Comments on: Google Maps: New data Rich Dashboard in the LBC http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:37:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Google Maps: Where did the LBC stats go? | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/comment-page-1/#comment-416218 Google Maps: Where did the LBC stats go? | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:08:51 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3484#comment-416218 [...] data rich dashboard was introduced in the US during the last week of May. At that time when asked what the timeframe for broader [...] [...] data rich dashboard was introduced in the US during the last week of May. At that time when asked what the timeframe for broader [...]

]]> By: Google Maps LBC: How to make % Complete = 100% | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/comment-page-1/#comment-412887 Google Maps LBC: How to make % Complete = 100% | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:41:00 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3484#comment-412887 [...] American school system like I did, you always wanted to know: How do I get a 100? Ever since Google introduced the Data Rich Dashboard in early June, this has been a frequent question on the minds of all that [...] [...] American school system like I did, you always wanted to know: How do I get a 100? Ever since Google introduced the Data Rich Dashboard in early June, this has been a frequent question on the minds of all that [...]

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/comment-page-1/#comment-396254 Mike Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:50:07 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3484#comment-396254 Hi Mary! Yes, I think you are absolutely right. Google doesn't end up giving out very much data in the LBC either. Hi Mary!

Yes, I think you are absolutely right. Google doesn’t end up giving out very much data in the LBC either.

]]> By: Mary Bowling http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/comment-page-1/#comment-396229 Mary Bowling Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:38:24 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3484#comment-396229 Mike, this reminds of the roll out of Webmaster Tools. Google wanted to know who owned which websites, so they bribed most of us into giving them that info in (in the form of verification files) in exchange for some really cool tools. Now, even many of those who were at first skeptical probably use it regularly. In my opinion, this is really what the dashboard is all about - a carrot to entice small biz owners and marketing companies to manually go in and claim and verify listings. I see it as an attempt on Google's part to get help in cleaning up Maps-something we'd all like to see. As a bonus, businesses who verify their listings may get a bit of a boost in the ranking algorithm. Mike, this reminds of the roll out of Webmaster Tools. Google wanted to know who owned which websites, so they bribed most of us into giving them that info in (in the form of verification files) in exchange for some really cool tools. Now, even many of those who were at first skeptical probably use it regularly.

In my opinion, this is really what the dashboard is all about – a carrot to entice small biz owners and marketing companies to manually go in and claim and verify listings. I see it as an attempt on Google’s part to get help in cleaning up Maps-something we’d all like to see. As a bonus, businesses who verify their listings may get a bit of a boost in the ranking algorithm.

]]> By: Martijn Beijk http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/comment-page-1/#comment-392766 Martijn Beijk Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:42:15 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3484#comment-392766 @Mike I've read the same response and also question why there are these mixed stories. @Mike

I’ve read the same response and also question why there are these mixed stories.

]]> By: Earlpearl http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/comment-page-1/#comment-392765 Earlpearl Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:41:19 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3484#comment-392765 A couple of very small points. We put up a new record for a business in the lbc a few days ago. The business website isn't up yet. I've made searches on google.com. A map with the business and phone number have shown. Its great for me. It creates easy access to the phone number. Despite those views.....the dashboard shows no visits. How accurate is this thing? On another business we found some very strange sources of views. I tried a couple of searches....and lo and behold found us at #31 in the local business records for a topic that really has no relevance at all. We don't want to be in that topic. It has zero relevance. Doesn't matter a lot...maybe not at all. But statistics showing that information distort useful information. This is really a question for Carter and the Google team: How can the categories showing businesses in Maps be cleaned up. In a variety of searches I find businesses totally unrelated to the search query. In fact I find businesses that are closed. In fact they've been closed for a long time. In some cases I reported them in google groups forums. Regardless nonething got done. Is google going to clean up these category listings? How are they going to do this. Is there a verification form? Is there a way to get confirmation on actions. It is interesting....but with some wierd categories showing for businesses....and businesses populating and being buried in strange categories the statistics can be either distorting or meaninless in some ways. But it is interesting ;) (I wish they had put their energies into fixing existing problems rather than creating something new.) A couple of very small points. We put up a new record for a business in the lbc a few days ago. The business website isn’t up yet. I’ve made searches on google.com. A map with the business and phone number have shown. Its great for me. It creates easy access to the phone number. Despite those views…..the dashboard shows no visits.

How accurate is this thing?

On another business we found some very strange sources of views. I tried a couple of searches….and lo and behold found us at #31 in the local business records for a topic that really has no relevance at all. We don’t want to be in that topic. It has zero relevance.

Doesn’t matter a lot…maybe not at all. But statistics showing that information distort useful information.

This is really a question for Carter and the Google team: How can the categories showing businesses in Maps be cleaned up. In a variety of searches I find businesses totally unrelated to the search query. In fact I find businesses that are closed. In fact they’ve been closed for a long time. In some cases I reported them in google groups forums.

Regardless nonething got done. Is google going to clean up these category listings? How are they going to do this. Is there a verification form? Is there a way to get confirmation on actions.

It is interesting….but with some wierd categories showing for businesses….and businesses populating and being buried in strange categories the statistics can be either distorting or meaninless in some ways.

But it is interesting ;)

(I wish they had put their energies into fixing existing problems rather than creating something new.)

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/comment-page-1/#comment-392704 Mike Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:34:41 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3484#comment-392704 @Martijn They are also denying that there is a more robust data upload/approval system yet someone at SEOMOZ <a href="http://www.seomoz.org/blog/google-local-out-of-date-riddled-with-spam-but-absolutely-worth-it#jtc87171" rel="nofollow">posted this</a>: <em>Google has a new practice for businesses with multiple locations to submit via the bulk upload and have the resulting listings verified without the phone call or postcard. It is called whitelisting. I have gotten 3 of our clients whitelisted who have hundreds of stores nationwide, and am in the process of getting more of them whitelisted. The bulk uploads are then verified listings. It is worth doing for clients with multiple locations.</em> @Martijn

They are also denying that there is a more robust data upload/approval system yet someone at SEOMOZ posted this:

Google has a new practice for businesses with multiple locations to submit via the bulk upload and have the resulting listings verified without the phone call or postcard. It is called whitelisting.

I have gotten 3 of our clients whitelisted who have hundreds of stores nationwide, and am in the process of getting more of them whitelisted. The bulk uploads are then verified listings.

It is worth doing for clients with multiple locations.

]]> By: Martijn Beijk http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/comment-page-1/#comment-392673 Martijn Beijk Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:11:43 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3484#comment-392673 Funny that before they were denying that they were developing 'analytics' for the LBC. But good to see that development has come and they are working to improve the LBC as a product. Funny that before they were denying that they were developing ‘analytics’ for the LBC. But good to see that development has come and they are working to improve the LBC as a product.

]]> By: Stever http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/comment-page-1/#comment-392638 Stever Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:06:35 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3484#comment-392638 This will be rather cool! However, it will highlight the meager click through's that Map listings often get, but as more businesses claim and improve their listings it should slowly create more trust and adoption in Maps results for general users and then CTRs may slowly improve. This will be rather cool!

However, it will highlight the meager click through’s that Map listings often get, but as more businesses claim and improve their listings it should slowly create more trust and adoption in Maps results for general users and then CTRs may slowly improve.

]]> By: MiriamEllis http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/06/01/google-maps-new-data-rich-dashboard-in-the-lbc/comment-page-1/#comment-392626 MiriamEllis Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:22:41 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=3484#comment-392626 Woo hoo! It's here. I must get into my nearest possible local account to see if we're seeing it yet. This is might exciting, Mike. Woo hoo! It’s here. I must get into my nearest possible local account to see if we’re seeing it yet. This is might exciting, Mike.

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