Offshoot Company

[Matt Chauhan]

We have a new client onboarded with us recently who is an electrician. The current owner of the business created an offshoot of their company for one of their friends, but not related to any business purpose. That offshoot company (still active and running) is around 190 miles away from the original business, but it has the same logo and brand name as the original company. Can that offshoot company hurt the rankings and performance of the original business? Shall we do something about it or leave it as is altogether?

 

[Colan Nielsen]

From a local ranking perspective, I cannot imagine a way that it would have a negative impact if it's 190 mi away.

 

[Matt Chauhan]

From a local ranking perspective, I cannot imagine a way that it would have a negative impact if it's 190 mi away.

Are there any other actions we must take?

 

[Colan Nielsen]

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you referring to actions related to the business that's 190 mi away or something else?

 

[Matt Chauhan]

I understand that from the local SEO perspective, the offshoot company is not going to have any negative impact on the original business. But, to make sure that the offshoot company doesn't negatively impact the original business, are there any other steps we should take?

 

[Colan Nielsen]

The only issue I can think of is potential branding, confusion issues if they're using the same brand and that's not what they really are.