Escort Services with a location.

[John Russell]

Another topic of interest is if a escort service doubles as a massage boutique is that considered okay in google local places.

Like this one which has not been taken down.

https://plus.google.com/117821174053244363694/about?gl=us&hl=en#117821174053244363694/about?gl=us&hl=en

[Flash]

Google has no evidence to the contrary.  If it was illegal, it wouldn't be there.  It is up to the city and law enforcement to remove it.

[John Russell]

so if it is a massage parlor than it is ok for google local places, as long as it has a location and is not a service area business even though it sends out escorts to various places?

[Andrew Sawyer]

Basically yes

[Flash]

And that's just a basic "yes".  It keeps it from being removed for no physical location.  But all businesses must meet a bunch of criteria to stay on the map; so your question as to whether that's all that is needed should actually be answered No.  But in the case of why these two are treated differently, it has a lot to do with the fact that there a massage parlour there, and that is what is mapped.  There is no mention of escorts.  The listing is advertising massages.

[John Russell]

So why does it keep showing up as a listing for "new york escorts" when searched?

[Flash]

Search and Maps are two different products.  You'd have to go ask on the search forums.

[John Russell]

I mean it keeps showing up in maps when searched.

[Flash]

It is not showing on the map as an escort service; it is showing up when you search.  Search result come from Google Search.  You'll have to ask over there.

[John Russell]

Im not sure I understand.
When I do a search for "new york escorts" , some google local places show up and then when I press the link More results near New York, NY » more google local places results show up. And one of them is the massage parlor. My question is why is it showing up as an escort service.

[Flash]

When I do a search...

See that word in your statement?  You are using Search.  Search pulls results from all over.  Map Maker is not providing those results to Search.  Places is not providing those results to Search.  Something else is providing it; something Search is finding somewhere.  It may or may not be accurate.  Our concern here is whether the listing is appropriately set up as per the guidelines, which it is.

[John Russell]

Im not sure I understand. I always thought that all of this goes hand and hand. I thought that results that have addresses and phone numbers that showup on the first page when doing a search are straight from google local places and maps. On top of the page on the search page it says

John+ Search Images Maps Play YouTube Gmail News Documents Calendar More


when I press on Maps the results are exactly the same for the first 7 entries as they are for the ones that show up on search (the ones with names and addresses and phone numbers) To it always seemed like it was all the same. So what you are saying is that the listing in search may come from other places and whether they are removed in map maker has no bearing on what comes up in search?

[John Russell]

And another thing, can you point me in the right direction so I can understand what the guidelines are?

On Saturday, October 27, 2012 10:59:51 AM UTC-4, Flash wrote:

When I do a search...

[Flash]

 So what you are saying is that the listing in search may come from other places and whether they are removed in map maker has no bearing on what comes up in search?

No, I'm saying search has many sources.  Map Maker is one.  Places is another.  There are many more.  How they choose what to display is a secret; Google will never tell you the details, that would get rid of their competitive advantage.  So we can't give you any more details... you seem to want to know exactly how you can get a escort listing to show and never be taken down.  There is no one to tell you how that will happen.

The guidelines are: escorts services are not permitted and may be taken down.

[Linda Buquet]

I'm not involved in or interested in the whole escort issue at all. But when a NJ listing shows up for a New York search it catches my eye and I want to find out why/how it ranks.

"So why does it keep showing up as a listing for "new york escorts" when searched?"

"It is not showing on the map as an escort service; it is showing up when you search."

It's showing up in both places and for logical reasons. The massage parlor has Escort Service in their Places categories.
You can find hidden Place categories that DON'T show up on the live G+ page by searching category + city as follows.

Do a Map search for: Escort West Hillside, NJ (city address is in) - http://goo.gl/maps/5TYBf

There you can see - Category: Escort Service (Places category, but cat does not show in MM)

[Flash]

That's what I thought might be happening, but I've never had enough proof.  Perhaps this one is in violation then, what one can do is go to Community Edits and report it for appearing to have the category of escort and an address showing, and then seeing what happens.

But if it does have that, then on the next sync the categories should come over to Map Maker, and someone will likely mark it for deletion then.  Whether that will be approved or not, we'll have to see.