Google Business Profile Spam

Google Business Profile can be a valuable tool for both local businesses and customers. It becomes less valuable for all when spammers take over the site.

Google Business Profile Spam is a Big Problem.

Google Business Profile can be used for free. Due to the volume of listing, the majority of new listings can only be reviewed by an algorithm using machine learning that sometimes seems asleep. Many fake and obvious spam listings were ignored by the algorithms. Authentic businesses are notified and must fight for their listings to be reinstated.

Which Spammers Use Which Techniques?

Spammers, employ a variety of methods to get their listings to rank higher than those who follow the rules.

Fake listings

It is used to scam you into giving your leads away and outsourcing the work. They may also sell your leads to you. But, remember, don’t give them money. Fake business addresses can be used to disguise legitimate ones. This is why local people are able to spot them (Google Business Profile locations need clear signage in order for their validity).

Multiple Of The Same Listings

This is often done in order to increase local SEO. For example, a company may claim to be located in several towns, which can help them attract customers from nearby areas. This is done in order to boost exposure or push out other businesses from the list.
They will generally use different names.

Make sure you have only one Google Business Profile listing. Fake contact information can cause damage to the business and make it difficult for customers to find them.

Names With Keywords

You might do this by changing the business’ name to “Car Accident Lawyer Trenton”, or adding keywords at the end. This is in most cases is just bad SEO. Although the business believes it will work, it is stupid and it could be detrimental to Google Business’ Profile’s long-term goals. This is the most common spam listing to report. A simple keyword search will find them all.

False Reviews

People like to compare their opponents and will write reviews pretending that they are unhappy customers. Other cases include businesses engaging in review swapping with someone who isn’t a competitor to improve their rating.

Google Spam: How Can You Fight It?

Google Business Profile spam can be harmful to everyone. It has even become so widespread in some industries that many customers no longer rely on Google Business Profile. It is frustrating for legitimate business owners to discover that the company they tried calling didn’t exist. Sometimes, suggestions to edit obvious spam lists are rejected.

What can you do to combat spam? Google recently improved its tools to fight spam.

These are the five most important things that you can do in order to combat Google Business Profile spam.

1. You Can Use The Business Redressal Complaint Form

This Google Business Profile redressal form is for any content which could lead to fraud or be “malicious” to appear on Google Maps. (Their grammar.) You must complete the application completely or your request will be rejected.

Report any Google Business Profile spam lists you discover. You can often find additional information by looking for spam phrases like ‘car accident lawyer’ and ‘your plumber’. You will have to complete one form for every entry you are unable to correct. It is important to clearly explain what the problem with your entry. The forms will be reviewed by an actual person. Your actual contact information will be required, as per Google’s privacy policies.

2. Send Public Edits to Spam Listings

You can do this by clicking the “Suggest an Edit” button located below every listing. This tool allows you to suggest keywords that be deleted from your name. It is also possible to state that the location doesn’t exist. You can also take a photograph of the actual address to prove it.

3. Get Help On The Google Business Profile Forum

This should only be done if you have exhausted all other options. Product Experts can’t guarantee your success. Please be polite. Google will soon be removing the Spam & Policy section from the forum (possibly already depending on the time you read it).

4. Talk About It On Social Media

Some individuals have been successful in getting false listings deleted by Google. This was possible through Twitter. After all, it’s the grease that gets the wheels turning.

5. Report Fake Reviews

You can report fake reviews that are against Google’s policies. These policies forbid the posting of fake content in order to manipulate ratings.

Reporting “reviews”, which have no connection to your business or contain profanity or purport to come from someone else, is also possible. You can also report reviews that appear to have been posted by another business, but this is not always easy to spot.

You may leave a polite reply explaining to the customer that the person is fake and not a customer even if the review doesn’t clearly violate any policies. It isn’t for spammers, it is for all those who are reading the review.

Conclusion

Businesses and marketers must be vigilant in fighting Google Business Profile spam.
Spam will continue to slide through until the algorithm improves dramatically. Google cannot provide human reviews for each listing without slowing down the system so that no one could post their listings.

This is true even though it’s not the only thing that matters. Contact Digital Muzes for more information and assistance on spam prevention and how to improve your Google Business Profile listing.