Mike and I both independently searched for the Honey Hole's website so we could check out their menu and call in an order. I typed in "honeyhole seattle" and found their site right away. Mike, on the other hand, typed in "honey hole sandwhich seattle" because he's a developer and can't spell (ha ha, burn). Here's what my search result looked like:
I had to expand the map in order to see it, but once I did the search result displayed the map, the Honey Hole's address and some lovely sitelinks. Pretty premium local search result, if you ask me.
Now here's Mike's search result:
Now here's Mike's search result:
The "Did you mean" prompt appears, and the Honey Hole's website pops up first, though, as you can see, the map isn't automatically shown (you have to expand it). The result that draws my eye to it is the one that says "Honeyhole Sandwiches" and displays www.honeyhole.com. It's displaying a map and the location's address, and although this result doesn't have sitelinks, it does display a positive review of the restaurant. You'd think that the Honey Hole registered both thehoneyhole.com and honeyhole.com, but upon clicking through to www.honeyhole.com, that's clearly not the case:
Yikes...clearly that site doesn't sell sandwiches (or if they do, they're of the curiously erotic variety). TheHoneyHole.com and HoneyHole.com are clearly two different sites, but why does HoneyHole.com getting a map, address, and reviews shown along with its search result as if it's the actual sandwich shop? Is it a mistake on Google's part? It looks like HoneyHole.com is geotargeting users since I got "swinger seattle" and "stripper seattle" as related searches via the home page--is the geotargeting combined with the nearly identical domain name confusing Google? Is this a bug? Is it easy to infiltrate local search results and mimic a legit local business like a pornographic chameleon (they come and go, they come and go-whoa-whoa-whoa)?
I'm not a local search expert, so I'm really looking forward to hearing your opinion as to how this result popped up. In the meantime, I'll be enjoying my sandwich from the non-porny Honey Hole...
UPDATE: Mike Blumenthal commented below that it happens when a record goes unclaimed by the local business, which causes Google to algorithmically choose which result seems to best match with the (seemingly appropriate) local information. He wrote a post about it over at his blog, so check it out. Thanks, Mike!
I'm not a local search expert, so I'm really looking forward to hearing your opinion as to how this result popped up. In the meantime, I'll be enjoying my sandwich from the non-porny Honey Hole...
UPDATE: Mike Blumenthal commented below that it happens when a record goes unclaimed by the local business, which causes Google to algorithmically choose which result seems to best match with the (seemingly appropriate) local information. He wrote a post about it over at his blog, so check it out. Thanks, Mike!
"Yikes...clearly that site doesn't sell sandwiches..."
Maybe not, but I hear they serve up a killer taco.
instantrimshot.com
Rebecca, where do you find time to find these sites? Instantrimshot.com and the sad trombone site crack me up!
first blowing up my ebay spot, now this...
tsk tsk.
Please don't get down on me for my skepticism im trying to raise the bar for all of us so we can be proud about what we do. Sandwichy goodness? Sometimes I feel like SEO's write for 6 years. How many SEOS even know what a function is? Can set up a router on a home network? or use firebug? I wonder why our industry gets a bad names sometimes when the biggest SEO agencies are allowing very low tech marketing minds in. Please people we need quantitative and creative thinking up top. I mean we all know how to use web apps.
It's old news that spammers are lightyears ahead of SEO as far as understanding search, but they also sink very low.
Did you mean "6 year olds"? Either way, it's called having a sense of humor. Lighten up a little.
Uh oh, Rebecca, the jig is up. Now set up a home router with multiple functions and extra firebug or you're fired!
Let's raise the bar for all of us and write ridiculously boring SEO articles for now on, kthx.
Oh, and borsodas, we've looked at your site and you're clearly no good on the technical end and also not so great at marketing yourself.
I'm not ashamed to say that I am not extremely technically proficient. I know my way around dreamweaver, but I can't build a site from scratch. I know from a technical aspect what can prevent a site from ranking well. I'm not saying that I couldn't potentially benefit from learning more about the technical aspects, but it doesn't interest me that much.
Programmers, web designers, SEOs, and copywriters are all very different kinds of people, and they should be. If you find someone who claims to be a jack of all internet trades, they're likely pretty shitty at one or more of those trades.
who farted in your cereal?
Speaking of six-year-olds, your comment is sort of like a Highlights Magazine hidden picture of grammatical errors and misspellings. Maybe before criticizing someone's writing style for a lighthearted reference to "sandwichy goodness" you should take a second to proofread your own stuff.
(In best reading to a child voice)
I counted five mistakes. How many can you find?
Did you count the one where he/she clicked "Reply" on michaelstreko's comment instead of clicking "Add Comment"?
"Sandwichy Goodness" were my favourite words in the post. I love Rebecca's fun and witty writing style, and I think it's partly what makes her a good SEO.
Hey tool.
Before you go dogging out someone on their writing skills or bitching about SEOs not knowing how to program - maybe you should fix your own craptastic site or go back to writing half-baked music reviews, since it seems that's all you know how to do.
grow up.
Dang man sounds like you need to find some sort of honeyhole in your life...Whether thats the sandwich or the "other" variety listed above both will make you happier.
Honeyhole, haha I am using that from now on
Matt Cutts owes you a plate of homemade cookies for that find.
Please don't get down on me for defending Rebecca, who writes some of the most informative, insightful, and hilarious posts in the SEO community. Personally, I think the fact that moz employees notice issues like these in something as simple as seaching for a place to eat shows there intelligence on the subject. Then to share it with all of us in a way that is both informative and funny sums up what is great about this site.
Plus who doesn't love sandwichy goodness???
Great post rebecca!
Aren't you asking for trouble if you name your eatery the "Honey Hole?"
Anything with hole in it doesn't sound very appetizing to me.
I know, the name's a bit rough. Their food is pretty damn good, though--you'll embrace the name (or at least tolerate it) once you've sampled their fare.
It's certainly a memorable name no doubt!
Mike found the true Honey Hole! Yikes and their located in Seattle! I wonder how many people click on that local search result in the office and almost have heart attacks!
Google Maps became a "golden niche" for spammers. Spammers target local businesses. I winessed situation when scammers hijacked listing of my client - Honda dealer from Boston.
My advice: Even if your business listed on Google maps, you should update / confirm it. It will be almost impossible to hack your Google maps after you pass phone or mail verification.
It is easy to hack unverified listing because anyone can click edit button and change information.
Thumbs up for the Culture Club reference. *bows*
Thanks for the post Rebecca!
While I had checked my local results to verify that our company information was correct, I had never checked variations of our name. Well, I found a listing for the company's old office and it had a competitor's website!
I did the quick edit and then went through the verification process, so hopefully everything is as it should be now. I wonder if the error was an innocent algo mistake or sneaky SEO.
Thanks again! Without your ‘sandwichy goodness’ post I would have never found the mistake, and my competitor would continue to have my traffic.
Wow, I'm really glad to hear that you were able to patch up that "crack" you found. These sorts of comments are my favorite to read. :D
Wow. There are now more puns in this post then I can shake a stick at!
I hope I'm not being a bit slow or too off topic here but this isn't the first lunch related blog is it?
Haha, no. What can I say, food inspires me. :P
lol ... nice to read that so many SEO'rs have a sense of humour, as this is indeed a very funny find.
then again ... Sandwiche Hole ??? that's just asking for it
(by the way: English is my third language, so excuse my french)
Reminds me of the local hair salon that wanted to use the name "Big Hairy Deal." I thought it would be great but the city shot it down.
After reading this I can only imagine what might have popped up. (no pun intended)
"Big Hairy Deal" is not a bad suggestion, sly-grr. I entered it in your behalf on the submissions page of Nameyoursalon.com
Who knows, it might become a mainstay moniker in the hair salon industry.
Ha, Jeff I like your comment!
Yes it has to do with spam but not what you think. It is weakness Google Local Business parts of Maps. They put together business locations as you see or businesses put their own in or actually anyone can put a listing in. Problem is you have to go through an ownership validation to gain control and keep others away. By policy anyone can submit a change to a local listing until an owner is validated. Plenty of problems with conflicts as you can imagine and almost to help or response from Google to help. Check out maps.google.com forums.
I wonder if the honeyhole restaurant realises that some of their customers are being directed to a porn site. This is somewhat funny but I have no such experience yet.
Dear Rebecca,Spams are there all around your Online Forms and every where but we should always be specific and targeted on our search and things, i dont think so the spams create problems when you search properly and design your forms properly.
I guess there could be some correlation between "bbw dating adult" and delicious sandwiches...
I wouldn't dare check this at work, but did anyone check to see if there is any referrer or user agent based cloaking going on?
nm: I guess this was answered as I was posting.
Although Honeyhole.com didn't intend on this mismatch; they could have easily triggered Google to make this association.
This, unfortunately, points out an opportunity for domainers to poach on legitamite local businesses.
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Interesting post. I think we all owe honeyhole.com an apology. They aren't spamming these results. They might be spamming in thousands of other ways, but not in this way. Sorry, porn site!
Geesh... well if I would be the owner of HoneyHole (Sandwiches...), I would certainly get some serious headaches why all these cheesy, sunglasses-wearing guys want in my shop. :-)
I just couldn't let that comment from the moron up there go without inserting my own demeaning comment.
She (I'm assuming she is a female. If not, she looks like quite a feminine man) is just bitter about her own dull and boring life that she comes on blogs and tries to put people down to make herself feel better. We all know the type.
And speaking of 6-year-olds....that website of hers looks like it was done by a 6-year-old.
Get a clue on your own work before you start criticizing people who actually know what they are doing. ::smack::
Her post is nice and fun, don't know what that person is talking about. So did that other pRon site just hijack the listing, because the real honeypot or whatever didn't claim it?
I just found 2 "Answering Service" sites that were located in PA & VA that were showing up for both Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota answering service while searching Google Maps today. Both were using local phone numbers. 1 of the 4 listings had a complete city address registered and the other 3 had a relative City, State & Zip address without the street name and number which said "Placement on map is approximate". I logged into my Google account and reported them. I wonder how soon they will disappear?
I wonder if the website owners/marketing consultants read SEOmoz and will see this?
I could see a bunch of work hungry people sending them this info then trying to charge them an arm and a leg to fix it lol.
Will work for food.
Spam may be one of the most innovative art forms around. As much as this makes me sad, I can't help but want to give them a pat on the back.
I know, I'm pretty impressed too. Spammers are like Thomas Crowne, only instead of snagging Renee Russo they sit at a computer all day and their skin hasn't felt the warmth of sunlight since pre-Y2K. ;P
Hi Rebecca
This actually isn't spam but an example of the Google local algo going slightly amuck.
If a record is unclaimed (and theirs has yet to be claimed) in Maps, Google scrapes the web and makes best guess as to the "appropriate" website that should be associated with the business listing. In this case, they made a good guess but as you can see it is less than savory and a guess it was. Here is a short blog post about this exact subject.
Since the record has yet to be claimed in Maps, it is still open to "community edits" so you able to go in and change the record in Maps via the Edit button ion their balloon.
Mike Blumenthal
Hey Mike,
Wow, thanks for the response. I'll plug your post into mine as a resource. :D
Hi Rebecca
Not to put too fine of a point on it but nobody is "forcing Google to guess"....
It is an overly aggressive application of their technology with a bad outcome that happens all too frequently.
Google looks for "signals"across the web so that they can assign a website to a business listing ...in this case, they made the assumption that the domain name and business name were a close enough match.
It is unlikely that they found any other relationship between the two other than the URL title and chose to erroneously associate the business name and URL based on parsing of the URL...to the possible detriment of the sandwich establishment .
Mike
A bit nitpicky, but I edited my postscript, anyway.
Sorry to seem nitpicky... thanks for the change, I was attempting to add nuance not make work for you.
In the world of Local, Google's actions affects smb's every day often with a negative outcome...as Google moves into the local community with search there is a commensurate obligation to provide accurate and responsible results...Google has been remiss in that. When those same businesses turn to Google for answers, there are no staff to provide any so they are left guessing as to what and why something went wrong with the listing.
Mike
Rebecca, I'm bummed you published this while most of us Local folk were busy with SMX but glad that Mike was here to straighten it out :)
What moz reader thumbed this response down? Mike is dead-on as to what happened here & brings up the issue of Google's responsibility to provide correct business info. There have been numerous instances of this kind of error, as Mike points out.
It does not seem that they have yet recognized the qualitative difference between Web search and Local search.
But I would definitely encourage every savvy SEO to use the community edit feature to correct their favorite business in cases like this :)
I was going to ping you since you're my go-to guy for local search questions, but you were too busy enjoying some mushroom risotto. :)