Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.
Jason Smith: I would and have, after all its free advertising.
5w
Stockbridge Truslow: Group expertWhat you haven`t said is exactly how location plays into the relevance or importance. In other words - if I am searching the web for something you are offering - does your proximity to my location play an important part? Or can you provide me the same service whether I`m in LA, NYC or anywhere else in the world?
If your location is generally irrelevant to me as a potential customer, then I typically do not create a GMB account for the simple fact that GMB is geared toward taking your location and/or area you serve into ranking consideration.
If the location does play a role - then usually the answer is - yes. Create one. There are some exceptions to that, though.
5w
Tanzeela Ashraf: Stockbridge Truslow Our e-commerce store is country-based. We sell our products all over country. Not just city or area-based.
For instance, if a user search "xyzProduct price in xyzCountry". So what would you recommend in this case?
By the way, we have a physical office. But I don`t think this office will be of any use to the customer because we sell products online and deliver it.
5w
Tanzeela Ashraf: Stockbridge Truslow You said, "If the location does play a role - then usually the answer is - yes. There are some exceptions to that, though."
What exceptions? Any example, please?
5w
David Morgan: I certainly would. I like winning, don`t you?
5w
Chris Taglia: You can hide address if needed. But definitely do it
5w
Christine Hansen: Group expertIf it is "only" a webshop without any physical stores, then you are not permitted to make a Google Business Profile (Google My Business/GMB changed name). As a business, you need to either provide service to customers where they live as in-person contact, or customers have to be able to walk in a physical store. Anything beyond that is not possible. Webshops should use the Google Merchant Center instead.
5w
Tanzeela Ashraf: Christine Hansen Our e-commerce store is country-based. We sell our products all over country. Not just city or area-based.
For instance, if a user search "xyzProduct price in xyzCountry". So what would you recommend in this case?
By the way, we have a physical office. But I don`t think this office will be of any use to the customer because we sell products online and deliver it.
5w
Christine Hansen: Group expertSince you do not meet the customer eye to eye, your business is not eligible for a GBP. It only takes one person to spot a faker to report and Google will close the profile. As soon as a business feels like another business is fake and/or takes advantage of the system, they will most likely report them to Google. So it is just a matter of time.
5w
Tanzeela Ashraf: Christine Hansen Below, I`m sharing 2 keywords screenshots of popular website Groupon (American global e-commerce marketplace). Please check and guide me what`s the difference between two.
Tanzeela Ashraf: Christine Hansen Also, see the below screenshot, please.We have a office staff.
5w
Christine Hansen: Group expertTanzeela Ashraf This is not Google My Business, but rather a local listing with a link to a Google Business Profile close to you - as stated earlier they changed their name, and it is actually a half year ago. Since customers from your e-com business do not meet your staff eye to eye, you are not eligible for a GBP. Tip to you is Google Map. GBP is close related to Google Map. Customers can find GBP businesses on the Google Map unless they are service area-oriented. So in other words GBP is rather an expansion of the Google Map. That is why the contact with customer rule is how it is. Some try to bend the rules but end up using hundreds of hours just to get sacked by Google (meanwhile customers got wildly confused because there were no physical stores after all). Go read the link I provided you and all links under it, to read everything there is to read about GBP from Google`s own hands, then you will know what is possible and what is not.
5w
Tanzeela Ashraf: Christine Hansen You shared a link to read about the Knowledge Graph. I read it!
I think it is not in our hands that we can create a Knowledge Graph like the one in the attached screenshot below.
4d
Christine Hansen: Group expertTanzeela Ashraf You are correct. Google decides 100%.
4d
Greg Gifford: E-commerce sites aren’t allowed to have a GMB
Do you recommend creating a Google My Business for a Local Multi-vendor eCommerce website?
Which has 9, 000+ SKUs.
