Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Google Places Guidelines state that
"A business owner may add service areas to a new or existing listing if his business model requires him or an authorized representative of his business to travel to his customer's location. Some examples include: a restaurant that offers delivery to your door, a dog-walking business that picks up your pet from your home, or an in-home maid service."
Not all local businesses serve their customers from a physical location. For example, some businesses operate from home while others are virtual, mobile, and have no central location. If a local business serves customers at their locations, it can list its service area on Google Places.
A service area is the area that a business is willing to serve. Google Places does not allow anyone to create more than one listing for each business location, either in a single account or multiple accounts.
Businesses that operate in a service area, as opposed to a single location, should not create a listing for every city they service. Businesses that operate in a service area should create one listing for the central office or location and designate service areas. All Google Places listings, including listings with service areas, require a valid physical address.
To set a service area for your listing, log into your account and edit the listing of your choice. On the Edit Business Listing page, look for the section with the header "Service Areas and Location Settings".
To set a service area, select 'Yes, this business serves customers at their locations in a specific area.' option. Once you select 'Yes,' a box will appear with additional options. If you'd like to make your address private, check the box next to 'Do not show my business address on my Maps listing.', then, select the areas your business serves.
Be sure to follow the Google Places Guidelines. Google is strict with these guidelines, and following these requirements will determine your listing or delisting from Google Places.
"A business owner may add service areas to a new or existing listing if his business model requires him or an authorized representative of his business to travel to his customer's location. Some examples include: a restaurant that offers delivery to your door, a dog-walking business that picks up your pet from your home, or an in-home maid service."
Not all local businesses serve their customers from a physical location. For example, some businesses operate from home while others are virtual, mobile, and have no central location. If a local business serves customers at their locations, it can list its service area on Google Places.
A service area is the area that a business is willing to serve. Google Places does not allow anyone to create more than one listing for each business location, either in a single account or multiple accounts.
Businesses that operate in a service area, as opposed to a single location, should not create a listing for every city they service. Businesses that operate in a service area should create one listing for the central office or location and designate service areas. All Google Places listings, including listings with service areas, require a valid physical address.
To set a service area for your listing, log into your account and edit the listing of your choice. On the Edit Business Listing page, look for the section with the header "Service Areas and Location Settings".
To set a service area, select 'Yes, this business serves customers at their locations in a specific area.' option. Once you select 'Yes,' a box will appear with additional options. If you'd like to make your address private, check the box next to 'Do not show my business address on my Maps listing.', then, select the areas your business serves.
Be sure to follow the Google Places Guidelines. Google is strict with these guidelines, and following these requirements will determine your listing or delisting from Google Places.
