Hi!

I have a client who has an existing Google Places listing. It was not verified until recently, when I did the verification and listing optimisation for him.

Since then we have seen his site successfully added to the listing and also the listing shoot up to spot A for a low comp. area/town.

The only issue is this:

Lets say he is from "Coolridge". Historically, where he is located used to be called (and still can be / is referred to as) "Coolridge North".

The most searches come from "Service Coolridge" so being there for "Service Coolridge North" is nice but gets no where near the exposure.

We want to get him up on top or at least the first page for "Service Coolridge".

Now, the options are to remove the "North" from his existing listing and do some further optimisation to try and get him showing up for the "Coolridge" term.

OR

Make a new listing for him with all of the same details exactly, except when it comes to the actual listing remove the "North" part.

Citations probably won't count and it will be in essence a 'fresh start' with ranking it for the more popular term.

This second option could also be seen as a 'duplicate' - but I doubt anyone will notice, as he is no where to be found for "Service Coolridge" at all for his existing listing.

What's funny is that actually when searching for "Service Coolridge", when you get to the 2nd/3rd page of GPlaces listings, they start to show listings from nearby suburbs - but they don't show him when he is technically still IN the same suburb.. weird.

What are your thoughts on this?

do all 3... and do more if u can
get all local listings in first page

I would not do a duplicate listing because it will hurt your ranking for the other keywords. Just target those other keywords as well.

Originally Posted by WebOracle

I would not do a duplicate listing because it will hurt your ranking for the other keywords. Just target those other keywords as well.

You mean to target more KW's with the existing Gplaces?

I could certainly do that, but I feel like Google is not seeing any type of link between the two areas - since it is no where to be found for the more general "service town" search.

Like I said, Google is showing OTHER towns by page 2/3, but it doesn't even show his listing which is technically in the same town, just with 'north' at the front. Sort of makes me think targeting those KW's on that listing will be a lost cause, since Google is not drawing the link and ranking him anywhere for those terms?

Are you SURE most searches are for Service Coolridge? With Google's lookahead search, the local sites I'm monitoring get much more traffic via Places from "Service" than "Service Coolrdige"

Originally Posted by orlandolongwood

Are you SURE most searches are for Service Coolridge? With Google's lookahead search, the local sites I'm monitoring get much more traffic via Places from "Service" than "Service Coolrdige"

Well, there are more searches being made for "Service Coolridge" than "Service Coolridge North" according to the G KW Tool.

However, I see your point. If people are typing in "Service" and Google just feeds them local dentists, this might be driving traffic that I do not know about.

However, on that same token - if he isn't showing up for "Service Coolridge" then when people type in "Service" and they are near Coolridge, then his listing likely doesn't show either?

If you are trying to optimize for all of the search terms I would just keep creating citation how you have been with the " Service Coolridge North". I think if you keep doing what you are doing then you'll start to rank for the other terms as well. Just my opinion. I frequent the Google Places Help Forums because you have a chance of getting advice from Places experts and even Google employees.

do not do any dupe G Places listing as it will certainly harm your client

Just change the North and optimise that listing for all the KW's

Dupe listings are found all to often and can lead to penalties to all your clients sites

Originally Posted by boom1

do not do any dupe G Places listing as it will certainly harm your client

Just change the North and optimise that listing for all the KW's

Dupe listings are found all to often and can lead to penalties to all your clients sites

Do you mean to all of my clients Google Places (different clients) or to the sites belonging to the client?

So in such a case, it would be safer to just remove the 'North' and optimise for the more general term?

Bumpity Bumpo

I am no expert on G places yet but from other case studies I have seen making a dupe listing is a no no.

As far as changing your current listing, idk.

Good luck mate, keep us updated after you decide what route you take!

Cheers,
GlobalP