Comments on: Google Maps: More reports of merged listings http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:26:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Wrecking Local SEO 201 - Do External Links Cause Merged Reviews? | SEO ROI Services. Need an SEO Rockstar? Contact Us. Prices $3K-$10K/mo http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/comment-page-1/#comment-255666 Wrecking Local SEO 201 - Do External Links Cause Merged Reviews? | SEO ROI Services. Need an SEO Rockstar? Contact Us. Prices $3K-$10K/mo Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:40:54 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/#comment-255666 [...] crawlers look for address info on a website for geolocation purposes. This could be perceived, as Mike Blumenthal suggested, as an attempt to avoid mapspam. “It is possibly a spam control strategy to prevent multiple optimized listings from the same [...] [...] crawlers look for address info on a website for geolocation purposes. This could be perceived, as Mike Blumenthal suggested, as an attempt to avoid mapspam. “It is possibly a spam control strategy to prevent multiple optimized listings from the same [...]

]]> By: Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Increasing reports of Merged Records in Google Maps | Developing Knowledge about Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/comment-page-1/#comment-248780 Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Increasing reports of Merged Records in Google Maps | Developing Knowledge about Local Search Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:30:54 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/#comment-248780 [...] ssue has been reported on in the past (here, here, here and here). It certainly results in confused customers and annoyed business owners. There have [...] [...] ssue has been reported on in the past (here, here, here and here). It certainly results in confused customers and annoyed business owners. There have [...]

]]> By: Wrecking Local SEO 201 - Do External Links Cause Merged Reviews? http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/comment-page-1/#comment-244294 Wrecking Local SEO 201 - Do External Links Cause Merged Reviews? Thu, 29 May 2008 14:05:58 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/#comment-244294 [...] crawlers look for address info on a website for geolocation purposes. This could be perceived, as Mike Blumenthal suggested, as an attempt to avoid mapspam. “It is possibly a spam control strategy to prevent multiple optimized listings from the same [...] [...] crawlers look for address info on a website for geolocation purposes. This could be perceived, as Mike Blumenthal suggested, as an attempt to avoid mapspam. “It is possibly a spam control strategy to prevent multiple optimized listings from the same [...]

]]> By: Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Maps: The cacophony of complaints continue, links to the dead? | Developing Knowledge about Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/comment-page-1/#comment-209648 Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Maps: The cacophony of complaints continue, links to the dead? | Developing Knowledge about Local Search Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:38:57 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/#comment-209648 [...] complaints have a familiar ring but the link to a dead person complaint offered a new twist on the merged record problem. Here are the posts for the day taken verbatim from the [...] [...] complaints have a familiar ring but the link to a dead person complaint offered a new twist on the merged record problem. Here are the posts for the day taken verbatim from the [...]

]]> By: Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Maps Record Failures - Can they handle my personal medical records? | Developing Knowledge about Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/comment-page-1/#comment-207829 Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » Google Maps Record Failures - Can they handle my personal medical records? | Developing Knowledge about Local Search Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:51:48 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/#comment-207829 [...] have recently noted examples (here & here) of merged business records in Google Maps. It appears that this phenomena and the rogue [...] [...] have recently noted examples (here & here) of merged business records in Google Maps. It appears that this phenomena and the rogue [...]

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/comment-page-1/#comment-206707 Mike Blumenthal Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:45:28 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/#comment-206707 Tim Thanks for the advice. See how it goes? The moment I step out of my area of expertise I underestimate the faith required to affect a solution. :) Mike Tim

Thanks for the advice. See how it goes? The moment I step out of my area of expertise I underestimate the faith required to affect a solution. :)

Mike

]]> By: Local SEO Guide http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/comment-page-1/#comment-206646 Local SEO Guide Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:17:49 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/#comment-206646 Actually Mike, I think you will need 6 Hail Marys and at least 3 Our Fathers for this implementation. Actually Mike, I think you will need 6 Hail Marys and at least 3 Our Fathers for this implementation.

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/comment-page-1/#comment-206466 Mike Blumenthal Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:21:52 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/#comment-206466 Hi Gab- Thanks for the Sphinn... I don't have an absolute solution at this point but I would suggest 3 things: 1)Make the LBC records more distinctive by the addition of Suite #/Rm #/etc 2)I think Andrew's suggeston above that it might be caused by "ambiguous signals" on a website is very plausible....be sure that link anchor text is clear and unabiguous 3)I would suggest that you make the same differentiation as you did in number 1 on all of the ciritical feeder databases-Localeze, infoUSA, Axciom, SuperPages, AllPages so that the distinction is clear and reinforced 4)Say 5 Hail Mary's 5)Take 2 asipirin Let me know if and how it resolves itself. Mike Hi Gab-

Thanks for the Sphinn…

I don’t have an absolute solution at this point but I would suggest 3 things:

1)Make the LBC records more distinctive by the addition of Suite #/Rm #/etc
2)I think Andrew’s suggeston above that it might be caused by “ambiguous signals” on a website is very plausible….be sure that link anchor text is clear and unabiguous
3)I would suggest that you make the same differentiation as you did in number 1 on all of the ciritical feeder databases-Localeze, infoUSA, Axciom, SuperPages, AllPages so that the distinction is clear and reinforced
4)Say 5 Hail Mary’s
5)Take 2 asipirin

Let me know if and how it resolves itself.
Mike

]]> By: Gab from SEO ROI http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/comment-page-1/#comment-206414 Gab from SEO ROI Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:18:28 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/#comment-206414 Mike, a client's been having the same issue. They run a hotel and a hostel, and the front office for both is in the hotel. THis is killing reviews because the average rating for the hotel is dragged down by the hostel. Any ideas on fixing the situation? I've created two new, separate listings. But getting the reviews moved is apparently impossible at present :(. Here's another person with the problem: http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-For-Business-Owners/browse_thread/thread/373f8df9c4fa99f0 I tried to find my own google maps groups thing, but couldn't. No helpful advice there anyways. Thanks for bringing up this important issue at least! Sphunn :) Mike, a client’s been having the same issue. They run a hotel and a hostel, and the front office for both is in the hotel. THis is killing reviews because the average rating for the hotel is dragged down by the hostel. Any ideas on fixing the situation? I’ve created two new, separate listings. But getting the reviews moved is apparently impossible at present :( .

Here’s another person with the problem:
http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-For-Business-Owners/browse_thread/thread/373f8df9c4fa99f0

I tried to find my own google maps groups thing, but couldn’t. No helpful advice there anyways. Thanks for bringing up this important issue at least!
Sphunn :)

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/comment-page-1/#comment-206386 Mike Blumenthal Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:03:54 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/02/21/google-maps-more-reports-of-merged-listings/#comment-206386 Hi Andrew That's a good idea. I once ran into a problem where I put a client's street address etc on my website and Google used it for MY plus box...a similar but different problem. Mike Hi Andrew

That’s a good idea. I once ran into a problem where I put a client’s street address etc on my website and Google used it for MY plus box…a similar but different problem.

Mike

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