Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

February 20, 2008

Google Maps Offers Refine by User Rating & Neighborhood Option

Category: Google Maps (Google Local) – Mike – 10:53 am

There has been much discussion in the local community about the impact of reviews and review star rating on local rankings. In research done last year, it seemed that the quantity of reviews had significantly more impact on ranking than the quality of reviews.Recently however Google Maps has added a new option in Maps Text View mode that allows searchers to limit listings by the quality ratings, at least in certain highly reviewed categories like restaurants and hotels.userrating.jpgNote the dramatic change in listings when 4 Stars are selected. I would agree that Ellicottville doesn’t really have any 4-star restaurants.4stars.jpgIn larger metro areas there is also a choice to refine by neighborhood.neighborhood1.jpgneighborhoodselection.jpg This change will have a greater impact in the mobile world. I could envision standing on a street corner in NYC and selecting for a grade of restaurant within walking distance. Unfortunately, Google’s reviews don’t account for cost or food preference variables and would still have limited value in this context. Does anyone know if this feature is now available on the iPhone?

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14 Comments »

  1. I have two options : Neighborhood and User rating
    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=restaurant+ny,+ny&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=85.504836,138.867188&ie=UTF8&view=text

    Comment by Jean-Noël Anderruthy (7 comments) — February 20, 2008 @ 11:35 am

  2. Thanks Joel…

    I just caught that. Thanks

    Comment by Mike Blumenthal (737 comments) — February 20, 2008 @ 12:02 pm

  3. [...] Maps Finally Offers Ratings Sort Mike Blumenthal pointed out to me this morning that Google has finally introduced “refine by rating” (as well as [...]

    Pingback by Google Maps Finally Offers Ratings Sort « Screenwerk — February 20, 2008 @ 12:22 pm

  4. These features are *not* on the iphone’s Google Maps app. The interface is a pure map (not text) interface although it is forseeable that they could add it in the “eyeball” functions (click on the eye shows some map options) in a future iphone update.

    Comment by emad (4 comments) — February 20, 2008 @ 12:48 pm

  5. Hi emad-

    Thanks for the feedback…one of these days (when my phone dies) I will move to an iphone. In the meantime I appreciate you letting me know.

    Mike

    Comment by Mike Blumenthal (737 comments) — February 20, 2008 @ 1:58 pm

  6. Is there really a restaurant in Boston called Legal Sea Foods? That’s what I found while testing out your neat find, Mike. Legal Sea Foods is at the top, but in text view with a 4 star rating, it drops down. Interesting stuff!
    Miriam

    Comment by MiriamEllis (362 comments) — February 21, 2008 @ 2:32 am

  7. Miriam

    Legal Sea Foods is THE Boston fish restaurant!

    Mike

    Comment by Mike Blumenthal (737 comments) — February 21, 2008 @ 6:44 am

  8. This is a link to the menu’s page ! Is it new ?

    Comment by Jean-Noël Anderruthy (7 comments) — February 21, 2008 @ 7:06 am

  9. Hi Jean

    The link to the menus page has been there for a while and it has typically taken the viewer off of Google to a restaurant site displaying menus.

    Mike

    Comment by Mike Blumenthal (737 comments) — February 21, 2008 @ 7:15 am

  10. Really? Well, that’s the whackiest seafood restaurant name I’ve ever heard. Being unique can be good.
    Miriam

    Comment by MiriamEllis (362 comments) — February 21, 2008 @ 4:41 pm

  11. There is always a line to get in, they don’t take reservations. Its a regular institution in Boston.

    Mike

    Comment by Mike Blumenthal (737 comments) — February 21, 2008 @ 8:54 pm

  12. [...] plus facilement des commerces de proximité avec Google MapsMike Blumenthal vient de découvrir une option intéressante dans Google Maps en version internationale :Saisissez [...]

    Pingback by Le zapping Google du 21 février 2008 | Qualis Opinions — February 25, 2008 @ 5:27 am

  13. [...] On February 20, 2008, Google Maps allows searches to be refined by User Rating & neighborhoods. [...]

    Pingback by Google Maps Development History 2005-2008 » Understanding Google Maps & Local Search — May 13, 2009 @ 3:52 pm

  14. [...] maps is now allowing users to sort their results by ratings. This was reported by Mike over at Understanding Google Maps and Yahoo Local Search. You can see screen shot examples of this new feature on his blog. There has been much discussion [...]

    Pingback by Google Local Maps Now Offer Refine by Ratings — December 16, 2009 @ 10:51 am

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