Local Business Search - Unethical or against the rules?

Discussion in 'Google' started by avalore, May 7, 2008.

  1. #1
    Kinda new here, hope this is the right place for this post.

    I am running a kind-of directory for a local city/town in the uk. When I say "kind-of" I mean that, yes, it is a directory of business in the local area but essentially each business will have their own "page/profile" similar to a myspace idea (without social networking, comments, etc). The business' will be able to make changes such as products, prices, opening times, about the company, pictures/photos, colors, etc, etc. Each business also gets a "pretty" url for their page such as directorysite.com/business-name.... this url is chosen by the user.

    At the minute I have some people manually entering a lot of this information for me and we have started to mail (yes snail mail) login details to each business in our directory allowing them to make changes to their page.

    So theres the background, now what I have started doing, a little bit, has worried me a little. And I'm starting to think I should reverse my actions but on the other hand its providing good traffic to my site and is giving the business, exposure.

    So what have I done?
    I (not necessarily me but people on my behalf) have been looking through google local business listings for companies in our directory that are either
    a) no listed on local business
    b) already listed but with only limited information and obviously have no website
    If they meet either of the above criteria we have been updating their listing (for anyone that hasn't used local business listings, its really easy to do) for them including items that dont benefit us such as new phone numbers, etc but have also been setting their website as directorysite.com/business-name.

    I can see this situation from both sides of the fence... it gives the business more exposure if they dont have a website and gets them listed in google when they weren't there at all previously. On the negative side I have essentially hijacked someones listing...BUT I have not given any false information.

    What does everyone think to this? I'm really keen to hear your throughts, thanks for your time.
     
    avalore, May 7, 2008 IP
  2. InfoSmith

    InfoSmith Peon

    Messages:
    884
    Likes Received:
    15
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    I think it's a decent and so traditional business mode.
     
    InfoSmith, May 7, 2008 IP