Imagine you’re searching for a local service online—say, pool leak detection. You type it in and a list of businesses appears. But here’s the catch: not all of these businesses are playing fair. Some listings use shady tactics to climb the rankings, making it harder for honest businesses like yours to get noticed. At Olly Olly, we’ve mastered the art of fighting these spam listings, helping businesses like yours rise through the ranks quickly and fairly. This tactic has been incredibly successful in giving our clients the edge they need to compete. And while we handle the heavy lifting, we want to equip you with the knowledge to understand the process or even take action yourself when needed.
What Are Spam Listings?
Spam listings break Google’s rules to manipulate search results. These profiles engage in tricks like stuffing business names with extra keywords, creating multiple listings for the same location or even setting up fake profiles in places they don’t actually operate… These sneaky tactics push honest businesses—like yours—further down the rankings!
For example, say you run a pool service business. Your competitors might use something like “Pool Leak Detection – Atlanta, Alpharetta, GA” as their business name. That’s obviously not their real name, but by adding extra cities and keywords, they’re gaming the system.
These tactics don’t just mess with Google’s rankings—they also confuse potential customers.
According to Google, spam listings are a growing problem, especially in industries like yours. In 2021 alone, Google removed 7 million fake business listings—more than double the 3 million they removed back in 2018! And while Google is cracking down on these shady tactics, people like you are helping too. In fact, 630,000 of those spam listings were removed because users reported them. That number’s grown from 250,000 in 2018, showing that more businesses are fighting back.
Some industries are hit by spam harder than others, as a study by Sterling Sky shows. Take garage door repair, for example—87.6% of listings in that industry were found to be fake! And in the junk car industry, 80.2% were spam. Even in fields like tree service, HVAC or handyman work, about a quarter of the listings aren’t real… making it a lot harder than it should be for honest businesses to compete!
Common Spam Tactics We Fight
Spam listings come in all shapes and sizes. Here are the most common situations we handle for our clients:
- Keyword stuffing in business names: Adding extra words to a business name to game the search system, especially when those keywords aren’t part of the official name. For example, if your competitor is legally named ‘Chris’s Plumbing,’ but they list their business as ‘Chris’s Plumbing – Drain Snaking, Fixture Repair, Leak Detection,’ that’s keyword stuffing.
- City name stuffing: Similarly, businesses might add multiple city names to boost their rankings, even when those names aren’t part of their legal business title. Examples of this include ‘Holiday Inn (I-93 at Exit 2)‘ or ‘U.S. Bank ATM – 7th & Pike – Parking Garage Lobby near Elevator.’ This practice is against Google’s rules.
- Duplicate profiles: Creating multiple listings for one location with slight name or address variations, flooding search results.
- Fake addresses: Setting up profiles with addresses where they don’t actually operate—virtual offices or UPS stores for example.
- Home addresses: We often find competitors using private residential addresses that don’t comply with Google’s policies. If a business operates from a home address but isn’t meeting customers there, we’ll report it for violating Google’s guidelines. If a residential address is allowed, it must follow strict rules, such as having clear signage and regular business hours.
- Misuse of practitioner profiles: Creating duplicate listings for solo practitioners, cluttering search results.
- Lead generation sites & ghost businesses: Fake profiles designed solely to collect leads for other businesses.
- Fake reviews: Paying for positive reviews or posting fake negative reviews to harm competitors.
- Phone numbers in photos: Scammers adding phone numbers to photos to mislead customers.
- Review gating: Only asking satisfied customers to leave reviews while discouraging unhappy customers from doing so, which violates Google’s review policies.
- Businesses without proper licenses: Listing businesses that don’t have the legal authority to operate in the state.
- Operating outside of specified service areas: Listing a service area where the business doesn’t actually provide services. This is common with service-area businesses, like contractors or delivery services, who claim they operate in areas where they do not actually serve.
- Inappropriate or offensive content: Uploading inappropriate images, videos, or text to a business profile. This includes content that is explicit, offensive, or spammy in nature, which Google strictly prohibits.
- Combination of tactics: A mix of the above, making it even harder for legitimate businesses to compete.
How We Fight Back
At Olly Olly, we don’t just report spam listings—we fight them on your behalf. Our proven strategies remove roadblocks in search rankings, giving your business the visibility it deserves. Whether it’s using Google’s “Suggest an Edit” feature or submitting a formal redressal form, we handle it all to help you succeed.
Summary of Tools and Their Purposes:
- Use “Suggest an Edit” for:
- Business name keyword or city stuffing
- Correcting business details
- Updating URLs
- Use “Remove This Listing” for:
- Duplicate profiles
- Fake profiles (non-existent businesses)
- Ghost businesses
- Virtual offices or private homes
- Lead generation sites
- Incorrect practitioner profiles
- Use Google’s Redressal Form for:
- Persistent or owned/claimed profiles, especially verified ones
- Complex spam that isn’t resolved by edits or removal requests
Why You Should Care
Removing spam listings clears the path for your legitimate business to rise in search rankings. Think of spam listings as roadblocks on the path to your success—Olly Olly is here to clear them away so you can take the fast lane to better rankings.
In some cases, businesses have jumped from the 8th spot to the 2nd by removing spam listings, leading to more visibility, clicks and customers.
What You Can Do
If you spot spam listings in your industry, don’t sweat it—we’re here to help. Whether you want to monitor and report violations or leave it all in our hands, we’re ready to make sure your business stays competitive. Reach out to your account manager today and we’ll help clear the clutter!
Learned something but not a client yet? If you’re ready to make your business the local go-to, don’t wait—call 877-Olly-Olly today and let’s start building your online presence together.
Our Commitment to You
At Olly Olly, we believe in ethical SEO practices that lead to sustainable growth. Fighting spam is just one way we ensure your business stands out for the right reasons. We’re committed to making sure your business gets found—and stays found.
We’re not looking for shortcuts. We’re not trying to overcharge you. And never will.
FAQ:
What does a virtual or shared office mean, and why would this be a violation?
A virtual office is basically a space where you can get mail and phone services, but no one’s really there regularly. Shared offices are spaces that a bunch of businesses might use on and off. The issue? Google says your business needs to have a steady, staffed presence at the address listed on your profile. So, if you’re using a virtual or shared office as your main business address, it’s a no-go because it makes it look like you’re somewhere you’re not. That can lead to problems with your listing.
Have Two Locations. Does That Violate Duplicate Profile Rules?
You’re in the clear if both locations are real and legitimate! Each one must have a unique, physical address where you actually do business. If you’re a service-based business working out of your house, you can verify your address with Google without displaying it to the public.
Just make sure each location follows the same rules: have the proper business license, operate from the listed address, and don’t create extra profiles just to expand your online footprint!
Can I List My Home Address on Google Business Profile?
To list your home address on your Google Business Profile, you must make sure your business follows Google’s guidelines for residential listings. Here’s what you need to know:
- Operate from Home? Show Signage & Hours:
If customers visit your home, the business must be staffed during your indicated hours, and clear, permanent signage must be displayed. Google expects transparency, so customers should be able to visit your business without needing to call ahead or be let in—they should be able to walk in during the hours you list.
- No In-Person Business? No Listing:
If you don’t meet customers at your home, don’t list the address. Businesses that don’t conduct in-person business at their listed address could face suspension.
- Avoid Misleading Information:
Google wants accurate information—whether it’s your hours, services, or location. So always be upfront about how your business operates. Misleading info, like incorrect hours or a virtual office address, can lead to suspension.
What happens if I accidentally create the GBP with my residential address rendering, will I be suspended?
Potentially, yes. Google lets clients hide their addresses from Search and Maps though. To do this, log into your Google Business Profile (GBP) and click on the “Edit Profile” tab. Scroll down to the address section and toggle the “Show business address to customers” switch to turn it off. This will remove your address.
Keep in mind that there may be a delay before this change appears on Search and Maps. Google might also require your profile to be reverified after making this update.
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
||||
