This week’s Ask an SEO question is from Ursula, who asks:
Should a small business with a local office (more workshop than sales office) and a Google Business Profile listing delete the GBP listing if they want to focus on selling their product nationwide?
Great question, Ursula! I hear this question all the time at conferences and online, but it’s not a simple answer. Like everything with SEO, it depends.
If you were asking in person, I’d first ask what kind of business we’re talking about – it’s possible that they’re not eligible for a Google Business Profile (GBP) in the first place.
Which Businesses Are Eligible For A Google Business Profile?
Any time you have questions about Google Business Profiles, it’s best to check the guidelines to see if there’s an answer buried somewhere in there.
Google keeps an updated list of GBP guidelines in the Help Center that explain eligibility requirements and rules that businesses should follow.
Most people don’t realize that not every business qualifies for a Business Profile. According to the GBP Guidelines,
“To qualify for a Business Profile, a business must make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours.”
Obviously, there’s more to it than that, but this statement is the most important element of the eligibility section. If a business doesn’t do face-to-face business with customers during the stated business hours, it’s not eligible for a GBP.