How can you change 'Google related searches'?

[skehoe]

I am having problems for a few clients where google is suggesting negative related searches.

I have had success getting Google suggestion (auto-complete) to suggest the keywords we want to be associated with the brand but the 'Searches Related to....' at the bottom of the search page is a big problem.

Many of the terms are negative of sometimes defamatory and have absolutely not relevance to the brand.  Even upon clicking on the related searches the pages Google displays are about other businesses.

Can anyone suggest how to teach Google these term are irrelevant or any other suggestions as to how to remove them?

[brianspatterson]

Hi, we're running some tests where we have a user search the primary (brand) term, and then have them go back and search for a positive term (brand name + product name) or something like that.  In small tests, we've seen this have a positive impact on 'related searches'.  However, we are just now rolling this out on larger test cases, so the jury is still out on how much it'll work.  I suspect it is a combination of this plus some of the tactics used to manipulate Autocomplete that'll do the trick.  Let me know if you have any luck or want to brainstorm!

[skehoe]

Thanks fatwallet,

Unfortunately, associating these brands with the term 'scam' is not an option.

I need to figure out a way to teach google that is irrelevant.  Most of my efforts have led to additional related term to be added but have had no luck removing the negative ones.

[Fatwallet]

The most ethical thing you can do is create content for your brand to rank for those terms - that way when users do follow that path - you'll still acquire the traffic.

This is a common tactic for battling '%brandname% scam' type searches.

sometimes it requires some creative writing