As with all technology, there are people looking to take advantage of loopholes that give them a way to use a service for purposes other than intended. Nowhere is this more obvious than with lawyer listings on Google My Business and Google Maps. When you search for lawyers in your area, you’ll sometimes see listings that are obviously spam or fake, while others are better at hiding their deception. But, the good news is that when you spot a fake listing, Google allows you to report it and get it removed, thereby leaving more advertising space for legitimate law firms. Here’s how to spot a spam lawyer listing and what to do about it.
Exact Match Keyword
When you search for a specific keyword, spam lawyer listings often result in exact matches. This is a red flag and is often referred to as keyword stuffing. Almost no one would name their law firm “car wreck lawyers.” Of course, this isn’t always true, since some people might want keywords as their business name to produce more search results. However, a law firm name that exactly matches keywords can be an indication that it is a fake listing. You’ll want to look for other signs before reporting it, though.
Link to Free Website
Google My Business listings often have a link to the company’s website to drive search traffic and capture leads. However, spam listings don’t want to pay for a website so they link to a free one instead. If you see a website that has a free domain name like wix.com, ipage.com, or another similar extension, you’re probably dealing with a fake company. Legitimate companies are usually willing to pay for their websites to make them look professional.
Business Not Claimed
Another red flag for a spam listing is that the business is not claimed. This is indicated by the verbiage “Claim this business” on the listing. If this verbiage is present, it means that the business has not been verified and that it may not be real. Certainly, there are some legitimate companies that have not claimed their Google My Business listing, especially if they are small businesses, but in combination with other spam indications, this is one sign that a listing is fake.
Check the Website and Reviews
If two or more of these red flags are present, you’re probably looking at a spam lawyer listing. You should still look at the website (if one is listed) and any reviews that have been submitted to the company. When checking out the website, go beyond the first page, which can often look legitimate. Most fake companies, though, will not complete secondary pages or contact information. If there are any reviews on Google or other platforms, read them carefully to make sure they were left by actual customers. Look for symbols, emojis, and other filler material that is designed to meet word content and not provide a real review.
Conclusion
Once you’ve identified a fake Google My Business listing, report it to Google by marking it as spam or sending a Google My Business Business Redressal Complaint Form using this guide. While it might take some time to actually pull down the ad, the reporting process does work and removing these spam listings will help you keep your local ranking as high as possible.
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