Have you ever wondered why sometimes the bad actors seem to be getting the most business? Well, it could be because they’re not playing by the rules.
Sometimes, the best way to improve performance for your company is to level the playing field with your competitors. Many Google Business Profiles are not in compliance with Google’s guidelines but are still receiving volume. If this is your situation, or if you suspect it is, this information will be really helpful. If, after you’ve read this, you decide you don’t have time to deal with this, you can always reach out to us to help you.
A recent example
In Spearfish, South Dakota, when you search for “Roofing Contractor”, one of the top results is “Built Wright Homes”. They have a decent review profile, an optimized website, and are appearing in the top 3 Google Maps results. The problem? This office was shut down over a year prior and all calls are currently going to a different office in another state.
To be clear, this company should not be receiving any traffic per Google’s rules.
It’s not fair for the roofing businesses in that area.
It’s not fair for the customers.
So, what to do about it? Google has a few methods for removing incorrect or fraudulent activity. In the case of “Built Wright”, they actually aren’t trying to be fraudulent, but just haven’t cared to shut down their listing. Regardless, removing that listing is important for the other local roofers, especially the ones just outside the top three results.
How to report fraudulent or incorrect activity to Google
Google has an online form that allows you to submit listings that need to be changed. The key here is to be thorough in presenting evidence to Google. Think of this like a trial: Google needs strong evidence that the listing is in fact fraudulent. Without the requirement of evidence, it would be easy to sabotage your competitors, and bad actors could shut down good companies. It’s good for this to require proof.
As you go through this process, here are a few tips for reporting fraudulent activity:
- Clearly identify the problem with the profile in question. In the report you will be asked what type of content is misleading. In the case of “Built Wright Homes”, the answer would be “This business doesn’t exist”.
- Upload picture evidence. In the case of “Built Wright Homes”, the business shut down their office, and the best evidence would be a photo or video showing that their office is no longer at the location specified on their profile. You can take a screenshot of the location on Google Maps, but in-person video is usually the best.
- Explain in detail what happened. In the case of “Built Wright Homes”, they shut down this office because they couldn’t adequately service the area. I even called their number and had a nice conversation with the front desk, and they confirmed the closure of the office. Details like this and any other relevant information are important to include. Note: this isn’t a time to rant or complain. That won’t help your case.
What if Google doesn’t address the issue?
There is a backup method for fixing issues with Google Business Profiles, especially for more complex cases: posting on the Google Business Profile Help Community. There are a lot of contributors on this forum who have influence with Google and can give advice on how to get results. In more complex cases this can be a great place to go. The key is to clearly lay out the evidence you have. Here are a few instances when the Google Business Profile Community can help:
- A competitor has suspicious reviews. Maybe they’re all 5 stars and there are hundreds of them. Maybe the reviews came really fast after a period of little activity. Whatever it is, you will want to explain in detail why you think they’re fake, including many examples. Alternatively, you can hire a company like ours (RevClick) to do the research for you.
- A competitor has multiple shadow business profiles. This is a really common issue with business profiles. Oftentimes, business owners don’t intend to have multiple profiles in the same location, or they have a shady marketing agency doing work for them. Regardless, this isn’t allowed by Google and can have a big impact on the rankings in an area. There are many technicalities to having multiple profiles, so it’s often best to consult an expert. If you have questions or need help with this, the community can be a great place to go.
In conclusion, many businesses on Google are out of compliance, and it has a material impact on the good, honest companies trying to get leads. If you’re looking to level the playing field or need expert assistance with research, reach out to us. RevClick’s local SEO team is here to help you achieve success.
