO.

In terms of having multiple website's use the exact same schema markup for an address, I would just be curious as to why you would want to do that. Are you building a bunch of microsites for rankings?

The microsites would act almost as citation sources for your parent website, the one linked to from your Google My Business page. At any rate, assuming the NAP information is correct, you shouldn't run into any issues.

Cheers,

[EvolveCreative]

Thank you Patrick. The locations do not have their own suite number. They share the same address. Knowing that about the address ... does that change your answer? Thanks again!

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi there

Yes, you can do this if in fact those different brands and companies do work out of the same location. I would also make sure you look at your local SEO and make sure citations and listings for each are upto date as well. I imagine each have their own suite number?

And yes, schema is extremely valuable when implemented and utilized correctly.

Hope this helps! Good luck!