Cleaning Up the Map: A GMB Spam-Fighting Strategy
Client: A local, licensed, and insured roofing contractor with a physical office.
Challenges We Faced
The client was doing everything right but was being pushed out of the 3-Pack by spam:
No “Map Pack” Ranking
They had a GMB, but were completely absent from critical medical directories like Healthgrades, Vitals, and Zocdoc.
Overrun by Spam
The google maps pack was filled with fake listings (competitors using P.O. Box addresses) and keyword-stuffed names (e.g., “Best Roofing Repair Contractor in [City]”).
Losing High-Intent Calls
They were losing all the high-value “emergency roof repair” calls to businesses that didn’t even exist.
Illegitimate Rankings
These spam listings were outranking the client’s legitimate, verified GMB, pushing them to #8.
Frustrated & Penalized
The client felt penalized for following the rules.
Clean Up Your Local Search
“Tired of losing to spam listings in the 3-Pack? Our local map SEO service will fight spam and claim your rightful spot.”
Our Approach – How We Solved These Challenges
Spam Fighting & Competitor Analysis
This was the core of our SEO local map strategy. We identified the top 5 spam competitors that were clearly violating Google’s guidelines.
We gathered proof (e.g., Street View images of fake addresses, no business license) and submitted them to Google’s Redressal Form.
Comprehensive GMB Audit & Optimization
While waiting for Google, we hyper-optimized the client’s legitimate GMB profile with geotagged photos, weekly GMB Posts, and all services listed.
Local On-Page & Website SEO
We beefed up their “Roof Repair [City]” service page to make it the most authoritative in the area, ensuring Google saw them as the best real option.
Reputation & Review Management
We pushed for 10 new, legitimate reviews to further separate them from the 0-review spam listings.
Results
| Metric | Before | After | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitor Spam Listings Removed | 0 | 3 (out of 5) | N/A |
| “Map Pack” Ranking (“roofing repair near me”) | Position #8 | Position #1 | +7 spots |
| Qualified “Emergency Call” Leads | 15/mo | 60/mo | +300% |
Free Local Spam Analysis
“Think your competitors are cheating? Request a Free Local Spam Analysis and let our local map SEO experts investigate!”
Advice for Marketers & Brand Owners
- Don’t let spam win. If your google maps pack is full of fakes, you must fight back. Document the spam and use Google’s Redressal Form.
- The best defense is a perfect profile. Your legitimate business must be 100% optimized. A strong GMB, real reviews, and a great website will make you the clear #1 choice once the spam is removed.
- Be patient. Spam Fighting takes time, but it’s the only way to clean up a spammy industry and claim your rightful local map ranking.
- Use GMB Posts. Weekly posts show Google that your business is active and legitimate, unlike the “ghost” spam listings.
Extra Factors That Made It Work
- The Spam Fighting was the key to clearing the path. It was a slow but necessary process.
- Once the spam listings were removed, the client’s hyper-optimized, legitimate profile (with real reviews) immediately shot to the #1 spot.
- Geotagging photos of their trucks and team at real local job sites helped prove their legitimacy to Google.
