Competition

[Peachy]

Without mentioning names (as this person is a member of this forum!) our site is doing really well just recently and we are creeping up google ..... on page 1 now for several of our search phrases.

Since hitting page one we've noticed that one of our compeititors has changed their title tag and description tag ....for their main page.... and included the name of our website in the tags.

They have also added another category on their main page with the exact title of our website - when you click on this they have written a lot of meaningless blurb which keeps mentioning our website name.

I get the feeling they are either worried or jealous that we are creeping up behind them. Our name could be used in other contexts (similar to Acorn Computers where the Acorn can be used in diffent contexts!).

Maybe these people just feel insecure about competition....I don't know but I think they have stooped really low to do this. Is there any action we can take....or should we just rise above and ignore.

 

[Connexions]

First thing, email them and see what they say (if anything). Could you PM me so i can take a look at their site? is the name they used trademarked?

 

[Gate2Shop]

If you are doing well maybe they are trying to get someone to notice them when you are being indexed.

 

[Peachy]

You could be right......when you type in our website name they do come up on the same page now ....with our name in their description.

I think competition is good but to actually put another businesses name into your tags and on your front page is going one step too far. We haven't noticed any change in sales because of this but just wondered what other peoples thoughts were and if there is any action we can take.

 

[sysops]

I think competition is good but to actually put another businesses name into your tags and on your front page is going one step too far. We haven't noticed any change in sales because of this but just wondered what other peoples thoughts were and if there is any action we can take.

I think it really depends - are they putting in your business name e.g. "the something company" or your domain name e.g. "thesomethingcompany.co.uk"?

And if the former, how generic is you business name?

Give us some clues dammit!

 

[Peachy]

We don't want to mention names as we do have a cunning plan but......

their site has a very specific name eg. Starbucks Coffee .....where you get the idea it's a coffee seller or coffee shop but wouldn't know that from the first part of the name

our site would be similar to Coffee beans Coffee .......so we both have the same end part to our name but the first part of our name is not so specific and could cover other items.

We think this is where they have been really crafty as they could argue they had done this unwittingly! However, all their shop categories are exactly the same as before but they have added another heading.....in a separate part of their shop......titled say. coffee beans coffee......it just doesn't fit in and by taking their own name out of the title and description and putting ours in we think this is most likely deliberate.

They are high up in google for many phrases and we are behind as we have not been established as long. Although we both sell similar items our site is tailored to only one specific part of the market whereas they cover a much broader range.

If we just let this ride and keep working at our site is there any chance we could get above them? This would give greater pleasure than tackling them now! I suspect there is not a lot we can do other than use the same tactics as them which we don't want to do.

 

[First in Retail]

Until you think they cross a legal or damaging line, then leave them to it, they clearly do not know what they are doing, concentrate on your own business.

just keep your fingers crosses that they actually put your url in there pages at somepoint, a link from a higher site can only benefit you.

 

[ccjo]

They will come unstuck eventually don't worry.

Just keep working on your site in a positive & productive manner. The best man will win & it's very enjoyable when you do......

Jo

 

[fisicx]

Google is very intolerant of this type of behaviour. I would suggest that they are using this tactic to undemine your site. I'd get in contact with them with your concerns. If they do not reply or leave the page as it is you can always contact google and file a DMCA report for misuse of your company name: http://www.google.com/dmca.html