UPS boxes are gaming the system and Google Places is fighting back
Google Local (now called Places – http://www.google.com/places) has been around for several years now. The results from the Google Maps, combined with Places gives results in what is known as Google Places. Most of you see the Places results when you search for anything like “Birmingham Dentist.” Anything with a place associated with it has the chance to show Places results. You will see the results as a map with A-J just to the right of the map. All of the results are clickable and often are tied to the company’s address.
Many companies have found a way to game that system by getting a UPS store mailbox, one with a real street address, then telling Google that is their address.
Google is fighting back at this idea with their new quality guidelines for Google Places. One of their bullet points reads, “Do not create listings at locations where the business does not physically exist. “ Thus, if you have a UPS box and you are representing that as your physical address, Google could “suspend access to Google Places or to other Google Services to individuals or businesses violating these guidelines.”
Google’s services include SEARCH RESULTS !!
The one thing you DO NOT WANT to do is get BANNED FROM GOOGLE. If you do, it takes months to restore (if ever) your listing.
My advice regarding Google Places
I will tell you that if you do in fact have a UPS box and you are representing that as your physical address, then you should log into Google Places and change it to represent your REAL address. Taking care of this prior to getting caught is like moving your car out of a towing area before getting towed. Getting towed costs lots of time / money / headaches. Don’t do it.
How will Google find out you are not there?
I don’t work for Google and don’t claim to have the exact answer, but my educated guess is that they will find out in one of two ways.
- A comparative database: A database of addresses will compare your street address with others’ street addresses. If many of them match the address of a UPS store, Mailboxes, Etc. or similar, then they may ban all of the businesses located at that address other than the UPS store.
- Your competitors will turn you in: The other way that Google has traditionally gotten information is from competitors. Don’t think they will turn you in? Think again. Google already has the “Report a Problem” link on ALL maps links and addresses. I have used it many times to let Google know of some deceptive practices from some of my clients’ competitors. Typically the offending companies are promptly removed from the lists if Google agrees with the problem.
In summary, you should try as hard as you can to get ranked on Google. The business boom you will enjoy is hard to describe. You can increase your business two to three fold by being in the top five in their results. However, you should do it using “White Hat” methods. Be as honest as possible and the rankings will follow.
