Locksmiths, lead gen sites, Google, SEO, NYT and unlicensed contractors.

The NYT has this great article on how lead gen sites are goosing Google searches via SEO, such that many legitimate, licensed businesses are being crowded out.  The article is specifically focused on a locksmith, Ballard Lock & Key in Seattle, whose business has dropped by a third as lead gen sites have crowded out front page results in a Google search for locksmiths.

So I checked in Portland, and sure enough, there were TONS of locksmiths whose addresses were fake, including one that was listed in the same location as a bank, another for a building currently under construction, another for an automotive shop, and my favorite, a listing for a building wholly owned and occupied by Qwest.

This last one listed at Qwest's address in downtown Portland was amusing, because there were a whole host of fake businesses listed for the same address (hence the link to a *very* lazy SEO company). Though the address was wrong on Google's Places map, it linked to a real website for Aurora Lock & Safe. Curious thing: if you look at its CCB# on the State of Oregon's CCB site, not only is the license expired, but it lists a name that is not the same as the business (K&M Securities LLC).  Further, if you search based on the company's name (Woodstock Lock and Key) you get the name of the same people, but their license is also expired.  That would make them unlicensed contractors.  But it gets better (or worse, depending upon your POV).

If you do a search on the State's business registry for K&M Securities LLC, they dissolved the business 5 months ago; do a search on Aurora Lock and Safe, and they failed to renew their business license 3 months ago.  They (same people registered various business names for the same address) also allowed Woodstock Key and Lock to expire last month.

Now, I'm not saying these are necessarily bad people, but it hardly seems fair that they are crowding out others who have actually spent the money to remain legitimate.  And why, if you're not current on either your CCB# or your business registration, would you want to risk getting caught in the first place?  They spent money to get a website put up and for SEO, but not to keep their business legitimate?  Odd choices.