Comments on: New Google Maps Business Listing Guidelines – What’s Changed

By: Nick Wood

Nick Wood — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:04:17 +0000

Google is making life more difficult and no doubt would love to charge to add business’s onto their maps.

Google maps for business is a basic solution and not the real deal with ViaMichelin or microsoft. I have developed a google API myself and the accuracy is poor and customisation is worse.

No serious business / company would consider using Google maps for their store / branch finder / locator .

The latest API’s are so advanced of Google and even their enterprise is poor and overpriced compared to the likes of ViaMichelin and multimap ( now bing ). For coverage in Ireland and content I would suggest you try Viamichelin or for minors business Vm Local for business mapping , Location solutions

By: Year In Review: Local Search & Maps

Year In Review: Local Search & Maps — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:41:08 +0000

[...] put in place clear guidelines in the fall for do’s and don’ts of its LBC, with a few noteworthy changes to combat spam, as well as a guide to the Local Business Center in [...]

By: Google Maps Local Listing Ad Spam & Other Notes | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:23:14 +0000

[...] (41 comments) on Google Maps: Tightening down on LocksmithsPureSheer (41 comments) on New Google Maps Business Listing Guidelines – What’s ChangedGlenn Y (15 comments) on Google Maps: Tightening down on LocksmithsStever (119 comments) on Google [...]

By: PureSheer

PureSheer — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:21:40 +0000

@Rob
Well- this is part of the bizzaro world of Google Maps.
Below, I’ll try to make some order for you.

- When verifying a listing & it’s goes “Active” in the LBC, it’s a matter of how is your industry is tagged with Google- The more the industry is spammy the longer it takes to a listing not only to be under ‘Active’ status but to go on-line. this is not 100% accurate but here are couple of examples-

1. Listings that goes live (on-line) in the same time of verifying it- most of the industries.
2. Listings that goes live in a day or two (e.g. Garage Doors industries, Restoration & Remediation services, etc..).
3. Listings that goes live in 2 weeks (e.g. Towing industry, Flowers).
4. Listings that goes live in 3 weeks (e.g. Locksmith industry).

Be patience, it’ll happen!!

By: PurSheer

PurSheer — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:19:45 +0000

@Rob
Well- this is part of the bizzaro world of Google Maps.
Below, I’ll try to make some order for you.

Be patience, it’ll happen!!

By: roger

roger — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:06:05 +0000

I have been reporting H&R Block for keyword cramming their titles for more then a month. I encouraged other franchisees to report them across the country and they did. Even though they still crammed “income tax preparation service” into their title (their legal name is H&R Block, Inc.). They still appear as the number one listing many times but they are no longer appearing in all of the listings. For example in New York, New York they had a monopoly of the first 3 and a half pages. Everyone was a Block listing. Now they are showing up more reasonably. I beleive the change happened in the past week.

This board is great. Thanks Mike for the help.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:47:15 +0000

@ PureSheer,

I created a new LBC acct. Entered 1 Location with New Unique Phone Number assigned to just One LBC ad. A unique url for the LBC ad. Phone Verified the ad. The ad displays when I click “See your listing on Google Maps ” But when I search out the ad by the NON SPAMMY Business Name and the zip code the listing is no where in site.

What I’m getting from this is although Google LBC says your listing is confirmed validated and should be visible It really isnt. I’ll paste an example below and notice the date.
Active
Posted Oct 14, 2009

0 coupons ( 0 active)
See your listing on Google Maps

By: Google LBC Updated | Unleashed - Web Design Portland, Portland Web Design

Google LBC Updated | Unleashed - Web Design Portland, Portland Web Design — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:15:46 +0000

[...] It seems that Google has once again made changes to the Local Business Center that seem like a step backward. You can see a full graphical chart on the changes over at Mike Blumenthal’s Blog. [...]

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:43:49 +0000

@ PureSheer, Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have an idea of what I need to do to keep under the radar. I will never give in to the madness. I do have several ads I’m testing in San Diego on the “One Box” Paid Local Placement Google is offering. Seems they don’t really care where you are when their compensated. Sheds a new light on what they really think is moral. Now how does Google plan to Cap the advertisers since only 4 can fit atop the One Box Map. I’m sure they will over sell that space and take advantage of the advertiser. Most likely Google will move it into a CPM type product.

By: PureSheer

PureSheer — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:44:44 +0000

@Rob

Tell me about that.. it happened to me 3 times in the last year.
The reasons That Google cleaned you up are as follows:
1. you have used “too many times” your URL. This is quite foggy definition but it’s not changing the result of been kicked off from the index. I saw that you have many URLs in your site that you can use.
2. Huge amount of listings under a single account. I’m suggesting to make a listing per account. Believe me, after a bad experiences that is what you need to do.

DON’T GIVE UP!! RECREATE YOUR CAMPAIGN!!

The mail issue in the new guidelines is absurd!! don’t pay any attention to it. This is what I’m doing! It’s better to be in the index as a “half criminal” than not to be at all. That is what I think.

My best tip for you- advertise in other places & try not to relay on Google Maps as a main source as leads provider. If you’ll not do so- you’ll not know what is quite; you’ll chaise your tail forever.

Good luck!