Comments on: Google to SEO’s, Designers & Advertising Agents: You are Off the Map! http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Wed, 23 May 2012 23:11:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: How Often Does Google Show A Local Map? More than a 1 billion times per month! | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-482927 How Often Does Google Show A Local Map? More than a 1 billion times per month! | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:34:51 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=5681#comment-482927 [...] do know that Google doesn’t show the Local Universal Map for all searches with local intent. We don’t have a clue how often Google doesn’t show the map but it [...] [...] do know that Google doesn’t show the Local Universal Map for all searches with local intent. We don’t have a clue how often Google doesn’t show the map but it [...]

]]> By: SEO oneboxes – not only in Duluth : Local Search Optimization – Martijn Beijk http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-469281 SEO oneboxes – not only in Duluth : Local Search Optimization – Martijn Beijk Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:01:50 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=5681#comment-469281 [...] Mike’s example of Google still showing oneboxes on SEO related terms (which they banished some time ago ) I found another example where google decides to put up the onebox. Considering the [...] [...] Mike’s example of Google still showing oneboxes on SEO related terms (which they banished some time ago ) I found another example where google decides to put up the onebox. Considering the [...]

]]> By: Are the SEO Oneboxes Returning to the Google SERPS? Nah…..exept in Duluth | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-465547 Are the SEO Oneboxes Returning to the Google SERPS? Nah…..exept in Duluth | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:05:30 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=5681#comment-465547 [...] Marty of Aimclear sent this screen shot of what, at first glance, appeared to be a spammy onebox for the Google search SEO Duluth and perhaps foreshadowed the return of SEO to the 7 Pack after their banishment: [...] [...] Marty of Aimclear sent this screen shot of what, at first glance, appeared to be a spammy onebox for the Google search SEO Duluth and perhaps foreshadowed the return of SEO to the 7 Pack after their banishment: [...]

]]> By: Wayne A http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-454771 Wayne A Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:49:40 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=5681#comment-454771 As a late-ish followup to this issue - I've been checking this from a local seo POV and I don't think it's a coincidence that in my market (Ontario, Canada) the missing 7 pack allows a lot more space for Google's own adwords promotion. This has also coincided with almost 80% of my clients receiving $200 of adwords/lbc coupons in the mail. I'm not a tinfoil hat kinda guy but that's a fairly clear pattern to me. As a late-ish followup to this issue – I’ve been checking this from a local seo POV and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that in my market (Ontario, Canada) the missing 7 pack allows a lot more space for Google’s own adwords promotion.
This has also coincided with almost 80% of my clients receiving $200 of adwords/lbc coupons in the mail. I’m not a tinfoil hat kinda guy but that’s a fairly clear pattern to me.

]]> By: Digital Third Coast is Now a Favorite Place on Google | Renegade Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-454022 Digital Third Coast is Now a Favorite Place on Google | Renegade Search Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:41:09 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=5681#comment-454022 [...] is an interesting development, coming off the heels of Google’s decision to remove SEO and Web Design firms from the 7-Pack and one-box for local listings. Basically, it seems that Google has decided that while firms such [...] [...] is an interesting development, coming off the heels of Google’s decision to remove SEO and Web Design firms from the 7-Pack and one-box for local listings. Basically, it seems that Google has decided that while firms such [...]

]]> By: Google Maps & Web Designers: Salt in the Wounds | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-453822 Google Maps & Web Designers: Salt in the Wounds | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:12:32 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=5681#comment-453822 [...] Comments Google to SEO’s, Designers & Advertising Agents: You are Off the Map! | Understanding Goog... on Has Google Maps Fixed the OneBox Problem?Google to SEO’s, Designers & [...] [...] Comments Google to SEO’s, Designers & Advertising Agents: You are Off the Map! | Understanding Goog… on Has Google Maps Fixed the OneBox Problem?Google to SEO’s, Designers & [...]

]]> By: Tim @ sc http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-453723 Tim @ sc Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:26:55 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=5681#comment-453723 I can understand it being done for seo companies because most seo customer deals originate online and are done over the phone. I Don't think advertising agents should be cut off though because that usually involves face to face contact. I can understand it being done for seo companies because most seo customer deals originate online and are done over the phone. I Don’t think advertising agents should be cut off though because that usually involves face to face contact.

]]> By: Surf http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-453160 Surf Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:39:32 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=5681#comment-453160 Mike, Time after time we hear one thing from Google and know the opposite. You can only pull the wool over so many times. I am not sure that I disagree. I don’t have access to the information that Google has to know what is the appropriate search answer. I do however find fault with their illogical answers. Mike, Time after time we hear one thing from Google and know the opposite. You can only pull the wool over so many times.

I am not sure that I disagree. I don’t have access to the information that Google has to know what is the appropriate search answer. I do however find fault with their illogical answers.

]]> By: Confusing Local Search Intent At Google http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-453079 Confusing Local Search Intent At Google Sun, 03 Jan 2010 10:02:17 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=5681#comment-453079 [...] have the same problem with this as Mike Blumenthal. But be sure to read the comment by David Mihm on Mike’s blog. He may have a point. But [...] [...] have the same problem with this as Mike Blumenthal. But be sure to read the comment by David Mihm on Mike’s blog. He may have a point. But [...]

]]> By: MiriamEllis http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/12/31/google-to-seos-designers-advertising-agents-you-are-off-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-452813 MiriamEllis Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:13:10 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=5681#comment-452813 Super post and comments on this issue. The point being made, above, by James Stratford, is one that has struck me as well. Because SEOs/Web Designers so often act as the intro to Local for local businesses, giving these businesses a pain in the neck is perhaps not in the best interests of Google. Because of the on-going experiences of randomness and oddities with Google's index and historical accountability, I make sure to give new Local clients the most accurate picture I can of what to expect with Google. You may be #1 today and nowhere tomorrow with no explanation because this is how Google does business in Local. I have no malicious intent in painting this picture for new clients...I'm doing it to set their expectations correctly, based upon what I have observed in this field. This latest change further cements my sense of Google as having a somewhat irresponsible and freewheeling way of 'handling' public good. I've never attributed their actions to anything sinister...rather, their decisions sometimes appear to me to be undisciplined and poorly-thought-out. Very evidently from the collective experience being reported here, declaring that people searching for web design/SEO have no local intent is incorrect. So, what are the ramifications of this latest Google choice? 1. A further erosion of trust, comfort and goodwill between Google and the very business people who are most likely to act as liaisons between Google and local businesses. 2. Frustrated user intent for searchers who very much do want to work with a local designer or SEO. 3. A lessening of opportunities for SEOs to become intimately acquainted with how Google Maps work by being able to experiment with their own business listings. 4. A less accurate index of real businesses in these fields on a city-by-city basis. That's how I'm seeing this. Super post and comments on this issue. The point being made, above, by James Stratford, is one that has struck me as well. Because SEOs/Web Designers so often act as the intro to Local for local businesses, giving these businesses a pain in the neck is perhaps not in the best interests of Google. Because of the on-going experiences of randomness and oddities with Google’s index and historical accountability, I make sure to give new Local clients the most accurate picture I can of what to expect with Google.

You may be #1 today and nowhere tomorrow with no explanation because this is how Google does business in Local. I have no malicious intent in painting this picture for new clients…I’m doing it to set their expectations correctly, based upon what I have observed in this field. This latest change further cements my sense of Google as having a somewhat irresponsible and freewheeling way of ‘handling’ public good. I’ve never attributed their actions to anything sinister…rather, their decisions sometimes appear to me to be undisciplined and poorly-thought-out. Very evidently from the collective experience being reported here, declaring that people searching for web design/SEO have no local intent is incorrect. So, what are the ramifications of this latest Google choice?

1. A further erosion of trust, comfort and goodwill between Google and the very business people who are most likely to act as liaisons between Google and local businesses.

2. Frustrated user intent for searchers who very much do want to work with a local designer or SEO.

3. A lessening of opportunities for SEOs to become intimately acquainted with how Google Maps work by being able to experiment with their own business listings.

4. A less accurate index of real businesses in these fields on a city-by-city basis.

That’s how I’m seeing this.

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