Google Is Even Confused By Their Google Places Guidelines

Jan 31, 2013 - 8:29 am 20 by
Filed Under Google Maps

Google Places LogoThere is a thread at the Google Business Help forum, a forum devoted to helping business owners with their local listings in Google Places / Google Maps.

The thread talks about the policy of a doctor who practices in two different offices, with two different numbers - should that doctor have one Google Local / Places listing or two, one for each location?

We already know they currently need to have a unique phone number per location but should they have a unique Google+ Local listing per location?

Google doesn't even know the answer to this.

One Google Maps expert said you do not need a second Google+ page, and in fact, it is against Google's guidelines to do so. Jade Wang from Google said she isn't sure about that and needs to look deeper into the issue.

Jade from Google said:

@Flash -- I don't necessarily agree. Can you point me to the references you are using to make the statements about one practitioner with multiple locations?

The Google Maps expert said:

The Places quality guidelines state "You may create one listing per practitioner".

Places help states "Even if you're a doctor who is a cardiologist and a chiropractor or a service that covers multiple towns, you shouldn't have two listings."

But Googler, Jade responded:

Hey all -- we are working on clarifying the guidelines for scenarios like this. Please sit tight, and I'll come back with an update as soon as I can.

So something is brewing, policies may be changing.

Forum discussion at Google Business Help.

 

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