UK search agency in Google ban mystery

UK search marketing agency Bigmouthmedia has been banned by Google – which means its own website has effectively disappeared from Google searches.

It is understood the problem began on Friday last week and was not resolved until yesterday (Tuesday), because of the President’s Day public holiday in the US. It is believed that Google’s index of banned companies is run from its California headquarters.

Bigmouthmedia is one of Google’s biggest UK clients, and handles search engine marketing and optimisation for clients including BP and Sony Ericsson. Last month, it opened a US office.

Bigmouthmedia managing director Steve Leach says: “We’ve not been removed due to any breach of Google’s published guidelines. We will be re-included very soon, probably by the time you go to press.” Leach says that nothing is changing on Bigmouthmedia’s site. Clients handled by Bigmouthmedia are not affected by the ban.

A Google spokeswoman says: “We do not comment on individual cases.”