Comments on: Google Maps: Six reasons why your listing might “go South” & some tips to cope http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Wed, 23 May 2012 23:11:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Matthew Hunt http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/comment-page-1/#comment-466582 Matthew Hunt Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:56:29 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4839#comment-466582 Mike, Another great post! Your advice about don't panic and don't start radical surgery is sooooo true! Google Maps can be an interesting beast that does take some "in-depth contextual studying" - I like that wording and might have to borrow that phrase when speaking with clients. :) If you layout a good full listing and following all of Google Map's TOS (don't get suckered into creating spammy listings) and focus on getting quality citations and collect array of reviews on Google Maps and other authority reviews sites (that Google Maps pulls data from) you should have no trouble ranking in the 7-Pack. Don't forget about "My Maps" too! Other common factors that can drop rankings are: "Double listings" Double listings can do the most damage. I see a ton of people not aware they have 2,3,4 and I have even seen 12 listings of a single company on Google maps. Each having slightly different info and each splitting up their reviews & citations - the juice behind the rankings. Make sure you do a search in Google Maps for your phone #, and address separately and sometimes you find listings for your business that don't even have the right DBA name. Have to find ALL the listings that possess any of your core NAP (name, address, phone) info. Solution to Double Listings: You need to claim and merge those listing correctly. Another common mistake merchants make... is discovering they a double listing, but they decide to delete one of them instead of mergering them. Big No-No. Deleting a double listing can cause a drop in your rankings. Solution is to un-delete the second listing and to properly merge the double listing. I'm pretty sure Mike has a tutorial on his blog on how to correctly merge listings. If not there is one on my blog. That's my 2-cents! :) Mike,

Another great post!

Your advice about don’t panic and don’t start radical surgery is sooooo true! Google Maps can be an interesting beast that does take some “in-depth contextual studying” – I like that wording and might have to borrow that phrase when speaking with clients. :)

If you layout a good full listing and following all of Google Map’s TOS (don’t get suckered into creating spammy listings) and focus on getting quality citations and collect array of reviews on Google Maps and other authority reviews sites (that Google Maps pulls data from) you should have no trouble ranking in the 7-Pack. Don’t forget about “My Maps” too!

Other common factors that can drop rankings are:

“Double listings”

Double listings can do the most damage. I see a ton of people not aware they have 2,3,4 and I have even seen 12 listings of a single company on Google maps. Each having slightly different info and each splitting up their reviews & citations – the juice behind the rankings.

Make sure you do a search in Google Maps for your phone #, and address separately and sometimes you find listings for your business that don’t even have the right DBA name. Have to find ALL the listings that possess any of your core NAP (name, address, phone) info.

Solution to Double Listings: You need to claim and merge those listing correctly.

Another common mistake merchants make… is discovering they a double listing, but they decide to delete one of them instead of mergering them. Big No-No.

Deleting a double listing can cause a drop in your rankings. Solution is to un-delete the second listing and to properly merge the double listing. I’m pretty sure Mike has a tutorial on his blog on how to correctly merge listings. If not there is one on my blog.

That’s my 2-cents! :)

]]> By: Hector http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/comment-page-1/#comment-456606 Hector Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:24:51 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4839#comment-456606 Thanks this helps Thanks this helps

]]> By: Bonnie http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/comment-page-1/#comment-438674 Bonnie Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:02:04 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4839#comment-438674 This recently happened to me so I appreciate this blog. Thanks for explaining what's going on. This recently happened to me so I appreciate this blog. Thanks for explaining what’s going on.

]]> By: October ‘09: Best Search/Marketing Posts http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/comment-page-1/#comment-438498 October ‘09: Best Search/Marketing Posts Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:23:52 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4839#comment-438498 [...] Mike Blumenthal: Google Maps: Six reasons why your listing might “go South” & some tips to cope [...] [...] Mike Blumenthal: Google Maps: Six reasons why your listing might “go South” & some tips to cope [...]

]]> By: Sean http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/comment-page-1/#comment-435312 Sean Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:43:34 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4839#comment-435312 I would also like to receive an answer to Nate's Question (#14). I have the same problem. I have the second most real reviews and my carpet cleaning business in Portland is located on page 3. I have just had 2 more reviews submitted and nothing changed. It tried changing the coupons tonight to see if that would do anything, but I am not sure. Also, my organic listing for the "carpet cleaning Portland" business has also dropped to page 2. I guess I now know why it has been so slow. Thanks Michael for atleast providing information that makes me feel a little better. Now I think my listing may climb the charts once the recent changes at Google get sorted out. I would also like to receive an answer to Nate’s Question (#14). I have the same problem. I have the second most real reviews and my carpet cleaning business in Portland is located on page 3. I have just had 2 more reviews submitted and nothing changed. It tried changing the coupons tonight to see if that would do anything, but I am not sure.

Also, my organic listing for the “carpet cleaning Portland” business has also dropped to page 2. I guess I now know why it has been so slow.

Thanks Michael for atleast providing information that makes me feel a little better. Now I think my listing may climb the charts once the recent changes at Google get sorted out.

]]> By: Nate http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/comment-page-1/#comment-433906 Nate Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:45:12 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4839#comment-433906 You mention in your post about "sending signals" for your listing. Is this mostly with getting online citations and reviews? Any idea if it is beneficial for seo to get backlinks with keyword-rich anchor text to your places page? Would this help in the 10/7/3/1 pack results? This whole maps thing has probably been the most frustrating part of my SEO experience for my small business. I have the most reviews (all real by the way) of any competitor, my listing is 100% complete, yet my spammy competitors still continue to dominate the listings!! You mention in your post about “sending signals” for your listing. Is this mostly with getting online citations and reviews? Any idea if it is beneficial for seo to get backlinks with keyword-rich anchor text to your places page? Would this help in the 10/7/3/1 pack results?

This whole maps thing has probably been the most frustrating part of my SEO experience for my small business. I have the most reviews (all real by the way) of any competitor, my listing is 100% complete, yet my spammy competitors still continue to dominate the listings!!

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/comment-page-1/#comment-433875 Mike Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:46:43 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4839#comment-433875 @Bob Yes, it definitely is a work in progress. @Bob

Yes, it definitely is a work in progress.

]]> By: Dinosaur Bob http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/comment-page-1/#comment-433874 Dinosaur Bob Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:36:07 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4839#comment-433874 I think it is good that Google is penalizing listings that use keyword stuffing. Using my local UK version I still see irrelevant results (especially when it comes to hotels and tourism) but I should say there are far less irrelevant things than a year ago. I think it is good that Google is penalizing listings that use keyword stuffing. Using my local UK version I still see irrelevant results (especially when it comes to hotels and tourism) but I should say there are far less irrelevant things than a year ago.

]]> By: PureSheer http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/comment-page-1/#comment-433814 PureSheer Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:58:35 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4839#comment-433814 @Mike, Sure they can! They did just fine (yet to soft) with the action they took of Flagging the Locksmith word. Still, cutting edge techniques are well appreciated by all sides. It doesn't matter if you are enriching uranium or cracking a big part of Google's Maps algorithms- if you are having a breakthrough (or many if talking of the Locksmith industry), Google will use this info to improve their product, hence letting loose their enforcements. Locksmith Migration: - Another topic which really reflects Google (Maps) domination in the on line advertisement world for businesses- As I’m representing Locksmiths companies from both USA & Canada I can notice some scary movements- since Google started Flagging Locksmith key word/s - there is a huge upsurge in the Maps spam in Canada (mainly in Toronto & Calgary)!! Can you believe it?! they just crawled up to the north. This is the biggest Locksmith Migration ever been seen in history. LOL. @Mike,
Sure they can! They did just fine (yet to soft) with the action they took of Flagging the Locksmith word. Still, cutting edge techniques are well appreciated by all sides. It doesn’t matter if you are enriching uranium or cracking a big part of Google’s Maps algorithms- if you are having a breakthrough (or many if talking of the Locksmith industry), Google will use this info to improve their product, hence letting loose their enforcements.

Locksmith Migration:
- Another topic which really reflects Google (Maps) domination in the on line advertisement world for businesses- As I’m representing Locksmiths companies from both USA & Canada I can notice some scary movements- since Google started Flagging Locksmith key word/s – there is a huge upsurge in the Maps spam in Canada (mainly in Toronto & Calgary)!! Can you believe it?! they just crawled up to the north.
This is the biggest Locksmith Migration ever been seen in history. LOL.

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/10/14/google-maps-six-reasons-why-your-listing-might-go-south-some-tips-to-cope/comment-page-1/#comment-433635 Mike Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:38:11 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=4839#comment-433635 @Martha That is usually a function of either age of listing (being new) or of trust level. @PureSheer As they say: Details Schmetails. :) Yes the data has gotten bad....think they will ever be able to get locksmiths squared away? @Martha
That is usually a function of either age of listing (being new) or of trust level.

@PureSheer

As they say: Details Schmetails. :) Yes the data has gotten bad….think they will ever be able to get locksmiths squared away?

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