Google local listing spammed [Archive]

Fenland

14th July 2009, 09:18

Just a quick query; have a look at this google search result for mole control cambridge (http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mole+control+cambridge&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB298GB298)

Now each of those first ten "local listings" i.e. the ones near the map are clearly the same company, and not local.

Thier websites are clearly just clones of one another (if you can be bothered to click on them)

How exactly is that done, will it last?

Ali-v-8

14th July 2009, 09:36

Just a quick query; have a look at this google search result for mole control cambridge (http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mole+control+cambridge&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB298GB298)

Now each of those first ten "local listings" i.e. the ones near the map are clearly the same company, and not local.

Thier websites are clearly just clones of one another (if you can be bothered to click on them)

How exactly is that done, will it last?

Piece of cake
The initial verification is done with a xml upload.
You list many locations or the same one and since google is automated it submits all of them.
you could do a feed of 50 listings.

But if another listing gets on there it would get the second click. People aren't that stupid that they would click from one to another.

JElder

14th July 2009, 16:19

Google doesnt like duplicate content on it's main site, but not usre how they treat the listing on maps. Worth monitoring!

OldWelshGuy

14th July 2009, 16:20

mapspam is common, juts report it and google will deal with it (eventually)

Place of design

14th July 2009, 21:25

Place of design

14th July 2009, 21:27

i just cant believe the quality of the site, the links or anything else.

Conversion is more important than SEO, and this site proves it

paretowasright

15th July 2009, 01:24

The words 'pest control' have never been more apt!
I live in Cambridge and not heard about too many mole problems but they clearly have that market cornered until google boot them off.
Very very sneaky indeed.
No doubt rat control cambridge etc etc is also botched up by them!

ivebeenstiffed

15th July 2009, 10:27

I saw a classic example of this relating to the taxi business in the Google Business Directory as well... I won't name the company involved but suffice to say they had managed to get pretty much every taxi company number in the UK into the local business directory with a link back to their site. They were then charging taxi companies to sign up with them on their directory. Very Slick!

It worked for months. Then, suddenly, they were gone. I don't think by their choice either. I think Google rumbled them.

So my guess is that Google frowns on this, as they should. Perhaps an email to Google might help? No guarentee that you will get an answer but I would say based on what I saw it's a definite no-no.

Trev
taxiroute

Ali-v-8

15th July 2009, 10:47

I saw a classic example of this relating to the taxi business in the Google Business Directory as well... I won't name the company involved but suffice to say they had managed to get pretty much every taxi company number in the UK into the local business directory with a link back to their site. They were then charging taxi companies to sign up with them on their directory. Very Slick!

It worked for months. Then, suddenly, they were gone. I don't think by their choice either. I think Google rumbled them.

So my guess is that Google frowns on this, as they should. Perhaps an email to Google might help? No guarentee that you will get an answer but I would say based on what I saw it's a definite no-no.

Trev
taxiroute

Yeah i remember that.
Taxi numbers

ivebeenstiffed

15th July 2009, 10:56

Yeah i remember that.
Taxi numbers

Spot On! :D

paretowasright

15th July 2009, 11:12

My only query about how they do this spamming is the process involves verification of the phone number by Google either by a phone call or mail.
I am just wondering how the same phone number for the same service and location has slipped through 3-4 times?

Ali-v-8

15th July 2009, 11:15

My only query about how they do this spamming is the process involves verification of the phone number by Google either by a phone call or mail.
I am just wondering how the same phone number for the same service and location has slipped through 3-4 times?

Its easily done via xml feed.
one listing is varified while the others are just there.

Place of design

15th July 2009, 11:28

I think google are ina dammed if they do and dammed if they dont situaton

Example you own a chain of hotels, all over the country. Each hotel is equally valid to be called local in the individual town. Google recognise that in such situations head office will have IT dept who deals with things like google submissions and adwords

This is why they give an XML feed

Google also recognise that the local thing is open to abuse from peole wanting to
1. either disrupt a competitors listing
2. spam a small business across a wider area than it ought to be

which is why they use verification

The theory is that xml feeds are a bit beyond your average joe.

In practice, google dont know everything, are not the police, and have to accept waht is said to them on face value. Unfortunatally, the concept of local is a little myopic

A really good example of Googles problem is dealing with a company like one of mine:

Example I am a wedding phootgrapher, I cover all of the UK - Where am I local too. I live in a tiny village, i usually work in a 40 mile radius. i have worked in Cuba scotland, IOW and Cornwal - where am I really local too?

Example:
Taxi firm. My local taxi form has an office inthe village, but its owner drivers are based all over the area - including the surroundiong towns. They genuinly do cover all of nottinghamshire - where are they local too

Herin lies googles problem. There are some huge businesses with branches all over the place, there are some small business that actually work all over the place

Drawing a line through it and making sensible decisions must be a nightmare

b2bmarketing

15th July 2009, 13:14

Well its not that difficult to spam google's local listings. And its even more easier to spam Yahoo's local business listings. Till now Google has not done much in stopping such spamming but I am sure that they will do that soon.

Ali-v-8

16th July 2009, 15:15

Already have

Fenland

22nd July 2009, 07:43

The words 'pest control' have never been more apt!
I live in Cambridge and not heard about too many mole problems but they clearly have that market cornered until google boot them off.
Very very sneaky indeed.
No doubt rat control cambridge etc etc is also botched up by them!

Just checked and yes you are correct local listings for "rat control cambridge" (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB298GB298&q=rat+control+cambridge&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB) is also spammed up :D

paretowasright

22nd July 2009, 08:44

Hi Fenland,

Blimey there is no stopping them!
They will be spamming 'swine flu control' next......now there's an idea ;)

David