Can we have 2 websites with same business name and same business address?

[AlexanderWhite]

I have 2 websites with same business name and same business address, and obvious 2 different domain names.  I am providing the same services from 2 websites. Is this is a problem?

[benjaminmarcinc]

I have 2 websites as well and they are in the same niche, i made sure the write completely different content that is helpful to my visitors. Different titles and descriptions as well.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi William,

Agree with your summary, but do want to stress that there generally isn't a good enough reason to be running two sites and that Google finding your complete or partial NAP on more than one site is definitely BAD!

[WilliamKammer]

Thanks for the tip, Miriam.

[WilliamKammer]

Heh, I think we've been talking about the same thing, just miscommunication.

The bottom line:

• Best case is one site and one list

• Worst case is 2 websites, 2 listings

• Bad, but not worst case is have 2 sites and one listing (if you have some sort of super important reason for having 2 sites).

[MiriamEllis]

Hi William,

I think you might like to check out Google's John Mueller's advice on this topic:

http://www.seroundtable.com/google-one-site-locations-15454.html

http://www.seroundtable.com/google-one-site-15963.html

I think this advice about a single site vs. multiple sites is especially important in the local business scenario.

Hopefully, these links will be of help to everyone participating in this good discussion.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Alexander,

Good question and good discussion going on here. I am going to recommend against having two websites, as it sounds like you are operating a local business with a physical location.

What is the purpose of you having two websites? How do you feel this helps your customers?

I believe you are right to be concerned, and here is why:

When Google crawls the web to bring data into the 'cluster' they have about your local business, what they are 'hoping' to find is a clear business name, clear address, local phone number and authoritative website consistently associated with your business. In your case, what Google is finding is that two websites are associated with your business name and address. What are they to trust in this situation? By the same token, which website are your customers meant to trust?

Having multiple websites for a single business often represents risk for:

• Citation inconsistencies

• Ranking problems

• Merged listings

• Duplicate listings, including hidden duplicates

• Duplicate content

• Customer confusion

• Bot confusion

I don't know all of the nuances of your unique situation, Alexander, but chances are, if a client came to me with this scenario, I would be recommending that he pick a single authoritative domain and redirect the second domain to it, then work on building his authoritative domain into a powerful asset. Splitting up your authority over multiple domains just seldom makes sense, and there are definite risks involved. Hope this helps.

[David-Kley]

"remove listings from the index due to there being too much similarity with existing locations"

But wouldn't that be for multiple listings, that had similar or exact addresses? (for the listing itself, not the website) But I do agree it's a risk to have both.

I agree if a competitor saw both ranking, they could submit it as spammy, but technically, he isnt breaking any "rules" by having two sites. Having the same content on both, yes.

Good points on your end, not discrediting any of them. I see what you mean, I'm just trying to let the OP know what he is potentially up against by having both.

[David-Kley]

Some of the page titles on each site are the exact same. The content is different, and the descriptions are different, so you might be able to get by on that.

The contact pages being so very close is worrysome. I would mark up one with snippets, and the other without. Also, your domain names are very close. Have you seen any adverse effects in ranking due to this?

After looking at the two, I would invest a bit more into the http://gtawindows.com/ domain. Personally, I think it looks better, and google seems to rank it better according to keywords like "vinyl windows toronto", and "entry door toronto".

Noticed a few errors you will want to look at:

Script error that is affceting a few pages:
http://gtawindows.com/patio-doors/patio_door/

Duplicate pages due to tagging system:
http://gtawindows.com/toronto-exterior-doors/
http://gtawindows.com/tag/fiberglass/

http://gtawindows.com/tag/ontario/
http://gtawindows.com/tag/handles/

There are quite a few more. I would invest some time in looking at this, unless you already have them blocked in robots. Do a site search, and look at page 11 results and beyond.

Hope this helps.

[WilliamKammer]

That's fine, in my opinion.

[WilliamKammer]

The phone call or postcard will get you past the automated verification, but I have seen listings sites (Google specifically), remove listings from the index due to there being too much similarity with existing locations. If you tried to add two listings with everything the same, except the domain name, it's a risk. So yes, the initial automated verification will be accepted, but that doesn't mean it will stay that way. Especially if a competitor sees that both are ranking.

Both sites can have an identical NAP on the contact page, as long as both aren't submitted as listings or aren't extremely similar.

[David-Kley]

Alex, post the links to domains. I would like to see what you have in place. They are no-follow, so it shouldnt be an issue.

[AlexanderWhite]

I did business listing only for one website. But same business address in on both website contact us page.

[David-Kley]

I agree with only having one marked up, but I would still submit both. If the content is different between the two, I don't think there will be any issues with ranking. If they are similar, and you have 2 domains saying the same thing, that could have a negative effect.

As to having 2 domains, is there a specific reason you have it set up this way?

@william do you have evidence of having location info listed on both sites causing an issue? I'd like to know more about the potential issues this could cause if you have seen it cause trouble before. You mentioned that it would cause issues with getting listings accepted, but since most listings are verfied by phone or by postcard, I cant see how having it displayed on multiple sites would have an impact on the acceptance or validation of the listing, simply because it's displayed on more than one domain.

[WilliamKammer]

This can be an issue if you are also focusing on local SEO with Google Maps and other listings like that. An identical NAP (name, address, and phone number) spanning two sites will cause you issues with getting listings accepted and ranking properly.

You are also splitting your assets, so consider if it's really worth it to have two sites. If you have to have two sites, I would only mark up and submit one site, if they provide the same services.

[David-Kley]

There are a few ways to look at this.

As long as you have to resources available to properly optimize both sites, and provide distinct, separate content, then no, there should not be any adverse affect to your seo or ranking.

I think it's wiser to invest your efforts in one site, but I can understand the cause for a separate site, particularly if it is using a keyword-driven domain name.