Comments on: Google Maps LBC: How to make % Complete = 100% http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:40:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: aimClear’s 2009 Daily Training Link Library » aimClear Search Marketing Blog http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/comment-page-1/#comment-452827 aimClear’s 2009 Daily Training Link Library » aimClear Search Marketing Blog Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:20:15 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4130#comment-452827 [...] Google Maps LBC: How to make % Complete = 100%, Mike Blumenthal [...] [...] Google Maps LBC: How to make % Complete = 100%, Mike Blumenthal [...]

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/comment-page-1/#comment-449167 Mike Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:53:58 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4130#comment-449167 The issues of showing up in the index and % completed are not related. Google will show your listing regardless of percent complete. There several reasons why they might not be showing your listing: time- it often takes more time than the FAQ says. It can take 36 to 72 hours trust - there are not enough signals for Google to verify the listing by other means quality- your listing has violated the listing guidelines although in that case the listing would probably be flagged The issues of showing up in the index and % completed are not related. Google will show your listing regardless of percent complete.

There several reasons why they might not be showing your listing:

time- it often takes more time than the FAQ says. It can take 36 to 72 hours

trust – there are not enough signals for Google to verify the listing by other means

quality- your listing has violated the listing guidelines although in that case the listing would probably be flagged

]]> By: Robert Fried http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/comment-page-1/#comment-449159 Robert Fried Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:15:07 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4130#comment-449159 Thank you for answering my question. I believe my 85 % complete will become 100 % complete if I follow the remaining steps of adding 9 more pictures, but I am not sure that my listing will still appear as my collegue/competitor's listing that shows up does not have any pictures. Would you business owners Google "hypnosis neptune nj" and see that Jersey Shore Hypnosis is the ONLY Google Maps Listing that comes up but Robert Fried Certified Hypnotist does not. Jersey Shore Hypnosis has no pictures. When I log into my Maps account, it says Active. I am puzzled why I am still not coming up in Google Maps during an organic search. My website does come up on page one of Google for the search hypnosis neptune nj, but not in Maps. Please advise. Thank you for answering my question. I believe my 85 % complete will become 100 % complete if I follow the remaining steps of adding 9 more pictures, but I am not sure that my listing will still appear as my collegue/competitor’s listing that shows up does not have any pictures. Would you business owners Google “hypnosis neptune nj” and see that Jersey Shore Hypnosis is the ONLY Google Maps Listing that comes up but Robert Fried Certified Hypnotist does not. Jersey Shore Hypnosis has no pictures. When I log into my Maps account, it says Active. I am puzzled why I am still not coming up in Google Maps during an organic search. My website does come up on page one of Google for the search hypnosis neptune nj, but not in Maps. Please advise.

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/comment-page-1/#comment-448646 Mike Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:05:50 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4130#comment-448646 @MetaEd I have done so as well on one site with 4 images and 1 video so either Google has changed things (unlikely) or more likely there is more than one way to accomplish this. That being said, the chart provides reasonable and dare I say, more guidance than Google provides on this point @MetaEd

I have done so as well on one site with 4 images and 1 video so either Google has changed things (unlikely) or more likely there is more than one way to accomplish this.

That being said, the chart provides reasonable and dare I say, more guidance than Google provides on this point

]]> By: MetaEd http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/comment-page-1/#comment-448636 MetaEd Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:42:39 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4130#comment-448636 The speculation that the piechart above represents what you must do to get to 100% is not accurate. I have a site which is 100% complete in Local Business Center but has only 3 photos and 0 videos. The speculation that the piechart above represents what you must do to get to 100% is not accurate. I have a site which is 100% complete in Local Business Center but has only 3 photos and 0 videos.

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/comment-page-1/#comment-440608 Mike Blumenthal Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:28:49 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4130#comment-440608 @Mark Don't confuse your need/desire for ranking with Google's need for a record that serves their perceived needs of their visitors. From Google's perspective, they don't really want the business creating the User Content or Reivews, they want the "user" to do that. And yes the coupon is the only one controlled by Google but up to this point, not a very popular or well supported one. In the years that we have played with coupons, I have not had any redeemed so they have little value in terms of motivating customers or tracking. I have never tested in terms of ranking but they couldn't hurt. A year ago, when we tested reviews against ranking it was quantity not quality that mattered. It could very well be that with the places upgrade that has changed. I have never found a correlation between photos, photo quantities or sources and ranking. If there is an influence it is very small. @Mark

Don’t confuse your need/desire for ranking with Google’s need for a record that serves their perceived needs of their visitors.

From Google’s perspective, they don’t really want the business creating the User Content or Reivews, they want the “user” to do that. And yes the coupon is the only one controlled by Google but up to this point, not a very popular or well supported one.

In the years that we have played with coupons, I have not had any redeemed so they have little value in terms of motivating customers or tracking. I have never tested in terms of ranking but they couldn’t hurt.

A year ago, when we tested reviews against ranking it was quantity not quality that mattered. It could very well be that with the places upgrade that has changed.

I have never found a correlation between photos, photo quantities or sources and ranking. If there is an influence it is very small.

]]> By: Mark Oliver http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/comment-page-1/#comment-440585 Mark Oliver Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:53:44 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4130#comment-440585 Mike, after all the mystery of Google, LBC is really fun. I can do something and see an immediate result. But, I've also wondered about the 90% and voila - answers revealed! I am suprised to see the table is missing items such as Coupons, being links to User Generated Maps, and User Reviews. Perhaps Coupons are the only items of the 3 controlled in LBC? <b.Have you found Coupons to be of any value? We made a User Map for a motel group, which seems to be linked to all the Member LBC listings and it 'feels' like it has a positive affect. User Reviews seem to have an affect - though not always positive. Do you think an image sourced from a website is equal to one uploaded and stored on Google? I always thought it might help the website to have an image sourced from Google, but they claim all their links to websites are nofollow. Mike, after all the mystery of Google, LBC is really fun. I can do something and see an immediate result. But, I’ve also wondered about the 90% and voila – answers revealed!

I am suprised to see the table is missing items such as Coupons, being links to User Generated Maps, and User Reviews. Perhaps Coupons are the only items of the 3 controlled in LBC?

<b.Have you found Coupons to be of any value? We made a User Map for a motel group, which seems to be linked to all the Member LBC listings and it ‘feels’ like it has a positive affect.

User Reviews seem to have an affect – though not always positive.

Do you think an image sourced from a website is equal to one uploaded and stored on Google? I always thought it might help the website to have an image sourced from Google, but they claim all their links to websites are nofollow.

]]> By: On Completing your Google Local Listing http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/comment-page-1/#comment-430772 On Completing your Google Local Listing Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:41:18 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4130#comment-430772 [...] VN:R_U [1.6.8_931]Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)A post over at Mike Blumenthal’s blog on Understanding Google Maps & Local Search regarding receiving a score of 100% in the Local Business Center for completeness of your Local [...] [...] VN:R_U [1.6.8_931]Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)A post over at Mike Blumenthal’s blog on Understanding Google Maps & Local Search regarding receiving a score of 100% in the Local Business Center for completeness of your Local [...]

]]> By: Google’s Recent Changes to its Local Algorithm | Local Search Simplified by Shagun Vatsa http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/comment-page-1/#comment-430185 Google’s Recent Changes to its Local Algorithm | Local Search Simplified by Shagun Vatsa Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:11:37 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4130#comment-430185 [...] positioning in the maps over the optimized ones. According to Mike Blumenthal’s pie chart on how to make your local profile 100% complete, businesses that have implemented some or most of the best practices are still behind in their [...] [...] positioning in the maps over the optimized ones. According to Mike Blumenthal’s pie chart on how to make your local profile 100% complete, businesses that have implemented some or most of the best practices are still behind in their [...]

]]> By: A Closer Look At Local Search Ranking Factors | Press Release | Search Engine Marketing Agency | Searchlinqs.com: Online Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media, Mobile Marketing and Other Internet Advertising Solutions | Searchlinqs Blog http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/04/google-maps-lbc-how-to-make-complete-100/comment-page-1/#comment-427143 A Closer Look At Local Search Ranking Factors | Press Release | Search Engine Marketing Agency | Searchlinqs.com: Online Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media, Mobile Marketing and Other Internet Advertising Solutions | Searchlinqs Blog Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:01:55 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4130#comment-427143 [...] that end, they’ve introduced an explicit percentage complete score within their recent LBC Analytics rollout. I encourage people to click that link and see just what [...] [...] that end, they’ve introduced an explicit percentage complete score within their recent LBC Analytics rollout. I encourage people to click that link and see just what [...]

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