Great observation. I had seen the 3 difference suite designations but had not ever tracked them down to their source.

My practice, given that Google is the primary referral, is to do it the way Google needs it. My experience with Google is that having the suite # on the second line can sometimes confuse the geocoding. That leads to either splitting listings or listings that can’t be found.

I am not sure that it matters whether you use Ste, # or Suite but I have always gone to Localeze, InfoUSA and UBL (as a proxy for Axciom) and made them all the same to avoid any chance of Google duplication of the record,

What I have found is that I am getting duplicate listings because different data providers list “suites” differently.

For example, while infoUSA uses “#” to denote “suite,” localeze uses the full “suite” and Axciom uses “Ste.” as per USPS’s standards.

To add to the problem, some directories list suite in the same line as the street address, while others list it as a second line in an address.

Does anyone have any preferred/good method to make sure this suite/#/Ste issue is consolidated or not an issue?

Whoever is ignorant enough to rely on just one single source of new clientele is determined to fail. I have been in the local advertising industry for 10 years, I can tell you this for fact after watching the evolution of the local advertising industry and consumer’s search habits. Why was she/he so dependent on Google Maps?

For years I have been telling folks in DFW to diversify your online marketing mix. There is a desire by most to do it right, yet very few actually do. The proper mix used to be: Maps/Directories, Natural Search, and PPC…. it is now: Maps/Verticals, Organic/Natural, PPC, and Social Media/Reputation Mgmt.

You are either doing it right and not subject to going Out of Business or you are simply just participating in local marketing.

Why after the change did she not consult with an expert?

They always state that you must “control the control-ables” yet they apparently thought the only potential source of new clients was Google LBL?

Most businesses lose 1/3 of its clients every year, this is why it is imperative to have an effective online and offline marketing strategy. Don’t rely on one source.

The HOLISTIC Approach is where it is at!

http://www.dallasgoogleguru.wordpress.com
Mike Stewart

I am not sure anyone has identified this poster as a woman…I used both male and female pronouns to describe her.

I am glad that Google i working for you and that your son is gainfully employed. That being said, the above story is illustrative of the need for multi-channel marketing.

I personally am happy with Google, largely because they employ my son in their San Francisco office. In addition to that, Google is making my business venture very attractive at the present and that is fine with me!

I did a search on the phrase “Let me tell you a story of how Google local put me in debt.” and this person has also posted at:
-Screenwerk
-Small Business SEM twice
-SEORoundtable

As well as Covington Creations & SearchEngineJournal. Most posts were in the October 20th timeframe. My poster appears to be from the Atlanta, Ga area.

In typical and ironic fashion, Google is right there (smack that algo on the side of the head, please) on the above search proclaiming:
List your business on Google, free!
Photos and more, fast and effective

If I were to summarize the above comments:

Obtain the knowledge to do it right (either hired or not)
Recognize what you don’t know
Develop a plan
Diversify your activities
Don’t be pennywise and pound foolish, spend where appropriate
Take responsibility
Refine and Revise the plan

Whatever the motivation of the poster, whether catharsis, revenge or some sort of marketing campaign, I have enjoyed and learned from your many thoughtful responses.

Mike

It is amazing to me how quickly people are willing to paint themselves the victim.

Even within internet marketing, and even within Google itself, you need to diversify. Google Maps listings are not the only source of local traffic. The organic search rankings, showing right below a 7 Pack for a local search, can produce significant traffic. In fact it rivals the Maps traffic and can eclipse it if you play the long tail game well.

Pay Per Click is incredibly effective too. Though not free, it can produce a very nice return on investment. To capture a wider audience it can even be used in conjunction with the same search terms you already rank well for in Maps or organically. As earlpeal calls it, the “trifecta of local search” (maps + organic + ppc).

When the Maps 10 packs first started to appear, and up till about 6 months ago, the general public was not really using it. I had talked to many people and business owners who said, “oh those things, yeah, I never click on those”. They were skipping down to the organic results. A combination of poor data, spam, and most business listings still unclaimed and providing little info made Maps listings not very useful, so they were ignored. Now it’s different, there has been a sea-change within the last few months on user behavior as familiarity has set in, combined with more businesses having claimed their listings and more useful data being displayed within a listing.

Small businesses are scrambling now to improve their listings in maps. It’s making lots of small local businesses, who’ve basically ignored the internet up till now, aware of the need of having a decent presence in search engines. The declines many are seeing from yellow pages is spurring that on too. However many are singularly focused on Maps.

Maps are still a bit of a wild west, new frontier and will be fraught with drastic change as Google refines the algorithm and until a sort of equilibrium is reached. Any business relying on it will at some point feel the pinch when their listing drops off the scene.

The cynic in me wonders if the wild shifts in Maps rankings is part of Google’s master plan. Give them all a taste of what’s available there then roll out the pay model (local listing ads) and let them duke it out with their wallets.

Oh Hi! Welcome to the interwebs. We are Google, a very big basket. All your eggs are belong to us!