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Understanding Google My Business & Local Search

More cases of Massive Mapspam in Maps

Update 6/6/08: This spam has been removed. Also on Imnotadoctor.com Maps Guide Jen noted about the similar Earthlink Spam:

This particular case was added through a bulk feed in our Local Business Center. We’re actively working to implement some processes that will prevent these types of spam from displaying in Google Maps.
Cheers,
Jen

map spam

A recent posting in the Google Maps for Business Group has led to uncovering of another case of widespread mapspam very similar to the Big Local and Earthlink reported earlier and covered here.

This review of the company says it all: This company is listing my address because I sometimes do work for them. You will get better price and service by going to me directly. David Ringwald‎

The structure and probably the vector of this spam are identical to both EarthLink and Big Local. It doesn’t appear to have been bulk uploaded as their is no indication of business owner control. A number of the listings have a street address but not building number and are represented with the circular indicator instead of the pin. 

This search on the phrase ComputerAssistant returns 2,495 listings within Maps with listings for every independent contractor that has worked for them previously.

Google has removed the previously reported Mapspam from Earthlink and Big Local. But all of these efforts speak to the idea of showing service area that Carter Maslan spoke of in the interview last week with Greg Sterling last week where he noted: We currently don’t allow for service areas, but we recognize that many businesses don’t have physical locations and are working to accommodate those businesses.

If anyone has a suggestion as to how these listings entered maps I would love to hear them.