Jen Chin, aka Maps Guide Jen, in a recent comment to my article Google Maps Fixes missing record bug, has noted:
You’ve seen me posting as “Maps Guide Jen†on our Maps Help Group, but
I’m hoping to get out in the blogosphere and comment on blogs more
often.Â
…. We’re currently talking about a better system for posting when issues
are resolved, but in the meantime, we’ll appreciate your patience as we
work to make our Maps product better. Thanks for the feedback–even
when it may not be apparent that Google is paying attention, we are
working to do better.
Dealing with the vagaries of Maps has been, at best, a frustrating experience. Between the bugs, the unknowns and the lack of communication from Google, solutions have been hard to come by. I certainly welcome a more open Google. I can only hope that they perceive the need to respond in internet time, not Google time and that they respond in a forthright fashion.
To our Maps Guide Jen, I say: Welcome to the party!
….and Jen if you are still thinking of Local reps please contact me
Cheers
David
Comment by SEO Charlotte (4 comments) — May 5, 2008 @ 8:22 am
Hi David
Yes I would like to know the status of that program. It certainly has been running below the radar.
Mike
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (960 comments) — May 5, 2008 @ 10:03 am
same for me, in Europe!
Comment by martijn (77 comments) — May 5, 2008 @ 10:25 am
I noticed a Fish and Chip shop in my native England with a “I’m on Google Maps” decal in the window – first time I’ve seen one and have not seen one in the US yet -> my antennae is always up
Do you want a copy of the pic Mike?
David
Comment by SEO Charlotte (4 comments) — May 5, 2008 @ 10:29 am
That makes 3 of us. And as Arlo Guthrie used to say:
And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in
singin a bar of Alice’s Restaurant and walking out. They may think it’s an
organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said
fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice’s Restaurant and
walking out. And friends they may thinks it’s a movement.
Mike
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (960 comments) — May 5, 2008 @ 10:36 am
Hi David-
Is it the same as the decal that Frank had at LocallyType last year? Or is it a new one?
Mike
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (960 comments) — May 5, 2008 @ 10:59 am
Here’s one I sent to randfish in February
http://www.seomoz.org/ugc/google-local-sign-in-england
Best
David
ps I really am up for this and it WOULD help get the scamsters away if Google reached out to us decent people
Comment by SEO Charlotte (4 comments) — May 5, 2008 @ 11:24 am
This is great news, Mike!
Anything Google can do to get communication going is a good idea.
Miriam
Comment by MiriamEllis (586 comments) — May 7, 2008 @ 2:22 am
Yes it is a good idea if…….
• they communicate in a timely fashion. Things move pretty fast out here and commenting on an old blog entry is about as useful as pedals on a Harley. This has not been their strong point in their own Groups. I hope this signals an internet speed up as it were
• they are truly communicative as to how to solve problems. Often in the group they seem constrained and in the end not saying much.
• They do get back to a question when they say they will. Execution is everything
• They offer interim feedback so that you don’t feel like they are teasing you even if it is just a “hold on a little longer” kind of comment. Out here we don’t really know how long things take for Google to effect a solution but it sure seems like takes longer than it should…. a midway “hallo” would go a long way to not feeling ignored.
So yes communication is a good idea if it is “good” communication. But “bad” communication can hurt them and us more than no communication.
I don’t mean to be picking on Maps Guide Jen here…. this is Google issue and one that they as a company need to figure out to solve.
Mike
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (960 comments) — May 7, 2008 @ 6:58 am
Hi all,
Appreciate the kind greeting. I definitely don’t take comments as “picking on” and the team and I welcome your suggestions.
Thanks,
Jen
Comment by Jen Chin (3 comments) — May 7, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
Hi Jen
Ok good..so I can ask the hard questions and it won’t seem like I am picking on you? Hmm..Well then don’t suppose you would jump over to More Bulk Upload Mapspam or bad data from a Trusted Source and let us in on what is going on? Or to User edit abuses happening to Payday loan company? and let us know how you are going to control user edit spam?
Mike
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (960 comments) — May 7, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
I was searching for a place to post this….and it could have gone in your previous comments on missing phone data, or missing data in general…but with regard to the Google guides….I thought I’d post it here.
ON 5/19 I reported missing phone data showing in the maps inserts for a business. I reentered data using two different methods over two days.
In one method, I reentered phone data then resubmitted. Nothing occurred. In the 2nd method, per a suggestion I simply went to the LBC listing and clicked to finish with no changes. Of course, I had submitted the error with specific description of the site to google groups for maps.
As of 5.22 this morning the phone information is showing in organic map versions for various search phrases.
A google guide never responded to my request from 3 days ago. I sent them a “thank you in the google groups thread concerning this business listing and also referenced that I’m not sure if a google guide hand fixed the listing or one of the 2 efforts at resubmitting the information worked to correct the information.
In either case it would be nice to know how the “bug” and information got fixed…and to get that communicated to users.
I’m grateful for the fix…and feel that 3 days (maybe 2.5 days) is appropriate turnaround time.
Dave
Comment by earlpearl (677 comments) — May 22, 2008 @ 11:26 am