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Which industries are considered regulated for Local SEO?

This article highlights industries that may face campaign restrictions due to Google's guidelines

Regulated industries for Local SEO usually include adult services, alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical products, recreational drugs, health & medical devices, gambling-related services, fireworks, weapons, educational institutes, and financial services.

Industries that CANNOT have their own Google Business Profile and run Local SEO: 

  • Brands
  • Organizations
  • Artists
  • Any other online-only businesses

Google’s Guidelines here.

However, we would be able to fully support their efforts with Organic SEO and working on their website. 

Review Requests

  • Google prohibits new reviews for educational institutions. The old ones will remain on the profile, but any new reviews will not be posted.
    • Review requests will be replaced with another optimization.
  • HIPAA-compliant advertisers are also unable to conduct review requests through our team. Due to regulations around the transmission of personal health information (PHI), we cannot receive patient names and email lists. Aside from Review Requests, our team is able to fully support a HIPAA-compliant advertiser with Local SEO. 
    • We can still send a QR code that directs to their reviews page. Review requests will be replaced with another optimization.

Google Business Profile Posts

  • If you offer products or services in an industry that is regulated, you’re allowed to use posts but you can’t post content related to the products themselves. Google limits posting based on the category selected on a Google Business Profile, some categories do not allow any posts. If your industry prohibits posts, your CM will notify you within the line item and replace the monthly optimization.

Google Questions & Answers

  • There is no option to enable the questions & answers section on a GBP listing for educational institutes.

Google Products

  • Google does not allow products/content related to regulated products and services including alcohol, tobacco products, gambling, recreational drugs, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and unapproved supplements, or health or medical devices.

Review Responses

  • We can still respond to reviews for HIPAA-compliant advertisers. When responding to reviews for HIPAA-compliant advertisers, we cannot disclose any PHI. Patients may disclose their own PHI, but their providers may not. If a patient discloses PHI in their review, they have not waived their rights under HIPAA. Responses will be kept brief and general.