Client Wants to Verify New Location 4 Months Before Move

[dteb]

Hello, I have a client who is moving to a new location in 4 months. As part of the move they are splitting one of their services into its own separate business - it will be in the same new building as the primary business but a different suite.

For the service that is being used to create a new business, we have a new GBP that the client would like to verify to begin acquiring reviews (they can receive mail at the new location). They intend to have office staff inform clients that they are still at the current location, and will be moving in the future.

Can we verify the new address and let current customers know that they are still operating at the current address, and will be moving soon?

If not, how soon ahead of the move should we verify the new address/GBP?

 

[keyserholiday]

You should move the existing business to the new address to keep the history and the new reviews. You can set up a second business profile, but you won't be able to get reviews. You will need to add the opening date so Google can mark it as coming soon. Google will display it on the maps, a few weeks before the open date. It is a violation of Googe TOS to have a business profile that is not open, marked as open. The profile could be suspended.

 

[Colan Nielsen]

You can add a future opening date to a listing if they plan on opening that location in 3 months or less. Can you wait until the three month point instead of four?

 

[dteb]

You should move the existing business to the new address to keep the history and the new reviews. You can set up a second business profile, but you won't be able to get reviews. You will need to add the opening date so Google can mark it as coming soon. Google will display it on the maps, a few weeks before the open date. It is a violation of Googe TOS to have a business profile that is not open, marked as open. The profile could be suspended.

Thank you for the reply @keyserholiday, very helpful.

 

[dteb]

You can add a future opening date to a listing if they plan on opening that location in 3 months or less. Can you wait until the three month point instead of four?

Oh okay, didn't know about that option @Colan Nielsen . I take it they would not be able to start receiving reviews until it is actually open?

 

[keyserholiday]

Oh okay, didn't know about that option @Colan Nielsen . I take it they would not be able to start receiving reviews until it is actually open?

Sorry @Colan Nielsen it can be done as long as the open date is no more than a year out. Google won't allow reviews on business profiles marked as coming soon or permanently closed. The reviews are also supposed to be from customers of the staff at that business location. You won't be able to get reviews prior to the move, which is why I recommend moving the original businesses. You can keep the reviews on that business while you build up the new profile's reviews.

 

[Colan Nielsen]

No need to apologize Jason. This is really good to know. Google changes fast

 

[dteb]

Understood, thank you very much @Colan Nielsen and @keyserholiday, it is super helpful!