Oh and to the blogmaster, you really need to fix your layout. The fonts are extremely tiny and hard to read. I have to zoom in 7 times to read more than the titles.

I think the ball is definitely in Google’s court right now and they can decide how easy they will make it for the spammers. I think the one saving grace is that it is harder for the spammers to monetize something without a hard link, especially the professional link-builders. Google also has the ability to make this a “short lived” benefit which I think could be good for everyone, especially when you think of it as part of a campaign and not just another off-page tactic.

Personally I think there needs to be more actual Marketing in Search Engine Marketing. It would give the public a better perception of everyone who practices SEO/SEM properly. But that’s another conversation for another day.

Cheers,
Wayne

Glad that you have made it here and we welcome your contribution.

I suppose that there is a fine line between marketers and spammers and perhaps not a line but a gradient. I agree with you that it looks like it will become part and parcel of the future local marketing campaign although the rate of adoption will be dependent on the rate that Google “opens the floodgates” and integrates it into the main results….certainly if they start showing up in Universal Local results, it will switch even more quickly.

I like your idea of using it to aid “grass-roots public awareness campaigns for non-profits and charities”.

Again, thanks for coming by.

Mike

First time visiting your blog and I must say it’s great, thoughtful content without the usual “do this and get rich” that is so prevalent in the SEO blog universe.

These are all good points and unfortunately I think you’re correct – the spammers will eventually be all over this and completely dilute it’s usefulness for browsers and marketers. On the silver lining side I can see it as a great vehicle for community level marketing campaigns when aligned with all the other correct elements for a local SEO/SEM campaign.
It would also be fantastic for grass-roots public awareness campaigns for non-profits and charities.

Cheers,
Wayne

Google has been generally moving user content into the main Maps index. One presumes if they feel the quality is good enough it will move into the Universal Local results…either integrated into the business listing siloh or separate…how they will rank them is unclear.

Certainly if they can be gamed for benefit, they will be and one can only hope that Google is ready.

Mike

What is that, Mike? It’s hilarious. Giant squirrels. Everywhere!

Now, that I’ve gotten that out of the way, the 3rd point on your list really has me thinking. Would Google value UGC over a main business listing in the 10-pack. Could you linkbuild to, say, a UGC map so that Google would view it as more valuable than one of their own 10-pack answers?

I wonder where this will go.
Miriam