I have 2 questions.
Scenario: Keri is a virtual assistant and does all her work online. She has a website but not a Google biz account because it requires you to have a biz location. Keri doesn’t want her home address to be used.
Question 1: Is there a way to show a general area or city instead of a proper location on your biz profile & Maps?
Question 2: How important is it to have a biz account and Map profile?
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Hi @Paulvparky
LGs should not add places of virtual business.
Answer to Question 1: No. It’s against the guidelines, areas are indicated in Ploygan shape by Google or content partners.
Answer to Question 2: I am not sure, but I think you should not.
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What @PrasadVR said is true. Also continuing his words, a person can start a business account without a physical store but it needs to pin point a location. General area or a city can’t be used as your business location.
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Thank you! Very informative.
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Google’s guidelines specify that only businesses that offer in-person service (meaning, face-to-face) are eligible for a Business Profile listing.
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Thank you!
Hi @Paulvparky , I see you have received a lot of answers, some correct and some totally wrong.
The core of being in Google Maps is the physical interaction between the Business and the customers. You don’t need to have a listing in Maps if the customers cannot visit you, or vice-versa.
This opens two different scenarios:
- Local Guides: We can only add places that have a specific Physical Location where the customers can visit us. So we need to have an address in Google Maps and to be an eligible business: Business & place eligibility - Maps User Contributed Content Policy Help
- Google Business Profile: A business can be registered in Google Maps also if they claim their business as a Business area service, if they provide a service by visiting the customers (e.g. a plumber). For more details please check How to use a service area on Google for service-area & hybrid businesses - Google Business Profile Help
But if someone only provide an online service the answer is NO, they can’t be in Google Maps.
When we talk about Google Maps we must always keep in mind that we are talking about a digital representation of a “physical” world, made up of streets, shops that people can visit, parks, restaurants.
So, No, @Rahul001 , this isn’t true
I think this respond to your second question too, @Paulvparky
If there is not a physical contact between the Business and the customers, as mentioned by @JannellCH , it is totally useless to have a listings in Maps
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Screenshot is from the link . My doubt is: Is it possible for a businesses like plumbing to start a profile without having a business address?
Yes, it is, @Rahul001 , if the plumber doesn’t receive their customers in a specific place, with a specific opening time.
It is defined as Service-Area Business. In this case the business must define the area where he provides the service, for the customers to know that the plumber is available on that area.