Is it better to use a home address or a business address for a GMB?

Short Answer: When setting up a Google My Business (GMB) listing, you cannot officially use your home address as the business address. Although some businesses do use their home address to create their GMB and then hide it, using that address for citations can cause issues if it appears frequently across the internet.

Full Explanation

Google My Business requires a physical address for your listing, but the address used must be the actual business location, not just a home address. The reason is that GMB listings are designed to reflect real-world business locations where customers can engage with your company. Using a home address unofficially—such as hiding it after creating the listing—might initially appear to offer privacy, but this can lead to complications if that home address is used for citations across multiple platforms.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Identify your business location: Determine the physical address that represents where your business operates.
2. Register your GMB listing with that official business address: Avoid using your personal home address unless it is the actual business location.
3. Use your business address consistently: Ensure that the address used for GMB matches wherever your business is cited online.
4. Avoid hiding your address after registration: Some businesses try to obscure their home address, but this can create inconsistency.
5. Be aware of citation impact: The presence of the address in multiple online citations can either strengthen or harm your local SEO, especially if the address is hidden or inconsistent.

Real Examples

Some businesses choose to use their home address to open their GMB listing but hide the address afterward. They then use this home address for citations to build local presence. However, this practice can lead to problems when the home address is listed repeatedly across the internet without clear visibility on GMB, leading to possible confusion for customers or issues with Google’s verification process.

Common Mistakes

• Using a home address as the official business address on GMB when the home is not the business location.
• Hiding the business address after creating a GMB listing with a home address.
• Creating inconsistent citations that use the home address when the GMB shows a different or hidden location.
• Failing to recognize that multiple listings of a hidden home address can cause trust and verification issues.

FAQs

Can I use my home address if I work from home?
Only if your home is the actual business location; otherwise, Google prefers a legitimate business address that customers can associate with your business.

What happens if I hide my home address on GMB?
Hiding the address can lead to inconsistencies with citations and may confuse customers or complicate your verification with Google.

Why do some businesses use their home address for citations?
Some businesses do this to establish local SEO presence, but this practice can backfire if the home address is not the official business address and appears hidden or inconsistent.

Key Takeaways

• Use your official business address for your Google My Business listing.
• Avoid using a home address unless it is your actual business location.
• Be consistent with your business address across all citations.
• Hiding your address on GMB after using a home address can cause SEO and verification problems.
• Ensure your online presence accurately reflects your true business location to maintain trust and improve local SEO.