GMB Listing Using A Virtual Office

Hey BH'ers,

My plan was to get my GMB verified by getting a virtual office in the CBD (that does mail forwarding, call answering etc), but I've just read that Google is cracking down on such activity and can easily flag and remove your GMB listing. You have to send them pictures of your business signage at the office and even prove there are employees working there! ffs

Are there any black hat workarounds for this? I was really wanting to appear for searches at the center of my city. I don't want to be putting my home address (waay out in the suburbs) as my GMB listing!

Thanks

Shameless bump. This is a for a money site btw. I just need a clever idea on how to get a verified GMB listing that won’t get penalised long term. (and no I can’t afford to rent a real office in the city ;-))

build citations, and it will eventually trigger a phone verification

Master1321 said:

build citations, and it will eventually trigger a phone verification

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LOL, that will never work, tried that and failed you will need an address to verify your listing or buy a listing, but that has its own risks

fc-dh said:

LOL, that will never work, tried that and failed you will need an address to verify your listing or buy a listing, but that has its own risks

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OK, buying a listing... that’s a start. Can you explain the pro’s and cons on that one?

Those things with re-verification happens because google actively checks for services with provide virtual mail-box and black-lists 'em all.
For that, how about you post a gig about same on craigslist? You can ask a person to verify on their home address for you?
Idk, but this method worked some years back. Not sure about now.

croixstar said:

OK, buying a listing... that’s a start. Can you explain the pro’s and cons on that one?

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Because often those listings will be banned if you are not careful, you need to reverify your listings sometimes, sometimes Google just checks if you are a real business, i don't know exactly how (and if did i would never post it oin a public forum) but it aint all sunshine

I think if you use a space WHICH genuinely has OFFICES as well its a lot safer ..I mean there are actually many legit businesses there as well ..its more expensive though BUT def safer than a pure mail box

The other variable is how competitive your niche is ..I can imagine in some business areas and cities you will have competitors who will gladly report you

With that buying a listing ...........there seem to be big wipe out like in Feb where all the GMBs made by a certain blackhat method get wiped out ...