Add My Company
I have just seen a Social Media post about a new method of improving the listing of a Google Business Profile, one that will get it higher in the rankings, with the aim of getting a pin in the 3 pack map.
The chap in question had found that GBP accounts that were linked to a ‘parent’ website that was very focused when it came to the keywords it wanted to be found for, performed better than those that did not.
After running some tests, he confirmed this method and devised a method whereby he suggested creating a highly keyword-focused website (just one word or phrase) and obtaining a ‘virtual’ office which he could then use as the GBP address.
The latter is of course against Google’s rules, but his strategy included a whole range of ways that this could be hidden from Google, thereby lowering the chances of being ‘found out’.
He went on to suggest that a business could do the same for a number of phrases, thereby sowing the market up.
He also said it was an expensive way of doing it.
𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 ‘𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴’ 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮?
What worries me the most about it is that it is yet another way of trying to trick Google, something that I just can’t recommend and the reason for all those Updates we see all the time.
Nearly all of the time these updates have been introduced to beat the ‘cheaters’, and there is no doubt that there will be one that will catch out those who use this method at some point.
After all, it will be very hard to disguise the fact that all of these sites are linked to one core business, and then I believe the trick will be revealed.
It’s just one example of someone suggesting a way to beat the system. I cannot say it is wrong to use such methods, but I can say that I don’t recommend them.
Better to stick to doing things ‘properly’ and just getting the listings that Google believe you deserve.
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