Removing Bogus Results from Google

10 replies
I have a SEO customer who is a locksmith. I want to report results which are appearing which are from other locksmiths who are unlicensed and therefore operating illegally in the state and ripping people off.

I did a search on Google for how to do this but it only allows you to report copyright infringement and things of that nature.

Both for my customer's search results and for the protection of people so they don't get ripped off I'd really like to know how to have these sites removed from the results. I've heard of it done before so I believe it can be done.

Thanks in advance for any advice or instructions on how to do this from the Warriors!

Jeff
#bogus #google #removing #results
  • Profile picture of the author Newman8r
    If they are operating illegally you can just report them to the proper state agency - otherwise there isn't anything you can do.

    Even if they do get reported their search engine results may remain for a long time so there's not always much you can do, besides getting more entries indexed on the SERP and knocking the others to page 2
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      I don't think whether the owner of a website is "unlicensed" will make any difference to whether or not Google will index and rank the site. How could it? One can hardly expect them to start checking people's trading licenses before indexing/ranking their sites ... :confused:

      In other words, in SEO terms they're not "bogus results". It's their owners' compliance with state regulations which may be in question, not their websites.

      If the websites themselves are committing some regulatory offense (which I doubt), then reporting them to their respective hosting companies may be a more worthwhile avenue of approach than expecting Google to de-index them.
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    • Profile picture of the author DenRich777
      Originally Posted by Newman8r View Post

      If they are operating illegally you can just report them to the proper state agency - otherwise there isn't anything you can do.

      Even if they do get reported their search engine results may remain for a long time so there's not always much you can do, besides getting more entries indexed on the SERP and knocking the others to page 2
      Thanks for the helpful info..so much great advice here on WF, glad I joined this forum, thanks a bunch
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  • Profile picture of the author mhpurvis
    I completely understand your position, but a better approach might be to leverage your facts in your marketing and focus on the positive side of things. Instead of trying to make enemies of the competitors by trying to hurt their business, simply focus your marketing messages around your clients strengths...

    "The ONLY Locksmith within a hundred miles of AwesomeTown City licensed by the state of Coolville. When you need a Locksmith who cares enough about YOUR safety to take his business seriously, you'll call Joe Locker (your family will thank you for it)!"

    Take the energy you were planning on spending trying to get the competitors banned and put it into new marketing channels or ads for your client.

    As a secondary thought, you could follow up the copy I mentioned above with some case studies, newspaper reports etc. of people who have incurred damages as a result of using non-licensed locksmiths... just a thought and you're not directly pointing the finger at any other specific business.

    Hope that helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
    Banned
    Originally Posted by WhiteChocolate View Post

    I have a SEO customer who is a locksmith. I want to report results which are appearing which are from other locksmiths who are unlicensed and therefore operating illegally in the state and ripping people off.

    I did a search on Google for how to do this but it only allows you to report copyright infringement and things of that nature.

    Both for my customer's search results and for the protection of people so they don't get ripped off I'd really like to know how to have these sites removed from the results. I've heard of it done before so I believe it can be done.

    Thanks in advance for any advice or instructions on how to do this from the Warriors!

    Jeff
    Just because they are unlicensed doesn't mean they are ripping people off. Maybe they just don't like getting ripped off by the city/state over some bogus licensing requirement.
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    • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
      I usually agree with you and love reading your responses however on this one I have to disagree.

      I'm not saying these businesses are ripping people off but trades like locksmiths who are required by law to be licensed with the state for a reason.

      Many states require this business model to have a rather large bond and certain insurance coverages as well.

      Those who operate without licensing can now afford to charge less because they don't "have" to have the required bonding etc. etc. So they are making it much more difficult for those businesses who operate within the bounds of the law to earn business from the same pool of prospects.

      There's a reason why businesses don't follow the law, its usually because they are ripping people off in some form or another, of course that doesn't mean to imply that all legally operating businesses don't rip people off either, its just the former is more likely then the latter.

      Originally Posted by Black Hat Cat View Post

      Just because they are unlicensed doesn't mean they are ripping people off. Maybe they just don't like getting ripped off by the city/state over some bogus licensing requirement.
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  • Profile picture of the author Suze Thomas
    You could also use the fact they are not licensed as a selling point for your own client's service, as was mentioned above. And, you could still report the business to local licensing authorities, but I doubt Google would ever do anything about the listings.

    It's interesting on Craigslist they require contractors to indicate whether they are licensed or not, but make no effort to stop non-licensed ones from posting.
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  • Profile picture of the author Big Gee
    I believe (in California) you can do work unlicensed for no more than $500, after that you can get in trouble. Someone correct me if I'm wrong though. But as Rus Sells pointed out I can see locksmiths being an exception.
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    First I doubt the license is that expensive so if he is charging more and using that to justify why his prices are not competitive he needs to be told that his prices are not competitive.

    Second google does not care if they are legal or not when it comes to something like this.

    Third if they are illegal he needs to report them. If a customer can find them so can the state and with states strapped for cash this could be a great opportunity for them.

    Fourth now i am going to give you a free marketing chance. Find out how much the fee is. Get the paperwork for it and see how easy it is to fill out. Once you have that call up all these companies and offer to help them get the license that you are sure they must not be aware they don't have. Offer to file the paperwork for them for $100(or whatever more is fair based on the paperwork) plus the cost of the filing. They will know if they don't get the license they will be in trouble and they will likely pay you as it is clear you can turn them in. It's legal but almost like blackmail. if they don't get your service turn them into the state. Never say you will you don't want to break the law and blackmail them of course but they will know what will happen. In the end you will make soem money and you will help the state collect some fees. Some you will collect and others will be collected after you turn in the ones who don't want your service. Also you will help level the playing field for your client.

    Fifth instead of focusing on how to get google to take away sites ahead of you why not focus on good SEO and get him above them?
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    • Profile picture of the author professor x
      Originally Posted by lordauric View Post

      First I doubt the license is that expensive so if he is charging more and using that to justify why his prices are not competitive he needs to be told that his prices are not competitive.

      Second google does not care if they are legal or not when it comes to something like this.

      Third if they are illegal he needs to report them. If a customer can find them so can the state and with states strapped for cash this could be a great opportunity for them.

      Fourth now i am going to give you a free marketing chance. Find out how much the fee is. Get the paperwork for it and see how easy it is to fill out. Once you have that call up all these companies and offer to help them get the license that you are sure they must not be aware they don't have. Offer to file the paperwork for them for $100(or whatever more is fair based on the paperwork) plus the cost of the filing. They will know if they don't get the license they will be in trouble and they will likely pay you as it is clear you can turn them in. It's legal but almost like blackmail. if they don't get your service turn them into the state. Never say you will you don't want to break the law and blackmail them of course but they will know what will happen. In the end you will make soem money and you will help the state collect some fees. Some you will collect and others will be collected after you turn in the ones who don't want your service. Also you will help level the playing field for your client.

      Fifth instead of focusing on how to get google to take away sites ahead of you why not focus on good SEO and get him above them?
      I definitely agree w 4th n 5th points!

      ya... u can spend the time worryg bout all the illegitimate bizs, but they're not gonna go away anytime soon. if ur unlicensed, it doesn't necessarily mean u suck or u rip ppl off tho... plus when it comes down to it, if they have great reviews that follow them, that's all ppl (prospects) really care... will the contractor get the job done well?? that said, tho, the unlicensed contractors more likely have more to lose and wud love ur service if u offered them a convenient way to get legit (and bundle ur services w it)

      good luk!
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