Protecting Your Automotive Brand Online

Part of my daily routine as an SEO consultant is to type in common search phrases to see who is being displayed on Google Page One. For my automotive clients, I also pick random car dealership names to see how their Google Page One Management (GPOM) strategy is playing out.

Not all business owners believe that they should own Google Page One for their business name; I do.

I do not think it is in the business owner’s best interest to allow lead collection websites and websites that are filled with complaints to show up on Google Page One when a consumer types in their exact business name.

Sites like RipOffReport.com, ComplaintsBoard.com and PissedConsumer.com have a history of encouraging only negative posts and some have even stooped to collecting extortion money.

Car Dealers Under Attack

I was blown away today when I saw that a complaints website called “Pissed Consumer” was creating sub-domains using a car dealers name to show up on Google Page One.

I typed into Google “Midway Nissan” and came across a website on Google Page One with the address: http://midway-nissan-phoenix.pissedconsumer.com.

Using SEO to Make Money on Your Brand Name

Wow. PissedConsumer.com is now employing clever SEO techniques to ensure that consumer complaints are showing up on Google Page One for a search for a business. They make money by running Google ads on your profile page.

This website just raised the bar on how aggressive review websites want to appear on Google Page One for a business name. The website is not doing anything illegal by the way; a sub-domain is not protected by trademark law like a primary domain.

Since most business names get a good deal of traffic each month, if they can get on Google Page One for YOUR NAME, their ad revenue will increase.

Midway Motors is just one of thousands of dealers and businesses that are under attack. This is not just a car dealer problem.

This website has created sub-domains for thousands of business names. Once complaints start to get posted these subdomains will jump to Google Page One for the business’ name.

Here are a few other car dealer sub-domains that I easily found.

There are thousands of examples of non-automotive sub-domains that can be easily found. This is NOT a car dealer problem but a problem for all business owners. See examples below:

I am not vouching for the integrity of any of the companies listed above. My point is that this website is using your business name to generate revenue using Googe Adwords and possibly damage your reputation.

On a side note, some readers may think that if a company runs a good operation that they don’t have to worry about this type of website or this SEO tactic by PissedConsumer.com.

This is a nice thought but I have seen unscrupulous competitors post false reviews just to damage the reputation of others.

Internet Reputation Management

If you understand the significance of this SEO attack and strategy by PissedConsumer.com, you can bet that other review websites and lead collectors will follow this same strategy.

If you want to build a strong defense to protect your brand reputation, you need to get to work and build a proactive Internet Reputation Management and GPOM strategy.

This is the warning shot across the bow.

If you act now, you can be first to have better assets optimized for your business name. Delay, and companies like PissedConsumer.com will surround you and your consumers with many distractions.
If you have any questions, drop me a note or I’ll see you at the Boot Camp.

Brian Pasch, CEO
Pasch Consulting Group
http://www.dealer-seo.com
http://twitter.com/automotiveseo

732-450-8200

Tags: automotive irm, pissedconsumer.com, reputation management