How do I get rid of rogue listings?

[dignan99]

Unfortunately, Google has taken bits and pieces of my business and combined it with non-existent businesses and other rogue information.  So now my business has 3 locations.

One proper listing that I created and manage.

One that uses my website address but nothing else is correct in the listing.

One that contains my name(incorrectly), but the address and everything else about it is incorrect.

I have reported these places many times but they continue to hang around and I am lost/confused on what to do next.

Please advise.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Dignan,

The appropriate thing to do in cases like these it to go through the REPORT A PROBLEM link at the bottom of each problematic Place Page. It's a good idea to be signed into your account while doing this. Describe the situation and link to the correct listing for your business in the wizard. State that you have only one address - the one on your authoritative listing. Ask that these 2 other listings be removed.

Wait 4-6 weeks to hear back from Google (could take considerably less time these days, actually). If you do not see resolution, then take the matter to the new Google Places Help Forum. The new forum will be here:

http://groups.google.com/a/googleproductforums.com/forum/#!forum/maps

Explain the steps you have taken and ask if a Top Contributor can please help you obtain resolution.

*In your shoes, I would also do some sleuthing to try to figure out where the other data is coming from...it's coming from somewhere and discovering the origin may help you to surmise what is going on.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Miriam

[Vahe.Arabian]

As you have your listing I would suggest that you continue to try and get those listings removed by reporting it to Google.

One way that you can demonstrate that your verified listing is the "credible" and only one is through local citation linkbuilding and getting people to place reviews on your listing.

The more activity will show hopefully push the other two down in SERP's  and eventually be removed from Google.

Good luck,

Vahe

[dignan99]

HI Brent,

Thanks for the reply.  As of last week the phone numbers were different on the rogue listings, but I just checked...and guess what...both now have MY phone number.

So it looks like I could claim them.  It was advised that the best way to deal with these listings would be to just report them to Google, opposed to claiming them.

They mentioned it was against the rules for me to have more than one listing(even if my intention was to nix the two rogue listings.)

Care to share your input?

[SEOBrent]

This may be obvious but you haven't mentioned it. Did you try to claim the listings? Or are they already verified and claimed by somebody else?