Search Engine Optimisation Web Log (BLOG)
Editor: Matt Paines

| This News Blog is dedicated to bringing news, information and innovations targeting the Search Engine Optimisation industry.

New Google guidelines target local spammers

Search engine Google has amended its guidelines for firms using its Google Maps Local Business Center.

The new guidelines can be found in full on Google's Business Listing Quality Guidelines, there are number of key changes to what is and isn't allowed.

For example, business names on Google Maps must be full legal names of the company, more significantly they have addressed the issue of  PO Boxes as an address and can no longer be used as physical locations.

A property for rent is no longer considered a place of business and just one listing should be created for the central office that processes the rentals.

Google also says that shared, business email accounts should be used if multiple users will be updating a business listing and, if possible, an email account with a domain name that matches the business should also be used.

Some of the new guidelines are aimed at targeting spam techniques of using keywords in a business name and the use of PO boxes in towns and cities where no actual office exists. However this move may cause problems as many businesses consist of partnerships with legal business names that don't match.

Comment:

Become a Fan on Facebook

Follow Matt on Twitter