We’re up, we’re down. We’re not sure where we are.<\/p>\n
Reader & TC Jim Jaggers<\/a> alerted me to the fact that Google has changed the \u00a0Google Places PO Box guidelines<\/a> once again. In this new reading PO Boxes are definitely out. Suite numbers and box numbers are in. The new prohibition against moving the pin (a wide spread spam tactic to get a location in the city center without changing the address) is still in affect.<\/p>\n
| 02\/08\/2012 \nGuideline<\/strong><\/td>\n 02\/10\/2012 | \nGuideline<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Do not create a listing\u00a0or place your pin marker<\/strong>\u00a0at a location where the business does not physically exist. P.O. Boxes are not considered accurate physical locations.\u00a0If you operate from a location but receive mail at a P.O. Box there, please list your physical address in Address Line 1, and put your P.O. Box information in Address Line 2.<\/strong><\/td>\n | Do not create a listing or place your pin marker at a location where the business does not physically exist. P.O. Boxes are not considered accurate physical locations. If you operate from a location but receive mail at a mail box there<\/strong>, please list your physical address in Address Line 1, and put your mail box or suite number in Address Line 2.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | Clearly this means that PO Boxes of any ilk are still verboten even when they are legitimate. This means that those that in rural areas that don’t get mail deliver will still need to request approval via the Troubleshooters on the Help Pages.<\/p>\n Certainly it is significant that Google is publicly calling out the tactic of the moving the pins and putting folks on alert that have abused the Pin placement. Usually it takes some time for an algo update to the filters to see the new guideline put into action. They can’t occur soon enough in this situation.<\/p>\n |