{"id":3976,"date":"2009-06-25T09:01:00","date_gmt":"2009-06-25T13:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blumenthals.com\/blog\/?p=3976"},"modified":"2009-06-25T11:52:06","modified_gmt":"2009-06-25T15:52:06","slug":"flagged-and-not-waiting-for-content-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blumenthals.com\/blog\/2009\/06\/25\/flagged-and-not-waiting-for-content-check\/","title":{"rendered":"Flagged (and not) Waiting for Content Check"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Local Business Center status of being Flagged Waiting for content check<\/a> is one that generates the most posts<\/a> in the Google Help Forums.<\/p>\n

Google has never clearly defined all of the situations that precipitate the message. The technique<\/a> of line by line and word by word removal of the content and then resaving your listing usually allows one to figure out which word or field is the offending one. The flag may also be triggered by a bug or field limitation. It is known that too many CAPS, the use of the word Google, a url to Google sites, sexual, racsist or hateful language trigger the filter. Until now, it was not known that there were industry specific phrases that might trigger it as well. To further complicate the situation Google has individually made legitimate exceptions via the tortuous path of the forums. <\/p>\n

This post<\/a> in the Help Groups though highlights the process and problems with the status code as well as some of the bigger issues that Google confronts in creating a local index and their awareness of the issues.<\/p>\n

I spied it last night at midnight, forwarded it to PureSheer who responded. His response then precipitated a near immediate and unusually forthright response from Google. This post captures all of the themes of Maps in a nutshell; the immature status of the LBC, some of the issues that trigger the Flagged message, the forum based support issues, the difficulties of legitimate business functioning in a spammy Maps world and Google’s work to harness the beast they have unleashed…<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<\/col>\n<\/col>\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n
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Google Help<\/a>\u00a0>\u00a0Maps<\/a>\u00a0>\u00a0Discussions<\/a>\u00a0>\u00a0Problems and Errors<\/a>\u00a0> My account ws flagged for the phrase “mobile locksmith service”<\/div>\n
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\"\"\u00a0<\/span>Question:\u00a0My account ws flagged for the phrase “mobile locksmith service”<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nRemove abuse<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/h2>\n
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\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n\n
aaaprolocksmith<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n
Level 1
\n6\/24\/09<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
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I opened up an account, brick and mortar local location, local service area, locksmith service in Nashville. The account wsa flagged and so I started stripping out keywords and categories until it was changed to “awaiting next update,” which means the content was approved. Then I added back the one category “24\/7 mobile locksmith,” and the account was again flagged. I took out “24\/7,” I took out “mobile,” I took out “locksmith,” I stripped that account to the bare bones and had to finally change the name before it again went back to being “awaiting next update.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0 What is so bad about “24\/7 mobile locksmith service”<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

All answers<\/h3>\n
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\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n\n
Puresheer<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n
Level 1
\n4:48 AM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
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\"\"\u00a0Mike CH<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(Google Employee) says this answers the question:<\/div>\n
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@aaaprolocksmith<\/span><\/p>\n

This term “Mobile\u00a0 Locksmith” was one of the firsts that Google blocked\/ flagged while one using it. The reason- spammers! 1. you can thanks Usafe (see first reference below) that spammed Gmaps very strongly with this term in their categories & additional titles to their listings. 2. you can also thank the mega spammers from Florida (or wherever they are from) about the wide use they made with this term in ALL USA & Canada (see second reference below- Organic results, see all the first pages\u00a0– most of them belong to the same spammy company). BTW- the term Emergency Locksmith is starting to be flagged as well; that happened in the last week.<\/span><\/p>\n

My suggestion- don’t use\u00a0 the flagged terms; the Locksmith industry is under the spot light & you don’t want Google to investigate your listing more than they are doing now (for Locksmiths).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>If this is the only ‘bump’ you encountered with Google in the Locksmith field- you are in a good position!<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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References:<\/div>\n
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[1]<\/td>\n\n
Usafe- Mobile Locksmith<\/a>(Web)<\/div>\n
maps.google.com<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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[2]<\/td>\n\n
MObile Locksmith’s sites<\/a>(Web)<\/div>\n
www.google.com<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Do you think this answers the question?\u00a0<\/span>