Google Local Not Quite So Local

Posted 5 Nov 2009 in Activate Clients , Google | 3 Comments

Activate Client, the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis Co Clare was until recently appearing in Google in the Local Search results for various permutations of keywords ‘hotels ennis’.  For a location based business such as a hotel, getting on that map of 7 listings on the homepage of Google is very important.

However, this week I heard from Temple Gate that they had an issue with a client who booked a room under the impression that the Temple Gate Hotel is close to the 02 in Dublin (some 240km away).  In fact they had found the hotel in Google by typing in ‘hotels near 02 dublin’.  I tried to replicate the search myself and found that Temple Gate Hotel was showing up on the map in the local search results, and for some strange reason Google maps was now placing them firmly on Ennis Grove in Dublin 4!   Not only that, their map listing for Ennis related searches had disappeared.

Templegate-moves-to-dublin

I have come across cases where it took some time to get an old address updated, but this is the first where I have seen Google change a correct location to one that has absolutely no connection to the business in question.   We have now tried to reclaim the listing and update the address.  Any of you who have gone through this process will know that the options for doing so are limited.  You can either get Google to send an automated text or phone the telephone number they have on file for the business  to confirm.  I didn’t fancy the chances of an automated Google call to the receptionist so opted for the postcard.   It’s rather ironic really that we are waiting for snail mail from the U.S. from one of the the biggest Internet companies in the world.

Tags: ,