Google Maps: Importance of Monitoring Your Companies Name

Tips for Philadelphia Internet Marketing (Search Engine Marketing & More)

Google Maps and Map Quest have allowed you to list your business on their public mapping system for a few years now. The basic theory being that when people are looking for directions they will also look for businesses. Recently the reverse theory has been put into place, that people looking for local businesses will need directions. And though the way these Mapping giants list you may still be confusing and ‘not quite there’, you can no longer afford NOT to be listed on these services.

Even more important than just being listed, every business needs to monitor it’s name every few months.

Why keep doing a search for my business, you ask?

Because when Google and Yahoo created the initial database of local businesses they took information from white pages, yellowpages and other local databases and SLAMMED them together without checking for accuracy. I’ve lost track of the number of businesses that have the wrong address, city, phone number or their ‘placement dot’ is two blocks from their current location. I still find them, three years later, because Google and Yahoo have not dedicated serious resources to fixing the problem.

Another Reason to keep checking your business’s listing/name.

Infospace, localsearch, superpages and a bevy of other ‘listing sites’ have been uploading company names and placing their website link on your company’s listing. If you’re a roofing contractor go search in your neighborhood for ‘roofing contractor’ and you may just find your company listed. It probably doesn’t have a specific address and if you look at the website link on the listing and click on it, you’ll find yourself transported to a website that is NOT YOUR OWN. This is called ‘Map Spam’ and it’s a technique that is running rampant throughout these two services.

THIS JUST IN! Google has announced that it’s going to open up its Google Map database to the general public for editing.

Pros: You can now edit and ad your listings without having to prove who you are with a post card or a phone call. Just use your Google account and start putting in your information and correcting it at will.

Cons: ANYONE can change your listing. Though Google promises strict monitoring of people abusing it’s system, it’s going to be nearly impossible for them to detect small infractions. If you have a less than savory competitor online he could go and change your address, phone or website link. One change isn’t going to send off any warning flags at Google HQ so careful monitoring of your ad is a must.

If you have questions or want to contact us about our Philadelphia Internet Marketing (search engine marketing and more) contact Alex Seigfried at 215-825-6992 or seigfried.designs@gmail.com