GMB Shortname - naming conventions

[AndySimpson]

So I had a discussion today with a top Pet SEO Specialist () who asked me what I was doing for my naming convention for GMB Shortnames, my answer was, keep it on brand, I recommended that they tried to keep it the same as the Facebook business page or Twitter handle, but what do you think?

g.page/[yourcustomname]

e.g. g.page/cafe121

Definitely DON'T use hyphens or underscores! There's nothing worse!
Use caps to break up the different words as the shortname is NOT case sensitive.

There is a character limit of 32 characters

Thanks

More on Google Shortnames here Google Support

 

[CarrieHill]

I like the idea of trying something slightly quirky like g.page/bestsushiintown or g.page/petfriendlyinpittsburgh. Using a "calling card" or "value add" Not sure it would make much of a difference, but if you can combine that, with a follow, with a welcome offer, and some f/u email marketing - could you make that person a client/customer?

 

[Steven12]

I would highly recommend your top keyword phrase. Shorter is better. Geo is good too. Don't use dashes, Never.... It needs to be a name you could advertise on the radio and people would remember it . They would also be able to relate it to your product or service. Do some keyword research and try to grab a memorable phrase with high volume. Facebook is for people already familiar with your biz... In the near future this name will help you rank for that keyword immensely.

 

[AndySimpson]

So @CarrieHill, is having a Shortname another point for your Google Brand Score?

 

[CarrieHill]

Of course! Bout time for an overhaul - and to get to work on the mobile version

 

[AndySimpson]

In the near future this name will help you rank for that keyword immensely.

hmmm....oh dear, back to keyword domain names

 

[BenFisher]

ShortNames do not help from a SEO perspective, that is not the intention for them. They are treated like 301 redirects in Google's eyes.

I went with catchy myself, g.page/LocalSEO/ however, for clients I recommend they stay on brand, or go with something they would be comfortable having on a business card.

Short is better, simply since you can use the link to solicit reviews. (Probably more in the future)

With franchise/chains/multi-location a NameGeo combo works really well.

 

[Steven12]

Google is an algorithm. If someone is looking for a divorce lawyer in New York, and your (Google Name) Gmap URL is @divorcelawyerNY they might lean a little towards, "You must be looking for this business." Other factors come into play, but if all else is equal, than exact match will win everytime. Look at the snack pak! Businesses with the keyword in their title win, just ask any local spammer...

 

[JoyHawkins]

Keywords in the business name definitely impact ranking but I don't anticipate short names will factor in, just like the majority of GMB features. I checked a handful of ones we set up in early May and thusfar haven't found any that had ranking increases.

Actually for one I checked, I saw a drop in ranking for the exact keyword that matches their URL (yes, I think this is a coincidence).

 

[Steven12]

Ben & Joy,
I totally respect you both, and I daily read your postings with anticipation of learning some breaking news. However. I am going to respectfully disagree with you on this topic. You both received access to short URL's before others. You both chose keywords that were both short and precise. Google allowed the people inside to have first access before the public. Google never officially announced the time of the URL opening. Now, you would have us believe that they hold no real value? Ben will be (Local Seo) for the history of GMB, but that has no value?
I love you both, but I believe, these names are way more than just a 301 redirect. You haven't even had the opportunity to market them yet. Andy, I would grab my keyword, now, and start Google stacking that URL everywhere. Google makes you have 100 subscribers just to change your YT URL to the name of your channel, and good channel names are hard to find. Just sayin... Joy, thank-you for giving me a heads-up when I asked. I got a couple of great short URL keywords... lol

 

[AndySimpson]

Thanks Steve, "test, test, test" springs to mind, so let's see what happens....I am sure there will be more on this in the future.

Currently thinking about using g.page/BestLocalSEOinTheWorld but think it might be just a little too modest

 

[BenFisher]

Steven,
I respect your opinion, and testing will show everything. However, I chose that as a shortname for branding purposes and well because it was short.

We know they are 301 redirects, however, A. We were told this B. Check it yourself at Redirect Check (Headers come back as 301)

I do not think they will have any SEO value, branding value yes. But SEO no, too easy to game.

 

[JoyHawkins]

I love the debate here! Please share all your findings on this with the rest of us. Our findings thusfar is that it makes no impact

 

[Belen C]

I would highly recommend your top keyword phrase. Shorter is better. Geo is good too. Don't use dashes, Never.... It needs to be a name you could advertise on the radio and people would remember it . They would also be able to relate it to your product or service. Do some keyword research and try to grab a memorable phrase with high volume. Facebook is for people already familiar with your biz... In the near future this name will help you rank for that keyword immensely.

Hello, when i was introducing the short names into my listings, Google recommendations was in most cases to use dashes (for example: xxxx-xxxxx-xxx). Can i ask you why do you say not to use them? taking into account that it was Google suggestion.
Thanks

 

[AndySimpson]

Hello, when i was introducing the short names into my listings, Google recommendations was in most cases to use dashes (for example: xxxx-xxxxx-xxx). Can i ask you why do you say not to use them? taking into account that it was Google suggestion.
Thanks

I've just always been a hater of hyphens in domain names.

What's easier to remember/type/say/share?

this-is-my-domain-name

or

thisismydomainname

....to advertise you just do this

ThisIsMyDomainName

 

[Tim Colling]

For my company's shortname, I chose Healthcareseo. That may never help with ranking but it's easier to remember than "aservantsheartwebdesignandmarketing" or "ashwdm"

 

[Steven12]

Hello, when i was introducing the short names into my listings, Google recommendations was in most cases to use dashes (for example: xxxx-xxxxx-xxx). Can i ask you why do you say not to use them? taking into account that it was Google suggestion.
Thanks

I work quite a bit with Google Adwords (Ads) They have what is called a display URL, which is an artificial URL made to increase CTR. In The display URL, we use dashes to separate words. We use CTA's like "/Open-Now/". It is a visual thing.
These short GMB's are totally different. You have the ability to brand your service. Your name should be memorable. You want to be able to tell people on YT, TV, on the radio and in person. You don't want to have to say go to "Local Dash SEO" or Ben would have grabbed it already lol (Love Ya Ben)

 

[keyserholiday]

So Google is recommending hyphenated names. LOL

 

[JoshuaMackens]

What's the purpose of the short name? Will any of you actually use it in your marketing?

 

[Belen C]

What's the purpose of the short name? Will any of you actually use it in your marketing?

Hi Joshua, in my agency we will make a test to use the url created by the short name, to send it to the costumers to leave a review after they check out the hotel. This is a "clean" and short url that redirect to the profile.
Still we didn't try it, but is the only purpose i could find