03-31-2011, 11:45 AM
Hijacking a Google Local Listing
I read one article and I was a little curious as to how you would go about hijacking a local listing. This is what I have learned so far.
1. Register with the Google service.
2. Enter the exact same physical information relating to your business as another listing of like-nature.
3. Once Google has merged the new data with the existing listing and verified the accuracy (with the hijacker no-less) then the perpetrator merely changes the Web address associated with the listing.
Now, when someone searches for your product or service and then clicks on your local listing, the resulting traffic is driven to the Web site of the hijacker’s choosing.
If this is possible how would you protect yourself against it? I am not sure if this is a kosher topic but I don't think it is illegal.
Any ideas would be great, thanks.
I read one article and I was a little curious as to how you would go about hijacking a local listing. This is what I have learned so far.
1. Register with the Google service.
2. Enter the exact same physical information relating to your business as another listing of like-nature.
3. Once Google has merged the new data with the existing listing and verified the accuracy (with the hijacker no-less) then the perpetrator merely changes the Web address associated with the listing.
Now, when someone searches for your product or service and then clicks on your local listing, the resulting traffic is driven to the Web site of the hijacker’s choosing.
If this is possible how would you protect yourself against it? I am not sure if this is a kosher topic but I don't think it is illegal.
Any ideas would be great, thanks.