Comments on: Google Mapspam: Time for a formal solution

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:34:16 +0000

Yellow pages access to Google maps is nothing more then a venture to raise more money, With Google saying the maps are free and useable by the public, its strange how high paying yellow pages customers are getting preference for what use to be a fair and public search result that is controlled by the people who pay the most to Yellow pages.
They have listed company multiple time and removed other listing from showing, even giving the whole map to their customers over any other listing?, how they have done this is between yellow and Google , but the people who really suffer is the end user. When you read the terms and condition of use for the Google maps it states what you can do and what you cant do, But yellow seems to be allowed to brake the rules, and if the end users is limited to only one search option and only one listing , Well that’s ok because yellow pays Google for the privilege, so its no wonder yellow has such control to promote their high paying customers. Good free maps listings that gave the user the most accurate information has now become a thing of the past as more and more big yellow customers take over the local listings. I would prefer to pay Google for the map listing rather then yellow , They must of paid a lot of money to get Google onboard , as the yellow programs are dieing compared to Google “ Why would you want to join up with a less successful company ?. I can only think that Google has changed its mind about not charging for the maps , now Google has its new friend collecting the money, so they don’t contradict their original game plan.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:49:35 +0000

Can we talk about yellow pages ? They seem to be selling map spam now , have a look at
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=locksmith+hornsby&btnG=Search&meta=

You will see hornsby locksmiths have over 5 listings by yellow pages , you will see the same results over and over ,look at independent locksmith
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=locksmith+parramatta&btnG=Search&meta=
same , more then what is needed , and making the maps useless ,

Large company’s using yellow pages for mutable spam listing , under different names and different number , most of the time its the same thing over and over , and its clearly no to the benefit of the user, Lets talk about yellow pages brilliant idea to sell spam and how much money they will make and how useless the google maps have become because if it.

Their is more and more examples of this in all kinds of trades across Sydney , and soon it will be offshore company’s selling the same thing, I know of 2 other then yellow that are getting into gear for this and are selling the same thing , It ends up being one big spam fest , I see you tried so hard to stop spam , but you cant stop yellow pages or the other two componys you are yet to see

By: Mapspam Reporting Looses Visibility In Map Support Groups » Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:06:13 +0000

[...] to a great deal of frustration on the part of small business owners and LBC users. In July I noted: It is time for Google to step up to the bar and provide typical business people with an obvious [...]

By: jason wing

jason wing — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:03:29 +0000

A search of “Locksmith Melbourne Australia” shows 7 of the 10 results as “Capital Locksmiths”. Same phone number, same website, just different suburbs. They have listed 30 physical locations to get greater exposure. I have emailed them and they dont want to remove their spam.I reported them in the google forum but its a lottery if anyone replies.

There isn’t a locksmith in australia with more than 3 offices in one City!
Capital Locksmiths are clearly doing what DRLOCK did a few months back. It took months for his spam to be removed, i hope Capital Locksmiths spam is removed much quicker

Does anyone know when a formal solution to google map spam will be rolled out? 1 year? 5 years? why is google allowing this to effect so many honest businesses.

I refuse to believe that there isnt anyone smart enough at google to find a solution to finding and removing spam.

Mike Blumenthal, I hear google are hiring! PLEASE APPLY and kick some ass in there!

By: Jobby

Jobby — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:27:50 +0000

“propose my idea of a URL filter for the 10-pack, except in the case of branded searches of course” – How do you propose Google can define a branded search? Unless they adopt the algorithm that calculate Google Sitelinks.

By: SEO Igloo Blog » Google Maps and YP - Comparing Oranges To…Tangerines

SEO Igloo Blog » Google Maps and YP - Comparing Oranges To…Tangerines — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:06:45 +0000

[...] friends and neighbors in Local Search spend a lot of time calling attention to bugs and spam in Local Search. Having watched florists, locksmiths, plumbers and canoe resellers pull out their [...]

By: Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Maps: Earthlink Mapspam making a comeback | Developing Knowledge about Local Search

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:21:44 +0000

[...] 7/10/08:Â Google has now removed the Earthlink listings. As of 6:29 pm EST, the Australian Locksmith Mapspam in still in [...]

By: Mike Blumenthal

Mike Blumenthal — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:11:04 +0000

Hi David

Yes, your solution would create a much fairer environment and would be one solid step towards putting me out of a job (hooray!). It would limit the impact that spam has on a desktop search as well as not favor multi-location operations…but it should also be implemented in Maps as that is the primary interface for mobile devices…

That being said, Google has plenty of sharp engineers and I am sure that these ideas have occurred to them as well. It strikes me as a matter of will not intellect that they have not implemented a system that is more fair.

Mike

By: Australian businesses are still spamming Google Maps | Conversion Rate Web Marketing Blog

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:39:35 +0000

[...] Mike Blumenthal called for Google to create a formal solution to this problem. We definitely support this idea. [...]

By: panzermike

panzermike — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:46:07 +0000

Mike: I couldn’t agree more. I was under the impression they created a program in your last interview with Maslam that dealt with this.

But from what I am seeing, Mapspam is at a whole new level.

Some businesses create multiple URL’s and submit the same business over and over with different phone numbers and business names, etc.

This is enabling Mapspammers to control one, three and ten boxes.

There is also the problem of bogus reviews and false reviews that are truly hurting businesses.

Keep up the good work Mike.