Unusual Google+ Local listing ranking well

[AdamThompson]

If you search for locksmith Phoenix, this Google+ page is ranked #3 in the local results: https://plus.google.com/117543374216451236579/about?hl=en

The phone number is a VOIP number, they don't appear to have many/any citations, no reviews, etc. They've listed the Yelp search results page as their website. Strange.

How are they ranking so well? Is Google ranking them well because it's associating them with Yelp.com?

Any thoughts?

[EGOL]

Very strange.  That Yelp page is simply a listing of locksmiths in Phoenix.  This company is not listed in the top ten.

No address other than "Phoenix, AZ" listed for this company.  You can search for the exact company name and not find them.

[LindaBuquet]

I think there is a locksmith spam ring doing this.

I've helped a couple locksmiths in the Google forum with the exact same problem and all these spammy locksmiths are linking to Yelp category pages.

In 2 cases they were linking directly to a Yelp page of the locksmith that was reporting them.

I'll add this example to the ones I've escalated to Google management.

[WilliamKammer]

Associating with Yelp is my first thought too, but it seems unlikely.

If I had to guess, maybe a competitor or disgruntled employee destroyed an existed listing that had strength a ranked well? If that's the case, this listing should drop off soon.

[LindaBuquet]

Meant to say it's def Yelp that's boosting the rankings.

I've investigated and reported lots of cases of using high authority directory pages to help fake spam pages rank.

For a long time an atty ranked in 2 spots in the 7 pack for Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney. One of the most competitive local phrases out there. One listing linked to the Lawyers.com search page for "Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney" the other one linked to the Avvo.com search page for "Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney".

Think about it. All those pages are filled with local NAPs and local keywords. +++ High authority.

BTW this is now against the GMB guidelines since I made a big case out of the LA atty and some other cases. But of course some are still getting away with it.