Homestead is using our Business Name!

MarcieZoob · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 02:57 PM

I visited Google this morning and typed in our business name "harbor springs web design" as my keyword search. In the results, one of the sponsored links appeared as follows:

Sponsored Links

Harbor Springs Web Design
Build and host your own website.
Free trial. Starting at $4.99/mo.
http://www.homestead.com/us

We had this same thing happen with a company in Michigan; since we were in the same state, we were able to file a complaint with the Attorney General, who made the company cease their Google ad with our name as the title. Since this is Homestead, does anyone have a suggestion in regard to who we should contact? Should we start with Google? The contact in the WHOIS record?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

cspelts · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2005, 11:37 PM

Is it possible that Homestead is just adding a city name to the phrase web design? Like San Diego web design or New York web design?

ADAM Web Design · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005, 01:07 AM

There's no way Homestead is responsible for that site. It actually made the Hampster Dance seem non-annoying by comparison.

I'd still contact homestead.com since IIRC they're a free host and chances are they can shut the site down a la Geocities. Try "support", "techsupport", "customerservice", "service", customersupport" at homestead.com and see if one of those work.

cspelts · #4 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADAMWebDesign

There's no way Homestead is responsible for that site.

Wow! You're right about that. I wonder why they're using PPC, with that site?

MarcieZoob · #5 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005, 08:27 AM

Actually, the hyperlink on the title Harbor Springs Web Design goes to this URL, which is a Homestead site:

http://www.homestead.com/~site/qslo/diy.html

The URL in the text portion of the Sponsor Link is not a hyperlink (as it is in my post). So the Sponsor Link is a Homestead ad.

Google replied to my inquiry and they do not arbitrate in these matters. We have to take it up with Homestead. When we contacted Homestead, they said our inquiry is a Google issue and we have to take it up with them.

Considering going public at this point...

Spectur · #6 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005, 11:15 AM

THat site is really bad.. Good question why is it on PPC ?

**brian.mark** · #7 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005, 11:29 AM

They're probably using dynamic titles to echo the keywords. Most likely, it's a "web design" keyword or something similar with a dynamic title that is matching the keywords entered.

Since they do offer Web Design in a DIY fashion, and their customers could be in Harbor Springs, I don't see that there is a lot you could do about forcing them to quit using that ad.

Brian.

freehits · #8 (**permalink**) 05-13-2005, 02:42 PM

Im not seeing what the violation is here.

Assuming that they provide web design in the town of harbor springs.

This is a generic term referring to their service.