Adelaide pub recognised by Google only after 18 month fight
Darren Brown wants you to Google his pub The King William Hotel. Plenty of hits may make up for the lost 18 months that Google failed to recognise the business after he changed the name from the Ambassadors Hotel.
"People can't find us on Google," Brown told ABC Radio Adelaide on Monday morning.
"The broader consumers rely on the platform, and if we're not on it, and we're not able to make a mark with it, we're basically invisible."
Brown told the ABC that a current search for the Ambassadors Hotel showed the business was "permanently closed". However, a search King William Hotel returned several other locations.
"You have to as a business owner question if it's worthwhile sinking more money into the marketing approach if the first point of call for a consumer is going to be trying to Google you, and then have trouble finding you," Brown said.
"The impact to business is immeasurable because how do you put a dollar figure on the fact that people haven't been able to find you or, the worst thing in the world is they are confused on the basis of when they try to search for you."
Brown tried contacting Google several times but was always met with an automated response. He also tried unsuccessfully convincing Google that the business existed through video and images.
"Videos to the extent that I've walked from corner of Waymouth [Street] to King William, capturing street signs, capturing neighbouring businesses, down the stairs into the venue, logging into a till and opening a till to prove that that venue is actually our business," he told the ABC.
"If there is a person on the other end doing this, it would be so obvious that this building is here and the business is operational."
According to Purpose Digital Marketing director Tild Ricourt the problem is a common one.
"Out of our 40 or so clients, three of them have had this issue, Darren included. This one is definitely the most problematic by far though," she said.
Ricourt says not having a Google profile can be detrimental for businesses and says Brown is likely to have lost money.
"I think [Google] certainly needs a better process … to speed up the process, or at least tidy up their form submission layers and legal and help link layers," she said.
It’s not easy for anyone to get a response from Google. When Brown lodged a dispute with Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman he was told it was difficult to get a response from Google.
ABC News enquiries helped in having The King William Hotel found on Google by 4pm on Monday, while the Ambassadors Hotel listing was no longer visible.
In a statement, a Google spokesperson said they were investigating the incident.
Jonathan Jackson, 23rd October 2024
