Hate is a strong word and I’m a Lover, not a Hater. But….
I HATE GOOGLE!
(See what I mean about not liking the word hate? I even need to write it in soft shades)
So why do I hate Google?
Let’s start by acknowledging the fact that this site is called I Hate Search Engines. I don’t hate search engines. I have a great and normal relationship with all other search engines. However Ihategoogle.com is already taken and even if it wasn’t they’d come after me for copyright infringement. So, sadly other search engines have been grouped in with Google in the name of the site. A bit like when a bastard of a teacher punishes the whole class because one kid had been naughty. I apologise to all other search engines.
The reason I hate Google is kind of a long story and that’s what blog posts are for. But in a nutshell Google wields too much power over small businesses. One little decision they make, in error, can stop a small business in it’s tracks. Google is massive. Humungous. Way too powerful. Worth $2.25 trillion (according to Google on 18th July 2025). That’s trillion – an amount so large I cannot get my head around it.
I’m a 55 year old woman in the North West of England. It’s not really a fair fight but I wanted to speak up, because I’m so fed up. You might think that with all those trillions that Google might employ people that small businesses can actually speak to when Google fucks things up for them. Someone with empathy and compassion because you know, it’s not as though they can’t afford it. Staff who actually understand the regulations and systems in the country you are in. And who understand that:
- You can’t take a photo of your van with your company name on it because you only work from home
- You can’t take a photo of your premises with signage because you work from home
- You don’t have a business registration number because you’re a sole trader in the UK and there is no such fucking thing
- You don’t have utility bills in the company name because you work from home so they are in you and your partner’s name
- You don’t have a business licence because that’s an American thing, not a UK thing
Google asks for evidence that’s impossible to provide
And because you can’t prove any of the above (because they are asking you to prove the impossible) then they blacklist you. Which means that you can’t reply to any of the lovely 5 star reviews your clients write for you, you can’t update any details on your Google Business Profile and it massively affects your SEO, which in turn affects the number of clients you get, which in turn impacts your income and risks putting you out of business. Great, thanks Google. As long as you have your trillions that’s fine.