You supply Google with the right information for your locations, optimize them for local markets, and nurture the local dialogue.

But, Google still manages to pull different information from somewhere and present that in the results. Chances are, this information was once good information and maybe still is “not wrong”, but it is not what you want to show now.

Doing a little research on the phone numbers can lead you down a long path to the source, and usually, it’s you (or your organization.)

Sometimes it is as simple as an employee participating in a trade event where they provide their contact information… and it gets published on the trade site; and picked up on other sites related to the show. Google picks this up, and has to make a decision… use it or not.

Other searches may take you straight back to you. Perhaps a file provided to the major location aggregators like InfoGroup, Localeze or Acxiom, which gets picked up by publishers around the web. Your listings from years back are still appearing, and Google sees this, and has to make a decision… use it or not.

There are many factors that go into Google’s decision, and if anyone tells you they know all of them, they don’t; walk away.

Google looks for the “preponderance” of the evidence. If it sees location information from a credible source, it will give it consideration. If the same information appears on enough credible sources, it may outweigh the information you provide. How many other sites does it take, and what type is an unknown.

The best way to manage these problems is to take control.

Work with the aggregators to identify the listings for your company that they have. Don’t assume it is just what you supplied to them. Get a comprehensive list from them, show them which to keep, edit or delete. It will cost you, but it will be worth it.

Google will give you control of your Google Plus information, but only if you show that you are managing it responsibly. I know this sounds arrogant, but… it ‘s Google, right?