Comments on: Google Maps: Manic Merging of Business Listings due to Algo Change http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:17:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Google Maps: Citation Conflation or Where have my Citations Gone? | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/comment-page-2/#comment-465500 Google Maps: Citation Conflation or Where have my Citations Gone? | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:01:44 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2255#comment-465500 [...] are listed adjacent to each other on a web page that Google does not parse correctly and will, like listing mergings, cause hard feelings amongst close [...] [...] are listed adjacent to each other on a web page that Google does not parse correctly and will, like listing mergings, cause hard feelings amongst close [...]

]]> By: Charles http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/comment-page-1/#comment-461666 Charles Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:06:27 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2255#comment-461666 I stumbled across this post from another blog I was reading. I find the information in this post very disturbing. I am in an extremely competitive business in a large city (NYC) and the last thing that I need is to have my information merged with some competitors info in Google maps. As a small business owner we have enough to do already and you would think that a company with the technology that Google has that they would be able to get things right. I can understand a mistake here and there but what I'm getting from this post and the comments is that this is a problem that is wide spread. I guess I'm going to have to take out some time from my busy day and do some research now and see how this is affecting my business as I can see how it is highly probable that this is happening in my industry with the amount of competitors that I have. I stumbled across this post from another blog I was reading. I find the information in this post very disturbing. I am in an extremely competitive business in a large city (NYC) and the last thing that I need is to have my information merged with some competitors info in Google maps. As a small business owner we have enough to do already and you would think that a company with the technology that Google has that they would be able to get things right. I can understand a mistake here and there but what I’m getting from this post and the comments is that this is a problem that is wide spread. I guess I’m going to have to take out some time from my busy day and do some research now and see how this is affecting my business as I can see how it is highly probable that this is happening in my industry with the amount of competitors that I have.

]]> By: April ‘09: Best Search/Marketing Posts http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/comment-page-1/#comment-460406 April ‘09: Best Search/Marketing Posts Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:47:02 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2255#comment-460406 [...] Mike Blumenthal: Google Maps: Manic Merging of Business Listings due to Algo Change [...] [...] Mike Blumenthal: Google Maps: Manic Merging of Business Listings due to Algo Change [...]

]]> By: Loci2009: Matt McGee’s Most Important Developments in Local Search for 2009 | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/comment-page-1/#comment-454566 Loci2009: Matt McGee’s Most Important Developments in Local Search for 2009 | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:01:55 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2255#comment-454566 [...] job of writing about Google’s ongoing problems with spam, hijacked listings, and general technical incompetence than you. So Google’s local track record is far from perfect … [...] [...] job of writing about Google’s ongoing problems with spam, hijacked listings, and general technical incompetence than you. So Google’s local track record is far from perfect … [...]

]]> By: Year In Review: Local Search & Maps http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/comment-page-1/#comment-452582 Year In Review: Local Search & Maps Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:41:25 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2255#comment-452582 [...] featuring merged listing information also raised quite an outcry among SEO’s and SMB’s numerous times throughout the year, [...] [...] featuring merged listing information also raised quite an outcry among SEO’s and SMB’s numerous times throughout the year, [...]

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/comment-page-1/#comment-446773 Mike Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:13:44 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2255#comment-446773 @Boruch That is consistent with the clustering patent @Boruch
That is consistent with the clustering patent

]]> By: Boruch Fishman http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/comment-page-1/#comment-446654 Boruch Fishman Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:59:19 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2255#comment-446654 First of all, I noticed in the initial cases the number of shared letters in the name seems to be significant. For example: The Inn on Lake Superior vrs. South Pier Inn. Inn=Inn and South = Su...o Pier= Peri Su...o + Peri =Superio, which makes Inn Superio = Inn on Lake Superior As a test, I fixed one merging problem by changing one branch of Tucson Computer Repair to Broadway Computer Repair. Recently I have noticed that geographically close branches of a company using the same telephone number might or might not be merged. I follow four branches of a company which share two phones. Two of the companies merged two didn't. This all suggests that the merging algorithm takes into consideration a lot of relative factors, each assigned certain mathematical values. When the combined sum goes over the top Zammo! they merge. First of all, I noticed in the initial cases the number of shared letters in the name seems to be significant. For example: The Inn on Lake Superior vrs. South Pier Inn.
Inn=Inn and South = Su…o Pier= Peri Su…o + Peri =Superio, which makes Inn Superio = Inn on Lake Superior
As a test, I fixed one merging problem by changing one branch of Tucson Computer Repair to Broadway Computer Repair.

Recently I have noticed that geographically close branches of a company using the same telephone number might or might not be merged. I follow four branches of a company which share two phones. Two of the companies merged two didn’t. This all suggests that the merging algorithm takes into consideration a lot of relative factors, each assigned certain mathematical values. When the combined sum goes over the top Zammo! they merge.

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/comment-page-1/#comment-444940 Mike Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:44:07 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2255#comment-444940 @Joe You need to track down where the extra listing is coming from and why they trust it more than yours. @Joe
You need to track down where the extra listing is coming from and why they trust it more than yours.

]]> By: Joe http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/comment-page-1/#comment-444931 Joe Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:08:31 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2255#comment-444931 My local map listing with google doesn't show any links or reviews from other local business listings (and I have plenty). I think this is causing me to be ranked lower. In doing a map search of my business, I always find one extra listing that is unverified but has all the links I hope for. So I go in claim it, edit itand verify it with the PIN, then it ends up merging with my current active listing but all the links disappear. Then once again a second unverified listing shows up with all the linking. I have been through this process 3 times. You're the only one who can help Mike. Joe My local map listing with google doesn’t show any links or reviews from other local business listings (and I have plenty). I think this is causing me to be ranked lower.

In doing a map search of my business, I always find one extra listing that is unverified but has all the links I hope for. So I go in claim it, edit itand verify it with the PIN, then it ends up merging with my current active listing but all the links disappear. Then once again a second unverified listing shows up with all the linking. I have been through this process 3 times.

You’re the only one who can help Mike.

Joe

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/04/29/google-maps-merging-mania-due-to-algo-change/comment-page-1/#comment-444844 Mike Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:40:50 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2255#comment-444844 @Jim I would (at least temorarily) change the primary details of the second listing to the same primary details as the main listing and remove all enhanced content. If they are going to merge then let there be at least one accurate record rather than two incaccurate ones. To add a second listing at the same location takes some serious planning to implement. @Jim

I would (at least temorarily) change the primary details of the second listing to the same primary details as the main listing and remove all enhanced content. If they are going to merge then let there be at least one accurate record rather than two incaccurate ones.

To add a second listing at the same location takes some serious planning to implement.

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