Mike Blumenthal

It’s beem a while since I have posted to the Google Spam Hall of Shame. It’s not that there is any less of it or that it is less obvious, its just that I have been busy on other projects. But I couldn’t resist this example of systemic name abuse occurring in the jewelry business …

This week’s second Google Spam Hall of Shame award goes to not one deserving business but to a group, who have worked hard and persistently to achieve this honor (drum roll please….)- the personal injury lawyers of the City of Orlando. This achievement, of having every listing(ok two out of three1) in the 3 Pack and the …

This week’s Google Spam Hall of Shame nominee achieved a double double score in the race to be nominated and secure this week’s nod. The offender has 13 words (96 characters)1 in his business title and somewhere north of 20 fake reviews. I discovered the listing via my on-going review spam research and I loved his …

Update: As of 2:40 EDT all of Michael Park’s reviews are taken down so you will have to take my word for their value. As you know I have been exploring a Google review spam network. Google took down everyone that I pointed out to them in the network but neglected to dig one iota …

In the routine of other research I am doing, I found several listings that definitely deserve nominations to the Google Spam Hall of Shame: Beachside Towing $45 towing in St Augustine and St Augustine Beach Florida More than a fake name and more than a few fake reviews. Was this a fake listing1? Not according to Google. Not …

Google has the unique ability to look like they are doing something about systemic problems in Local when in reality it is just misdirection. Spam reporting is but one flagrant example of this. I recently reported some obvious spam. Any effing idiot could see that it is spam and yet my edit was denied. #ShameOnGoogle …

Don’t let cost prohibit you from owning a franchise. Incredible fast paced opportunity1 for expansion. Find unlimited potential in new(ish) and fast growing lead generation space. Very low initial costs. Three years of Photoshop skills, understanding of call center technologies and a straight face required. Photo geo-tagging and familiarity with competitive local exchange carriers a …

I have previously noted naming abuses in the jewelry world around Toronto. Every once in a while I attempt to edit them for some rational outcome. Rational outcomes though are sorely not part of the current Google business name edit world. I rename, get approved, owner (or seo on their behalf) changes back. Rinse, Repeat. …

If its good enough to do, its good enough to do in excess. Particularly with a name that gets verified in the GMB. The only questions I have remaining are his age, his wife’s name and how many children he has. Maybe Google should do away with categories and attributes and just allow businesses to …

In 2009 I met with the then head of Google Local, Carter Maslan, and asked why they allowed so much spam to continue to exist in Maps after they were alerted to it. He assured me that it wasn’t very visible and it was being used to “inoculate the system” against future abuses. The Disease  …