For dealerships and other industries with multiple operational areas like sales, service, parts, tire center, etc, Google Business Profiles (GBPs) now allow the impementation of nested departments. But what does that mean, why is it beneficial, and how does it impact visibility? Let’s break it down.
What Are Nested Departments?
Nested departments are individual Google Business Profiles for each department that are linked to a main dealership listing. This allows Google and clients to know that these departments are available within a larger business. Google recognizes them as separate entities for search purposes, but also understands they are part of the same business.
Example:
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Parent Listing: Dimmitt Chevrolet (Main dealership listing)
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Dimmitt Chevrolet Service (nested)
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Dimmitt Chevrolet Parts (nested)
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Dimmitt Chevrolet Oil Change (nested)
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Each department can have its own categories, hours, and contact information while remaining clearly associated with the main dealership.
Why Nested Departments Are Beneficial
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Improved Search Relevance: Each department can appear for searches specific to its function, e.g., someone searching for “oil change near me” will find the oil change department, not the sales department.
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Organized Metrics and Insights: Each nested department has its own performance data, making it easier to analyze and optimize specific areas like service appointments, parts inquiries, or test drives.
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Enhanced User Experience: Customers can quickly find the right department, reducing confusion and improving engagement.
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Better Google Understanding: By explicitly linking departments to the main location, Google avoids duplicate listings and conflicting information.
Visibility Nuances
Since nested departments are a relatively new feature still being refined by Google, it’s important to note that you may not always see them listed directly on the sales profile.
However, each nested department will always display the icon indicating it is “Located in: [Main Listing],” clearly showing the connection. Even if the nested departments don’t appear on the sales listing, the structured nesting ensures Google accurately understands the business hierarchy, supporting search relevance and performance tracking.
Additional Insights
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Only businesses with multiple operational areas, such as dealerships, campgrounds, hospitals, or universities, are eligible for nested departments.
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Each nested department must share the same physical address as the main listing.
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Categories should be specific to the department to avoid overlap and confusion.
Partner with Experts for Fast and Safe Setup
Setting up nested departments can be complex. Our team specializes in fast, precise GBP implementations and is a preferred partner of Google, ensuring smooth setups without suspensions.
We’ve seen dealerships achieve huge increases in driving directions requests and customer engagement by properly implementing nested departments. Check out our case studies to see the measurable impact for yourself.
Ready to get your departments properly nested and start capturing more customers?