Comments on: Google Upgrades Local Business Center

By: Google Maps Development History 2005-2008 » Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

Wed, 13 May 2009 19:51:43 +0000

[...] On March 8, 2007, the Local Business Center is upgraded. [...]

By: Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Maps Custom Attributes differ by industry segment

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 21:10:30 +0000

[...] Thursday, Google introduced the ability to add custom attributes to a business listing at the Local Business Center. It is of interest that the default custom attributes change by industry. The choices for additional detail fields does as well. For example with a service industry the first field is Price, in the restaurant it is Ambiance and for a Physician it is License Information. You can see the default choices in the samples below.Google is essentially creating a public means to access the “schema” for each industry and to also help define it. Are we seeing the beginning of the “semantic web” race? [...]

By: Mike Blumenthal

Mike Blumenthal — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:20:05 +0000

Hi Miriam

I agree that it is getting better and I believe that the data set will continue to improve.

Obviously there have been some errors that have focused a spotlight on Google. As users rely more heavily of Google the perceived and real impact of the errors will also increase even as the number of errors actually declines.

I am confident that the current correction system with some tweaks will ultimately provide clean data for stable, on-going businesses. I am not so confident that it will allow Google to keep up with and present accurate data in regards to business closings. But Google is changing the system all the time and maybe they will solve this problem too.

Mike

By: Miriam

Miriam — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 02:14:36 +0000

Wow, Mike, wasn’t that a great post? I must say, I’m an awfully big fan of screenshots. They so reduce the margin for error or misunderstandings.

I have yet to see these images show up in Google Local, but I’ll surely be keeping my eye out for them, and I know that some of my clients will be really ideal candidates for improving their listings with photos.

Despite the hangups with bad data, I think Google Local is just getting better and better!
Miriam