Comments on: Google Reaching out to Local Search Blogging Community http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:54:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: earlpearl http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-240650 earlpearl Thu, 22 May 2008 15:26:45 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-240650 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 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

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-232836 Mike Blumenthal Wed, 07 May 2008 21:51:50 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-232836 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 <a href=http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/06/google-maps-more-bulk-upload-mapspam-or-bad-data-from-a-trusted-source/" rel="nofollow">More Bulk Upload Mapspam or bad data from a Trusted Source</a> and let us in on what is going on? Or to <a href="http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/06/google-maps-user-edit-abuses-happening-to-payday-loan-company/" rel="nofollow">User edit abuses happening to Payday loan company?</a> and let us know how you are going to control user edit spam? Mike 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

]]> By: Jen Chin http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-232814 Jen Chin Wed, 07 May 2008 21:25:17 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-232814 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 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

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-232706 Mike Blumenthal Wed, 07 May 2008 10:58:19 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-232706 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 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

]]> By: MiriamEllis http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-232647 MiriamEllis Wed, 07 May 2008 06:22:00 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-232647 This is great news, Mike! Anything Google can do to get communication going is a good idea. Miriam This is great news, Mike!

Anything Google can do to get communication going is a good idea.
Miriam

]]> By: SEO Charlotte http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-231905 SEO Charlotte Mon, 05 May 2008 15:24:46 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-231905 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 ;) 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 ;)

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-231894 Mike Blumenthal Mon, 05 May 2008 14:59:33 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-231894 Hi David- Is it the same as the decal that Frank <a href="http://www.locallytype.com/2007/01/29/were-famous-find-us-on-google-offline-advertising/" rel="nofollow">had at LocallyType last year</a>? Or is it a new one? Mike Hi David-

Is it the same as the decal that Frank had at LocallyType last year? Or is it a new one?

Mike

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-231889 Mike Blumenthal Mon, 05 May 2008 14:36:57 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-231889 That makes 3 of us. And as Arlo Guthrie used to say: <em> 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. </em> Mike 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

]]> By: SEO Charlotte http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-231885 SEO Charlotte Mon, 05 May 2008 14:29:05 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-231885 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 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

]]> By: martijn http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-231883 martijn Mon, 05 May 2008 14:25:11 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/05/04/google-reaching-out-to-local-search-blogging-community/#comment-231883 same for me, in Europe! same for me, in Europe!

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