Duplicate in Name of Business with Attorneys and Doctors

[DanS]

I have been reading on the forum about working with attorneys and doctors and their duplicate listings. I was reading the 2012 details of how to handle dups (link below). Is this still the suggested practice at the end of 2015?

Overcoming New Google Places Duplicate Listing Problems for Dentists, Doctors, Attorneys - Google Places Optimization Blog

 

[Linda Buquet]

Hi Dan,

Yes as far as I know that still works and is best. But to make sure we are clear on this kind of dupe. I call it a dupe but technically a practitioner listing isn't.

A traditional dupe would be Alpine Law and another called Alpine Law Firm. Or both same names, and slightly different formatting of same address.

Or John Smith PLC and John L Smith PLC are dupes.

So in the case of the real dupes I just spelled out, (same business or same person) need to ask support to merge the 2 practice OR the 2 practitioner listings.

But what that article refers to is Alpine Law and then John Smith and 2 other attys as a practitioner listings - competing with the practice listing. (They hurt rankings just like dupes and are multiple listings for the same business at same location, but technically are not dupes - even though I call them that - because they have the same negative ranking effect.)

I assume that was clear, but because there are different types of dupes that are handled different ways, I wanted to be sure.

 

[DanS]

Thanks for providing more clarification. Yes, how you explained it here makes sense now.

There are 3 listings with same phone. Addresses either have the suite# or don't.

Law Firm, LLC
- 5 great reviews
- no ste # in address
- not claimed yet

Law Firm, LLC - attorney #1 name and attorney #2 name
(law firm name hyphen and then both attorney names)
- 2 good reviews
- ste # in address
- claimed


Attorney name #2
- one negative review
- no ste # in address
- not claimed


So from what I hear you saying I should merge both law firm listings above and do nothing with the single attorney's listing. I think I will have everything merged under the law firm name itself (without the hyphen and attorney's names) - in case relationship goes South and one leaves the firm.

Any other suggestions? Or something I might have missed?

Thanks, Linda for sharing

 

[Linda Buquet]

Oops no that's not quite right.

Running out door and too complicated to explain. Will be back in a couple hours. So hang on.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Ok this is super complicated. I'd need to see them all and I bet there are more. And would need to know ask a lot more Qs and get history to be able to really give you the best advice. I don't have the carpal bandwidth to do all the research to be able to tell you what to do. I'm crippled up and normally don't do one-on-one support like this any more. I've already done too much.

So from what I hear you saying I should merge both law firm listings above and do nothing with the single attorney's listing. I think I will have everything merged under the law firm name itself (without the hyphen and attorney's names) - in case relationship goes South and one leaves the firm.

No that won't work and is not the correct solution.

Now that I have more info (didn't know they were this scrambled) what I can do is tell you what you are dealing with - just not what to do. I don't want to steer you wrong and it would take a lot more research. PLUS FYI on something this complicated you should probably not take anyone's advice in a forum.

#1 is straight forward except for the fact that it's not claimed and is missing suite. But it's the only practice listing. AND it has reviews which is important.

#2 Is a double or triple dupe. It's a dupe of the practice name and it's a dupe of atty #2. But my guess is there is also a listing for atty #1 you missed. If so it would be a dupe of that one too.

#2 is the most scrambled. Should not have a combo practice/atty name, much less practice and 2 attys. But it's also the most correct address, assuming address does have a suite. AND since it's claimed, there is a chance it's the oldest, most mature listing. Which could carry some extra weight. This one can't be merged because there are practitioners in it. But it's not possible to say what to do with this one and #1 without a lot more history and links to the listings.

The easiest, most straightforward thing to do is to change this one into atty #1's listing and minimize it. But if this is the main one that's ranking that may not be the best thing to do.

#3 Is a straight practitioner listing. This is the only one that's fairly straight forward. No you should not just ignore this one. It will still hurt ranking for the practice. This one you would minimize like in the original post of mine you linked to.

Sorry I could not give you all the answers, but again it would not be wise for anyone to give you advice without taking time to research all 3, ck for more, do a deep dive and more research.

 

[DanS]

Ok this is super complicated.

Yes it isn't an easy one to work on and it gets worse


The original 3 I mentioned are the ones showing up in search results.


My research found the other attorney's G+ page - nothing happening with this one. I used Joy's instructions on how to use Map Maker for research - which is AWESOME!!!
(Step-By-Step Guide to Finding Duplicate Google Plus Listings on MapMaker (Part 1) | Imprezzio Marketing) Parts 1 & 2


I looked back at the history of the two firm listings and the #1 shows Nov 19, 2014 as being entered into Maps (this is the cleaner listing with more reviews) and #2 listing was entered in on Feb 24, 2015.

Also found another law firm one of the attorneys was a partner in

...it would not be wise for anyone to give you advice without taking time to research all 3, ck for more, do a deep dive and more research

Do you have someone you would recommend I could pay to do steer me down the correct path?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Sure, please email me and I'll refer you to the best troubleshooter I know for a consult, since I can't do consulting any more.

linda AT catalystemarketing DOT com