Comments on: Google Maps & Categories

By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:11:13 +0000

This is a really useful discussion. It would be so nice if Google spent some of their billions being a little clearer – if only with reference to what they don’t want.
I’ve helped a number of people with their small business websites and all too often Google takes over a local listing and puts in the incorrect information.
It’s terribly frustrating.
In terms of Yahoo, here in the UK at least, it is impossible to get a listing – I’ve been trying for 8 months (perhaps you have some magic dust you can sprinkle on that one at some stage!).
Thanks.

By: David Lewallen

David Lewallen — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:31:23 +0000

Do you find that you will rank better if you use mostly formal categories as apposed to custom categories? Or do you recommend creating custom categories that will describe your business better to the user?

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:51:13 +0000

@Adrian
Great point, I had noticed but not mentioned this subtlety as well. Obviously Google put it in place in a way to not penalize early adopters of custom categories.

Your skepticism re Custom fields is justified as they carry much less ranking weight than a category or business name.

Thanks for lucid contribution.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:41:25 +0000

Further to my previous posting, here is an example:

In the UK if you want to move home, you are likely to search for Removals. In my instance, it would be “removals Plymouth”.

The nearest category in Google is “Removal Service”.

Therefore the early adopter of local search optimisation who may have used the custom category of “light removals”, appears to be at a serious advantage to the late adopter who is forced to use the Google category “Removal Service”.

I know that additional custom categories can be added, but I am sceptical as to their worth and weighting.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:29:52 +0000

Interesting stuff Mike.

I have noticed that if you attempt to edit your category listing in the LBC, then you will be forced to enter at least one generic category.

However, and this is a big issue…. if you already have a custom category set-up which is spot-on in terms of a specific search phrase, it appears that you are best doing nothing. It seems as though in such a scenario, you will lead the Google Map listing, even above organisations that would appear to be more relevant in terms of name and website listing.

By: Anie973

Anie973 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:23:23 +0000

Yes, the requirement of at least one formal category gives Google a much better idea of the general activities of the business and a clue about classification.

By: Vedran

Vedran — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:43:54 +0000

@Mike

I was just curious because I think it takes a special kind of person to handle Google Local issues all day every day.

By: Jo

Jo — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:37:07 +0000

I think that this is quite good. Choosing the main category from the list followed by the additional categories means that your business can be more easily classified by Google, but it still allows you to be specific about your offerings. Interestingly I know of a few businesses that have struggled with this also… I thought it was fairly intuitive!

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:10:13 +0000

@Puresheer

Would love to hear tell of your other successes.

@Vedran

I also run a small design & custom programming firm but Local is my passion. Why?

By: Vedran

Vedran — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:43:13 +0000

@PureSheer

I never said that Yahoo doesn’t act like a giant prostitute, squeezing every drop of revenue they possibly can. Thus the enhanced listings. And I know that Yahoo can be gamed.

But you can do category spam and what is even more important it is very hard to do address spam. Don’t believe me, try making a Yahoo listing for your home address