Several Local Ads, for the same company?

[Nuro]

Hello everyone,

I have a question regarding the practices of certain companies in the plumbing services sector across German cities. I've noticed that a single company often uses different variations of its name for each location area to run local ads. However, the reviews consistently originate from the same Google Business Profile (GBP).

1st: How is it possible for them to utilize a single GBP for different company names in various cities? Are they sharing one GBP across multiple locations?
2nd: Do they officially have separate companies at each location? or does google accept also not official naming for local services?
3rd: Do they use the same Google Ads account for their payments, or do they create separate accounts for each location?


Thank you in advance for your assistance!

Plumping service: Sanitär notdienst...
City name: Wetzlar, Bonn, München...

 

[Chris Barnard]

1st: How is it possible for them to utilize a single GBP for different company names in various cities? Are they sharing one GBP across multiple locations?
2nd: Do they officially have separate companies at each location? or does google accept also not official naming for local services?
3rd: Do they use the same Google Ads account for their payments, or do they create separate accounts for each location?

Hey Nuro,

I'll preface this with the fact that I know zero about LSA policy in Germany.

1. They shouldn't be able to use a single GBP for multiple businesses in different locations, with different names, in the same industry.
2. In the U.S., the business name should exactly match the associated GBP, but I see instances to the contrary quite often.
3. No telling what payment accounts are used - they could do either, is my understanding.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help, maybe someone else can chime in. Here are a few related links:

• Report Misconduct or Abuse
• Understand the screening and verification process
• Complaint on multiple ads showing for one company

 

[Nuro]

Hi Chris,
thank you for your feedback.
I have here additional information.
The name of the advertisers is for all ads the same "Seibel GmbH & Co. KG".

 

[JS Girard]

Hey Nuro,

I'll preface this with the fact that I know zero about LSA policy in Germany.

1. They shouldn't be able to use a single GBP for multiple businesses in different locations, with different names, in the same industry.
2. In the U.S., the business name should exactly match the associated GBP, but I see instances to the contrary quite often.
3. No telling what payment accounts are used - they could do either, is my understanding.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help, maybe someone else can chime in. Here are a few related links:

• Report Misconduct or Abuse
• Understand the screening and verification process
• Complaint on multiple ads showing for one company

I'm 100% speculating here, but is it possible that what's going on is the review-stealing trick that was rampant in the us (where they would somehow use the reviews of a completely unrelated GBP), but using a GBP that the company own?

Has the merge of LSA and GBP reviews been fully applied in Germany?