As Google suspensions surge 80% amid verification crackdowns, multi-service businesses are turning to nested department listings — a compliant strategy that triples local search visibility when properly implemented.
-- HOUSTON, TX, December 18, 2024 — As Google intensifies its crackdown on fraudulent business listings, multi-service companies are discovering a legitimate strategy to multiply their local search presence: nested department listings.
The approach comes at a critical time. Suspension reports for Google Business Profiles increased over 80% between Q1 2023 and Q2 2024, according to data from BrightLocal. Google removed more than 20 million fake business profiles from Maps and Search in 2022 alone, with enforcement accelerating throughout 2024.
"The businesses getting caught in Google's crackdown are the ones taking shortcuts," said Joy Hawkins, owner of Sterling Sky and a Google Business Profile Product Expert who has worked in local search since 2006. "The irony is that Google provides a legitimate path for multi-service businesses to create multiple listings. Most business owners just don't know it exists."
The strategy, called nested department listings, allows qualifying businesses to establish separate Google Business Profiles for distinct departments at the same physical address. According to Google's official business representation guidelines, departments operating at the same location can maintain separate profiles when specific structural requirements are met.
Google's requirements documentation: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177
A two-year study conducted by SearchLab Digital analyzing over 1,600 car dealership Google Business Profiles found measurable differences between top-ranking businesses and their competitors. Dealerships ranking in position one averaged 16 department profiles, compared to just 5.8 for those ranking in position ten.
"More profiles equals more search visibility," said Greg Gifford, Chief Operating Officer of Search at SearchLab Digital. "One in three franchise dealerships still haven't set up department profiles. They're leaving easy wins on the table."
The automotive industry has served as a proving ground for the strategy. Car dealerships routinely maintain separate profiles for each vehicle brand alongside service, parts, and body shop divisions. Hospitals have adopted similar approaches for emergency rooms, imaging centers, and pharmacies.
For multi-service home companies, the opportunity is emerging. Businesses with dedicated crews for pest control, lawn care, and pool services can qualify when genuine operational separation exists.
Sterling Sky's 2024 analysis of suspended profiles revealed that 42% involved address verification failures, 28% had business name issues, and 17% were flagged for review manipulation. Businesses attempting to create department listings without legitimate operational separation face rapid consequences.
"Google's video verification process catches fake departments fast," said Caleb Schallert, SEO Director at Houston-based digital marketing agency ASTOUNDZ. "Businesses trying to manufacture departments that don't genuinely exist get suspended within days. The structure has to be real."
Requirements include dedicated physical space for each department, direct phone lines, different primary categories from the parent listing, and unique landing pages with department-specific content.
Industry specialists emphasize that location group configuration represents the most common implementation failure. Local search expert George Nenni has documented cases where businesses successfully created multiple profiles only to have them automatically merged because Google's algorithm flagged them as potential duplicates.
"Location groups tell Google these profiles are intentionally related," Schallert explained. "Without proper configuration, months of work can disappear overnight with no warning and no appeal."
According to the Local Search Association, 76% of new and used car buyers conduct online searches before making purchases. Research from BrightLocal indicates 98% of consumers searched for local businesses online in 2024, with 87% using Google specifically.
The timeline for results typically spans six months or longer. Initial months focus on profile creation and verification before visibility gains materialize.
For businesses considering the strategy, the stakes are clear: proper implementation creates competitive advantage, while shortcuts risk joining the millions of profiles Google removes annually.
Complete implementation guidelines and verification requirements: https://astoundz.com/nested-department-listings-google-business-profile/
Contact Info:
Name: Steve Winter
Email: Send Email
Organization: ASTOUNDZ SEO
Address: 4501 Brookwoods Dr., Houston, Texas 77092, United States
Phone: +1-713-904-5001
Website: https://astoundz.com/
Source: NewsNetwork
Release ID: 89179140
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