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Search Point UK SCAM

Businesses, Google, Maps, Marketing, Reputation, Security, SEO, Social Marketing
By   May 22, 2019

I came across this today with a new client of ours. They rang us up asking about renewing their ‘Google places subscription?’ My response was quite short (sorry client) ‘renew google places, what are you on about?’

After that exclamation we stated again and they explained that they bought a subscription from google places. That is obviously inaccurate as google places is free! So we dived a bit more into it and we found out that the company they were using was SearchPoint UK.

Ok we have a starting point, after a bit of searching on the web I found them. I found them at the top (that’s a good start) so going through their website. Which is a bit thin on content, but on the footer you find this statement…

‘SEARCH POINT UK IS IN NO WAY ASSOCIATED, AFFILIATED OR ENDORSED BY GOOGLE.

WE ARE A THIRD PARTY COMPANY THAT PROVIDES MANAGEMENT SERVICES OF A GOOGLE PRODUCT.’

So NO affiliation with Google. I am starting get bad feeling about this.

Then number three on the list of results from Google for SearchPoint gives this WHICH? Article

Google Maps Trap? What is Search Point UK?

So alarm bells are falling off the wall now! I’ll give you the highlights of the page below. [sic]

  1. ‘I run a photography business and about two years ago I got a call from Search Point UK – I believed they were calling from Google. I agreed to have them manage our Google My Business listing for a year and paid about £300.’
  2. Search Point UK Ltd was dissolved 6th November 2018.
    https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10668759
    It uses a virtual address that it shares with over 300 other ‘companies’:
    West House, King Cross Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, HX1 1EB
    It was previously called Map Registrations Ltd for a period of 3 days in March 2017.
  3. Just been phoned by these pests saying my Google Business registration had not been set up correctly. I seemed to recognise the name and Googled it whilst caller still on the phone. I suggested to him that it was a scam and said I was not interested. I have never been called “sir” so many times in one conversation.
    He finally rang off when I asked why Google was showing the company as a scam.

For a dissolved company they are still very much active. So at the very best this company is taking advantage of vulnerable businesses and at the very worst it’s a SCAM.

We don’t like that here it has made us quite angry. So if you are in the Pontyclun, Llantrisant, Cowbridge, Cardiff well anywhere in South Wales we will get your Google listing back for you and put it in an account in YOUR name for free!

Contact us using our contact form now!

Software Design Pontyclun China business

Doing business in China – websites and ICP

China Development, hosting, Marketing, Reputation, Security, SEO
By   June 11, 2018

Can I get a .CN domain name?

Yes, it’s not as straight forward as getting a .co.uk domain but if you have a driver’s license or a passport then you should be able to secure a .CN domain for a provider that offers it
Now you have a .CN domain, you can do pretty much what you want with it. Treat it as a .COM. but, this does not increase your profile on the Chinese network.

You will need to get hosting within China. This is where all the red tape starts to pile up. In order to operate a website legally in China you will need to have at the very least an ICP number or an ICP License. No hosting company will allow you to host without one.

We have servers in China and we had to go through this complicated and convoluted process of applying for an ICP to get them. I’ll discuss this in a different blog or if your needs are more urgent why don’t you contact us.

So why host in China?

Simple answer, you want to get high in the search results in  Google. In China there is no Google. So you need to get high up in Baidu. The most used search engine in China. Again getting on Baidu is not straight forward. You will need a Chinese mobile phone. And ICP number and a website hosted in China to get the most out of it.

Is it worth doing all of this? I think you have to look at it project by project and what is your budget for your investment. My recent visits to China have identified several service sectors that are crying out for western delivery of products and services, education being an attractive one.

I will write more on our work in china and our links with companies out there. If you would like to speak to us regarding our Chinese links and networks call us today.

St David’s Day Photo Shoot

Marketing, Photography, Reputation
By   March 1, 2018

The thing I love about my work is the diversity. Like being contracted to take photographs of Welsh produce on St David’s Day! The amount of welsh produce does not stop at cheese a single species of leek or baby sheep. The scale of diversity of produce is astounding! From Welsh Jerk Sauce… to Welsh Ground Arabica coffee (coffee not grown in Wales I asked, but it’s flavored and ground here!).
Here is a great spot for Welsh produce, it has a Deli, Butchery lots of canned and bottle goods. I am most definitely making this a regular Saturday trip.

Cwmcerrig Farm Shop

http://www.cwmcerrigfarmshop.co.uk/

This family run farm shop has lots of products, lots of space… it’s bigger than most city stores! Despite that it feels like a family farm shop. Even if there were a 100 people shopping in there I suspect there would be more people working there than customers.



Like I said earlier, I did not know we made so much food in Wales, and speak to to the producers they will say AMAZING Welsh food. Sorry!!!

I am going to be coming here once a month at least… twice on my birthday!

GinHaus

http://www.ginhaus.co.uk/

Located in the lovely town of Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire. If you are asking where… then click here for more info. This next place confused me a little. I am on a Welsh Food Photo Shoot and the place is called Gin Haus. Gin being the alcoholic drink not normally associated with Wales. Haus which the last time I was in Germany was a house. So I walked in with some trepidation, which was quickly dispelled.

This place takes Welsh produce REALLY seriously… and also gin. I found Welsh beef jerky, Welsh spicy BBQ sauce and Welsh ground coffee (I KNOW).


A great deli as well with lots of local meats, pies and well everything.

And to take the experience to the limit… all of this in the coolest shop in Carmarthenshire!

I could keep writing about this topic for another 10 pages but I have to stop. But the conclusion of my St David’s Day food odyssey is 3 fold.

  • Make sure you publicise your products. The people who will want to buy it probably don’t know about what you are doing.
  • Try and buy local food as much as possible which leads onto the third point

  • Reduce buying food in plastic!