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I was recently setting up a client that has 2 businesses at the same location.  When performing Local SEO and Citation building, you need to make sure that each business has a unique address, regardless if it is in the same physical location.

Citation Setup

When setting up their Google My Business (GMB) account, we spelled out Suite as part of the address

Business 1
100 Example Way
Austin, Texas 78703

Business 2
100 Example Way
Suite A
Austin, Texas 78703

When the GMB validation card arrived at the business, Google had shortened Suite to Ste, which is the USP abbreviation for Suite.

Business 2
100 Example Way
Ste A
Austin, Texas 78703

Now here is the rub.  Some listing services aren’t going to shorten Suite, some might not even pick up the 2nd address line.

We decided to change the address to

Business 2
100 Example Way, #A
Austin, Texas 78703

By having the street/suite on one line and using the pound sign, everything should be consistent, because with Local SEO and Citations, consistency is a ranking factor.

Here is Google’s take on setting up a Google My Business account.

Departments within other business, universities, or institutions

Departments within businesses, universities, hospitals, and government institutions may have their own listings on Google.

Learn more

Publicly-facing departments that operate as distinct entities should have their own page. The exact name of each department must be different from that of the main business and that of other departments. Typically such departments have a separate customer entrance and should each have distinct categories. Their hours may sometimes differ from those of the main business.

  • Acceptable (as distinct listings):
    • “Walmart Vision Center”
    • “Sears Auto Center”
    • “Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Dermatology”
  • Not acceptable (as distinct listings):
    • The Apple products section of Best Buy
    • The hot food bar inside Whole Foods Market

For each department, the category that is the most representative of that department must be different from that of the main business and that of other departments.

  • The main business “Wells Fargo” has the category “Bank” whereas the department “Wells Fargo Advisors” has the category “Financial Consultant”
  • The main business “South Bay Toyota” has the category “Toyota Dealer” whereas the “South Bay Toyota Service & Parts” has the category “Auto Repair Shop” (plus the category “Auto Parts Store”)
  • The main business “GetGo” has the category “Convenience Store” (plus the category “Sandwich Shop”) whereas the department “GetGo Fuel” has the category “Gas Station”, and the department “WetGo” has the category “Car Wash”