Understanding Google Places & Local Search – Developing Knowledge about Local Search

February 11, 2010

A Video Tour of the Google LBC Category Preview Tool

16 Comments »

1. 

   I commented on this at Don’s blog, but just wanted to say here that it’s exciting to see this type of coverage of your tool. It’s such a wonderful tool!

   Comment by MiriamEllis (636 comments) — February 11, 2010 @ 5:02 pm

2. 

   Yes, he did a great job with it.

   Comment by Mike (2500 comments) — February 11, 2010 @ 5:31 pm

3. 

   This is a very informative video. I learned a couple things that i can now implement in my own google local business center. The tool is very powerful and can really help improve your efficiency

   Comment by jacob T (1 comments) — February 12, 2010 @ 1:04 pm

4. 

   Thanks Miriam, Mike.
   I really appreciate you putting this tool together – making the video was the least I could do to help spread the word a bit!

   Comment by Don Campbell (25 comments) — February 12, 2010 @ 2:15 pm

5. 

   So, according to the video, it is not good to use custom categories? I have listed 4 custom categories for my local business with great results. Am I really better off going with google’s standard categories?

   Comment by Nate (15 comments) — February 13, 2010 @ 7:39 pm

6. 

   Another great video by Don Campbell.

   I had forgotten how I picked my categories, so I went and reviewed them. Then I remembered, I choose my categories the simple way. I just used the same categories of the top two or three competitors in the field!

   Comment by Doug (13 comments) — February 14, 2010 @ 3:14 pm

7. 

   @Nate

   I think that judicious and appropriate use of custom categories is warranted. Understanding your users, their search phrases & how google handles them is critical.

   The criteria should be results. If the searches on custom categories show in the 7 pack and they result in qualified traffic than by all means use them. It should depend on the competitiveness of your market and your ability to achieve results.

   Comment by Mike Blumenthal (1946 comments) — February 14, 2010 @ 6:54 pm

8. 

   Our custom categories have produced results, yes. Our main competitor uses custom categories and dominates Phoenix. We are in a suburb of Phoenix and are struggling to crack the 7 pack for Phx. Unrelated issue, yes, frustrating nonetheless.

   Comment by Nate (15 comments) — February 14, 2010 @ 7:40 pm

9. 

   This video is extremely interesting. I think it can help out a lot to choose categories to try and get a local ranking in the 7 pack.

   Comment by sam segal (1 comments) — February 16, 2010 @ 3:56 pm

10. 

    hi Don…
    How do you put these videos together…They are great…

    Comment by maddyret (1 comments) — February 17, 2010 @ 9:05 am

11. 

    @maddyret

    He used Screenflow on the Mac to produce the screen cast video with the embedded webcam.

    Comment by Mike (2500 comments) — February 17, 2010 @ 8:31 pm

12. 

    Mike…

    you lying on a beach somewhere? cause I miss your posts!

    if so, have a ‘cerveza’ for me too, eh?

    

    Jim

    Comment by Jim Rudnick (164 comments) — February 21, 2010 @ 11:46 am

13. 

    I have used your tool before and your video makes it much easier to use. Thanks

    Comment by J Ascot (1 comments) — February 22, 2010 @ 3:37 pm

14. 

    Great video! This tool was extremely helpful. I was struggling to find what categories applied to my business. Please make more of these!

    Comment by Cristy (2 comments) — February 22, 2010 @ 8:42 pm

15. 

    Very cool tool, and the vid makes it super simple to understand. I’ve struggled on occasion when adding client’s businesses to Google local, and this definitely looks like it will help.

    Comment by Billy Deakin (1 comments) — February 24, 2010 @ 6:15 am

16. 

    @Nate

    I’m with you on this one. I have several clients that I utilize one or two custom categories within the LBC. These categories seem to have a further reach and impact on more keyword rankings and overall traffic then the suggested Google Categories. I’ve been trying to focus my attention to the keywords that naturally produce local results versus keywords which require the addition of a city to generate local results.

    - shane

    Comment by Shane Hale (1 comments) — February 24, 2010 @ 2:15 pm

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