Comments on: Google Maps: KML for authority and ranking?

By: New Web based KML & Geo Sitemap Tool Released | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:33:38 +0000

[...] indexing both geoRSS and KML files for inclusion in the Maps index as user generated content and related that geo information to your business [...]

By: Google Maps: Will More Fully Integrated User Created Content Generate Mapspam? » Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:56:41 +0000

[...] the past I have written extensively about how Google was indexing KML & RSS files and integrating that information into Maps and why that made having your own kml information and geo sitemap [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:29:32 +0000

Brent- I wrote an article called 10 Likely elements of Google's Local Search Algo that is essentially the basis of the 10 pack ranking. I have refined this in presentations done at SMX Mike

By: Brent

Brent — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:29:48 +0000

The article was very insightful. Noticing more “User Generated” content in Google Maps and was researching how to perform bulk uploads to Google Maps. This information is golden for local search. There really is not much info about ranking in the “ten box” which is very surprising. We will see how this works. Thanks.

By: Mike Blumenthal

Mike Blumenthal — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:14:00 +0000

Hi Jon

I have as yet not tested whether it will lead to higher rank but you are right that it might lead to some edge. Now that Google is showing this info in the User Content tab, they are obviously indicating that it is important information. We just don’t yet know how important.

Mike

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:55:10 +0000

Hi Mike

Thanks, that’s a very useful overview. I’m in the process of working out whether setting up KML and geo sitemaps would be a useful service to offer our customers, and your article helped me to understand it much better. I’d guess it’s one of those things where if two businesses have roughly equal factors affecting their place in the “ten box”, having a KML file might just tip the balance determining which gets ranked higher?

Thanks again, Jon

By: Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search » The flow of KML information through Google | Developing Knowledge about Local Search

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:44:51 +0000

[...] Google Earth, has created a flow chart show the path that geo referenced information takes from the KML file on yourÂ website into Google’s geo [...]

By: Geo Sitemap Tutorial with KML Sample Code | Erik Cunningham: SEO, Design and Marketing

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:40:49 +0000

[...] Beijk’s The definitive guide on using KML and sitemaps for SEO and Mike Blumenthal’s Google Maps: KML for authority and ranking? for getting me [...]

By: Mike Blumenthal

Mike Blumenthal — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:06:53 +0000

@martinj

Two big directories that do so are Ibegin.com and Merchantcircle and those kml files show up in the user generated content tab in the business record in Maps…so in theory they have some value.

Mike

By: martijn

martijn — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:52:28 +0000

Interesting thought, very interesting. I’ve been looking at ‘tools’ as well to do bulkybulk conversions to KML if data is available in a database. Maybe going to write one myself as well, but something for the future.

One question rises though, how do KML affect ranking or authority in that manner? whats the benefit for a SMB to have a local directory host a kml, and not themselves? or would it just be a matter of; the more geoinfo available, the better?