Mike:

I’m glad you reported this for wider spread clarity. I too had seen the description Maps Guide Cecelia gave with regard to reporting a problem. The response was given to one commentator in Google Groups for Maps.

Is there a wider level response from Google? I would hope so. Otherwise that set of directions as given by Cecelia would be lost to the greater community of SMB’s and interested parties that see these problems/SPAM and try and get them rectified by contacting Google.

Frankly in its recent revision and structuring of google groups for Maps there are now over 1800 comments, questions and complaints from business owners. Its escalating rapidly. There needs to be a wider broader, clearer set of guidelines. Otherwise people don’t know what to do. And that doesn’t even hit the problem that so many have experienced: If the problem is reported…will Google ever get around to fixing or correcting it. You referenced that above.

Of course, fortunately there is this blog. It reaches a wide set of SMB’s, SEO’s, local SEO’s and people concerned about information in the Local Web world. Its fortunate you are publishing on these issues. In fact with regard to Cecelia’s comments in that Google groups question you had to correct Cecelia as to in which parts of the world the edit function is available. GOOD WORK. Help us. Add to clarity.

As to the Edit/function/Report a Problem option. My experience is slightly different than that which you report.

1. If an LBC record is unclaimed there is an edit link in the Local Business Record Bubble. Click on it and it does give you the “Report a Problem” option. Then a series of drop down menus/ questions and an opportunity to comment appears. Pretty straight forward.

2. My experience is …if the record is claimed and you click on that link…it is taking me to the Local Business Center Dashboard. When I’m signed into Google it takes me to the series of LBC records I’ve referenced. When I’m not signed in to Google, it takes me to an option to set up a Local Business Record. That is not the “Report a Problem” option.

3. As Cecelia referenced in that single response, once one has entered the local business record bubble, one can click on the map. That click will then generate a “report a problem option.”. That works whether the record is claimed or unclaimed.

Thanks for reporting on this. Unless I’ve missed it I hadn’t seen a widespread mention of this methodology. In fact as I first tried it…there was no intuitive way I ever would have recognized that clicking on the map in the local business record bubble would have turned up the “report a problem” option.

I hope Google speeds up actions on these reports. I operate SMB’s. Spamming the local business record can dramatically impact the fortunes of a small business. Google’s Maps inserts into organic search can at times have HUGE HUGE impact on the fortunes of businesses. Some businesses are significantly affected by this Google feature.

I would hope Google would step up to the plate and act more quickly and responsibly with regard to cleaning up the mess. It affects a lot of folks. As one commentator before me said: “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”.

From what I’ve seen so far, once a listing has been reported as “doesn’t exist” by one user it is not possible for other users to report it.

I would have thought that frequency of the reports would be a strong signal for Google about fake listings. I’m concerned that the current setup will put people maliciously marked as “doesn’t exist” on the same footing as clearly fake locations.

I am on the road today so have just a few minutes to respons:

@Dave
2. My experience is …if the record is claimed and you click on that link…it is taking me to the Local Business Center Dashboard. When I’m signed into Google it takes me to the series of LBC records I’ve referenced. When I’m not signed in to Google, it takes me to an option to set up a Local Business Record. That is not the “Report a Problem” option

You need to select edit from within the info bubble NOT the places page

I wonder how it’ll be in the Locksmiths field- probably tons of “Report a Problem” form were sent against legit companies. Let’s ee how it goes!

Mathew

It is a way for any sort of problem that can’t be addressed in the LBC to be reported…I don’t know how Google will respond to them. Most likely only in bulk or on very eggregious abuses.

BTW it is available in Canada even though there is no community edit feature there. The link isn’t associated with the specific listing but with the view at the bottom on the left just above the YellowPages.ca™ link. It is structure slightly differently but has much of the same functionality.

In Canada, it only allows you to give input IF THE BUSINESS has been claimed. You can not add information to unclaimed businesses. So if you want to spam in Canada but not have it reported then feed it through YellowPages.ca

Mike: Unfortunately the spam remains. Reporting is made, and I don’t see actions. Spam can continue for months on end, impacting small businesses.

Why did Google bother establishing guidelines and creating mechanisms for reporting them when in fact they don’t act on them.

If you want to see this situation at an absurd level take a look at this search:
http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS349&q=madrid+bike+tours&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

Take a look at that record, then revert to this message in google groups for maps where you commented…and where Cecelia declared it a spam name: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/maps/thread?tid=0e1de808d533cfd9&hl=en#all

We saw the question back on 12/14. Google Employee Cecelia deemed it spammy. Cecelia described reporting spam. Spam reporting was discussed in depth, by you and Cecelia.

Yet that very thread, shows spam, shows it not being changed, discusses spam reporting…..and irony of ironies. Google sees it and does nothing.

If that single thread is not an invitation to spam name records, I don’t know what is. How can Google not react to the spam reports? How can they seemingly encourage it, by in a very thread wherein they discuss Spam reporting and then let it sit undisturbed for 2 weeks.

It looks to me like Google encourages Spam.

I have one of those SMB’s you reference above that is losing business due to spam records. How many spam reports do I need to submit? 50, 100, 1,000. Will it matter?

Google is a big black hole in so far as customer service is concerned. In many cases its engineered algo’s encourage spam. They can recreate false data, but Google does nothing about them.

Its a shame Google shirks its responsibility. By virtue of its control of search it has a monopoly on a critical element of business. It is not responsible in dealing with the algorithmec errors it creates.

Soon questions of monopoly are going to rise about the merger of MSN and Yahoo. Google will be questioned on this issue. I can’t wait to show my evidence as to how powerful, monopolistic, and irresponsible Google is.

Step up, Google. Act on the Spam. Above all else, don’t set up a system that blatently encourages it….then sit back and study it without recognizing the consequences.

Act on it!!!