Comments on: Google Maps Looking for Local Inventory http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/03/19/google-maps-looking-for-local-inventory/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:26:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Google Maps Adds Events to Places Pages | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/03/19/google-maps-looking-for-local-inventory/comment-page-1/#comment-455195 Google Maps Adds Events to Places Pages | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:29:44 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2801#comment-455195 [...] at a local level. The ability to create local event information is a feature that Google has included in their Map Maker for some time. The implications of this move are not yet [...] [...] at a local level. The ability to create local event information is a feature that Google has included in their Map Maker for some time. The implications of this move are not yet [...]

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/03/19/google-maps-looking-for-local-inventory/comment-page-1/#comment-352295 Mike Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:19:00 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2801#comment-352295 Joe I am not sure if you saw <a href="http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/01/07/why-the-google-local-business-center-fails/comment-page-1/#comment-313860" rel="nofollow">this post</a> in which Google and readers discussed the issues of $ and local. They seem clearly disinclined to have a $ for support or inclusion model. But these are extraordinary circumstances and may require extraordinary solutions. Mike Joe
I am not sure if you saw this post in which Google and readers discussed the issues of $ and local.

They seem clearly disinclined to have a $ for support or inclusion model. But these are extraordinary circumstances and may require extraordinary solutions.

Mike

]]> By: Joe http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/03/19/google-maps-looking-for-local-inventory/comment-page-1/#comment-352288 Joe Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:47:15 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2801#comment-352288 Small businesses really care about their reputation. Sometimes more so than larger businesses. Owners are bound to have questions about adding or removing user content and the effect on their listing. If Google really wants to cater to SMB owners, they need to have a proper support system. Google Groups is not enough. Maybe allowing people to pay for their listings (like Yahoo local) and providing phone, chat or email support is the way to go. I know this is outside the normal Google model, but this is not the normal Google market. --Joe Small businesses really care about their reputation. Sometimes more so than larger businesses. Owners are bound to have questions about adding or removing user content and the effect on their listing.

If Google really wants to cater to SMB owners, they need to have a proper support system. Google Groups is not enough. Maybe allowing people to pay for their listings (like Yahoo local) and providing phone, chat or email support is the way to go. I know this is outside the normal Google model, but this is not the normal Google market.

–Joe

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/03/19/google-maps-looking-for-local-inventory/comment-page-1/#comment-351281 Mike Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:38:57 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2801#comment-351281 I am with you...there is definitely a cart and horse issue. But someone needs to do some dreaming here. I am just not sure if its wishful thinking or post apocalypse planning. Mike I am with you…there is definitely a cart and horse issue. But someone needs to do some dreaming here. I am just not sure if its wishful thinking or post apocalypse planning.

Mike

]]> By: Earlpearl http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/03/19/google-maps-looking-for-local-inventory/comment-page-1/#comment-351272 Earlpearl Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:08:32 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2801#comment-351272 That was nice inspirational set of comments. Yeah....finding out on the web about unique inventory would be great.....<strong> BUT</strong> first things first. Get the 10 pac cleaned up. get rid of spam. Get categorization down pat. Get data cleaned up between old data and new data. btw: every time I see these comments about detail I think/reference to <a> Yipit</a>. I wonder how they are doing in giving greater detail on furniture stores in the NYC market? In developing that information....they don't simultaneously have the problem of spamming that google maps has. hm.....might google have a better approach? That was nice inspirational set of comments. Yeah….finding out on the web about unique inventory would be great….. BUT first things first.

Get the 10 pac cleaned up. get rid of spam. Get categorization down pat. Get data cleaned up between old data and new data.

btw: every time I see these comments about detail I think/reference to Yipit. I wonder how they are doing in giving greater detail on furniture stores in the NYC market?

In developing that information….they don’t simultaneously have the problem of spamming that google maps has. hm…..might google have a better approach?

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/03/19/google-maps-looking-for-local-inventory/comment-page-1/#comment-350662 Mike Blumenthal Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:16:29 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2801#comment-350662 Yes it could be a new angle on the bait and switch...and what would legit store owners say when asking in the groups how long it would take for their update to show up and were told "6 to 8 weeks" I too am having a little trouble envisioning Yes it could be a new angle on the bait and switch…and what would legit store owners say when asking in the groups how long it would take for their update to show up and were told “6 to 8 weeks”

I too am having a little trouble envisioning

]]> By: MiriamEllis http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/03/19/google-maps-looking-for-local-inventory/comment-page-1/#comment-350374 MiriamEllis Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:50:47 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2801#comment-350374 A few thoughts, Mike: If we could find out where to buy an Alex Rodriguez rookie card, would this mean that spammers would claim to have them in order to get us to come into their stores, in hopes that despite our disappointment, we might end up buying something else? Something akin to the ancient practice of KW stuffing a la 1998 in which putting every conceivable keyword into a meta tag just might get you some traffic! And, if it's hard enough to get burned down businesses removed from maps, how hard would it be for changes in inventory to be reflected? Would business owners know how to keep this content updated so that when they sold out of rookie cards, their results would instantly reflect that? A few thoughts, Mike:

If we could find out where to buy an Alex Rodriguez rookie card, would this mean that spammers would claim to have them in order to get us to come into their stores, in hopes that despite our disappointment, we might end up buying something else? Something akin to the ancient practice of KW stuffing a la 1998 in which putting every conceivable keyword into a meta tag just might get you some traffic!

And, if it’s hard enough to get burned down businesses removed from maps, how hard would it be for changes in inventory to be reflected? Would business owners know how to keep this content updated so that when they sold out of rookie cards, their results would instantly reflect that?

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