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Just participated in a good thread at the official Google forum. Good tips so wanted to share here as well.
The question was asked by owner of a Real Estate agency but the answers apply to Insurance Agencies with independent reps and even to Drs, Dentists, Lawyers.
<a href="http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/business/rAvNVpJZWpg">Multiple Sales Associates using Google Places</a> - Official Google Thread
emailjim
We are a real estate firm with a Google Places business location attached to our address/phone number. We have 40 sales associates who are independent contractors (individual business owners) working for us...is there a way for them to use Google Places as agents at our location...maybe with our address and their cell numbers? If so, how? If not, is there any other solution for them? We want to insure that our office listing is not affected but would like for them to utilize Google Places as well. Your help is appreciated.
Mike Blumenthal ~ Top Contributor
They are eligibile for their own listing at your location. It most definitely should include a unique phone number and description content that is distinct from the main office. In the past Google has had some difficulty keeping these listings from merging but I think that going forward under Google+ Local that will be less of an issue
Flash AKA Gregg ~ MapMaker RER (Member Here)
VOTED BEST ANSWER BY LINDA
It is hard to expect the bots and humans that check the map to keep them separate if they have basically the same name and the same address. My personal recommendation as of late has been to have the agents set their listing up with their name, but not the agency name. After all, the agency already gets a listing; these are what are called professional listings and are supposed to be for the agent only, so including the agency name does make it a duplicate of the agency.
Besides avoiding merging issues, having each have a totally unique name also has the following advantages:
When the agent moves on, retires, etc.; his professional listing will be marked "Permanently Closed". The listing will then not show up regularly, but will show up in specific searches. If it only has the agents name, it would only show up in a name search for him/her. If the name of the listing includes your agency name, then you can expect that listing to show up in a name search for the agency. Do you want something with your agency name and address showing as Permanently Closed in the future?
When people go to leave reviews for your agency, they will tend to just use the first listing with your agency name and address and leave it there. Make it so they only have one choice.
Along a similar vein, to prevent merges with your listing and so that people understand what each listing represents; agents should have the category of "Real Estate Agents" and your should have "Real Estate Agency"; and neither of you should add both.
Linda Buquet ~ Top Contributor
Great points all Gregg!
Being sure to only use the agent's name, always use indiv phone and not overlapping categories are all important tips for a few reasons. Not just to avoid hurting the main listings rankings, but also to help avoid merges and as Gregg mentioned, also makes the transition smoother if an agent leaves.
In a big blog post I wrote about minimizing Dr, Dentist, Atty individual listings so they don't hurt the main practice listings ranking, I also recommended having the professional's Place page link to their own bio page on the site or the meet the team page if all professionals are listed on same page. But point is - don't have the individual's professional listings link to the home page of the site. Only have the main listing link to the home page. I think that advice could also help with this agent listing scenario.
Here is a link to my thread with more detailed instructions for minimizing professional listings.
<a href="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-duplicate-listing-dentists-doctors.html">Overcoming New Google Places Duplicate Listing Problems for Dentists, Doctors, Attorneys</a>
Anyone else have good tips or any questions about this issue?
The question was asked by owner of a Real Estate agency but the answers apply to Insurance Agencies with independent reps and even to Drs, Dentists, Lawyers.
<a href="http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/business/rAvNVpJZWpg">Multiple Sales Associates using Google Places</a> - Official Google Thread
emailjim
We are a real estate firm with a Google Places business location attached to our address/phone number. We have 40 sales associates who are independent contractors (individual business owners) working for us...is there a way for them to use Google Places as agents at our location...maybe with our address and their cell numbers? If so, how? If not, is there any other solution for them? We want to insure that our office listing is not affected but would like for them to utilize Google Places as well. Your help is appreciated.
Mike Blumenthal ~ Top Contributor
They are eligibile for their own listing at your location. It most definitely should include a unique phone number and description content that is distinct from the main office. In the past Google has had some difficulty keeping these listings from merging but I think that going forward under Google+ Local that will be less of an issue
Flash AKA Gregg ~ MapMaker RER (Member Here)
VOTED BEST ANSWER BY LINDAIt is hard to expect the bots and humans that check the map to keep them separate if they have basically the same name and the same address. My personal recommendation as of late has been to have the agents set their listing up with their name, but not the agency name. After all, the agency already gets a listing; these are what are called professional listings and are supposed to be for the agent only, so including the agency name does make it a duplicate of the agency.
Besides avoiding merging issues, having each have a totally unique name also has the following advantages:
When the agent moves on, retires, etc.; his professional listing will be marked "Permanently Closed". The listing will then not show up regularly, but will show up in specific searches. If it only has the agents name, it would only show up in a name search for him/her. If the name of the listing includes your agency name, then you can expect that listing to show up in a name search for the agency. Do you want something with your agency name and address showing as Permanently Closed in the future?
When people go to leave reviews for your agency, they will tend to just use the first listing with your agency name and address and leave it there. Make it so they only have one choice.
Along a similar vein, to prevent merges with your listing and so that people understand what each listing represents; agents should have the category of "Real Estate Agents" and your should have "Real Estate Agency"; and neither of you should add both.
Linda Buquet ~ Top Contributor
Great points all Gregg!
Being sure to only use the agent's name, always use indiv phone and not overlapping categories are all important tips for a few reasons. Not just to avoid hurting the main listings rankings, but also to help avoid merges and as Gregg mentioned, also makes the transition smoother if an agent leaves.
In a big blog post I wrote about minimizing Dr, Dentist, Atty individual listings so they don't hurt the main practice listings ranking, I also recommended having the professional's Place page link to their own bio page on the site or the meet the team page if all professionals are listed on same page. But point is - don't have the individual's professional listings link to the home page of the site. Only have the main listing link to the home page. I think that advice could also help with this agent listing scenario.
Here is a link to my thread with more detailed instructions for minimizing professional listings.
<a href="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-duplicate-listing-dentists-doctors.html">Overcoming New Google Places Duplicate Listing Problems for Dentists, Doctors, Attorneys</a>
Anyone else have good tips or any questions about this issue?
