With reference to SEO only, is there any disadvantage to hiding the WHOIS info [make private] on a new domain registration? The reason I ask this is that I several domains & sites registered to myself [some with related material] and don't wish to get them marked down by the search engines or cross-linked in Google Maps [with same registrant name & address details]. Any ideas please?
Hello from Kent too! I think kuldep was suggesting that you could use fake WHOIS data instead of making it private. Obviously in that case you've got a risk of "ownership" if it's a site you might want to sell or if it comes to some sort of dispute in future. I believe that a private WHOIS record is a flag for search engines, and if you have enough flags (including link building patterns and on-site strangeness) then it could negatively impact your natural search positions. But if that's the only flag and your site is essentially good with nice content and quality links, it shouldn't matter at all.
I think if you are running a legit site and especially calling yourself a business you need to have real verifiable whois. It shows the public accountability. I understand not wanting to get spammed and all but that is what spam filters are for. If you have nothing to hide then you should show your whois info. Some businesses though like ours that deals with investment types sites we keep a private whois for a few reasons - to prevent scams and fraud to our customers and to prevent us getting harassed in the event investors lose on one of our client's sites. However we are in the process of setting up a business listing, we are currently working on what we have to do legally as we are based in Paris but also operate in US.