Comments on: Google Begins Nationwide Rollout of Tags and Adds New Features http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Thu, 24 May 2012 12:43:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Google Coupons Joining the Witness Protection Program as Google Offers | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-547835 Google Coupons Joining the Witness Protection Program as Google Offers | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Sun, 24 Apr 2011 13:08:32 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=6816#comment-547835 [...] the introduction of the paid Tags product in June, 2010, a business was able to highlight their coupon in association with their listing.  In July of this year I was actually contacted by a Google [...] [...] the introduction of the paid Tags product in June, 2010, a business was able to highlight their coupon in association with their listing.  In July of this year I was actually contacted by a Google [...]

]]> By: andar http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-501183 andar Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:45:06 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=6816#comment-501183 I think this is confirmation that Local Listing Ads are dead. I think this is confirmation that Local Listing Ads are dead.

]]> By: Google Tags now Available in 29 States and the District of Columbia | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-498709 Google Tags now Available in 29 States and the District of Columbia | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:25:29 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=6816#comment-498709 [...] weeks ago, Google announced that they would be rolling their new simple, fixed price advertising product out gradually to the [...] [...] weeks ago, Google announced that they would be rolling their new simple, fixed price advertising product out gradually to the [...]

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-497218 Mike Blumenthal Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:51:25 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=6816#comment-497218 @Mary Thanks for commenting and sharing your experience. I agree with your thinking on this. I would love to know if the coupon tag works. As I noted above, Google may have finally found a way to make coupons more visible and make them pay off finally. Unfortunately they are not yet available in NY @Mary

Thanks for commenting and sharing your experience. I agree with your thinking on this. I would love to know if the coupon tag works.

As I noted above, Google may have finally found a way to make coupons more visible and make them pay off finally.

Unfortunately they are not yet available in NY

]]> By: Mary Bowling http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-497214 Mary Bowling Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:41:25 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=6816#comment-497214 Mike, I've been using the tag since it's inception in one of the test markets. When I began the only option gives for that type of business was to highlight the website. Google Analytics showed that the site did not benefit from additional traffic from Maps because of it. Now, however, you are given more options and I think we can use them better for marketing purposes. For example, you can now choose to highlight a coupon and the headline you have given the coupon appears in a yellow highlight under your listing in the SERPs. This allows for a marketing message and some differentiation from the other tagged listing. We'll see how well that works out... I do agree with the prevailing sentiment that once everyone in the 7 pack has a tag, they might lose any value they may have. Perhaps, at that point, the listing without "sponsored" next to it will be the one that stands out to searchers. As always, thanks for keeping on top of this stuff! Mary Mike, I’ve been using the tag since it’s inception in one of the test markets. When I began the only option gives for that type of business was to highlight the website. Google Analytics showed that the site did not benefit from additional traffic from Maps because of it.

Now, however, you are given more options and I think we can use them better for marketing purposes. For example, you can now choose to highlight a coupon and the headline you have given the coupon appears in a yellow highlight under your listing in the SERPs. This allows for a marketing message and some differentiation from the other tagged listing. We’ll see how well that works out…

I do agree with the prevailing sentiment that once everyone in the 7 pack has a tag, they might lose any value they may have. Perhaps, at that point, the listing without “sponsored” next to it will be the one that stands out to searchers.

As always, thanks for keeping on top of this stuff!
Mary

]]> By: Nick http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-497082 Nick Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:15:35 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=6816#comment-497082 Interesting ... Even more ways people can advertise in Google ;). But also these ads could be usefull. I just wonder how many people are using Google maps and see these ads. Interesting …
Even more ways people can advertise in Google ;) . But also these ads could be usefull. I just wonder how many people are using Google maps and see these ads.

]]> By: Reza http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-495931 Reza Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:10:53 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=6816#comment-495931 I recently purchased the tag for our listing. I noticed that our rankings in the 7-pack went from the middle to the top of the pack. Not sure if the sponsored feature had anything to do with it. I'm not sure whether this is a positive thing or not, but it sure is distracting. I recently purchased the tag for our listing. I noticed that our rankings in the 7-pack went from the middle to the top of the pack. Not sure if the sponsored feature had anything to do with it. I’m not sure whether this is a positive thing or not, but it sure is distracting.

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-495355 Mike Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:15:55 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=6816#comment-495355 Chris I think that you have nailed the basic arc of the benefit & cost curve over time. I think it imperative that folks continue to measure and assess the benefit. As everyone starts doing it, the message may become more important than the visual aspects leading me to think that Google may have finally found a way to get some traction on their coupon product (and get paid for it to boot)... Chris

I think that you have nailed the basic arc of the benefit & cost curve over time. I think it imperative that folks continue to measure and assess the benefit.

As everyone starts doing it, the message may become more important than the visual aspects leading me to think that Google may have finally found a way to get some traction on their coupon product (and get paid for it to boot)…

]]> By: Chris http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-495296 Chris Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:30:59 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=6816#comment-495296 Mike - You make a good point about how this will pan out as it becomes popular. My feeling (not having data at this point, but generalizing from similar "highlights," such as specifying your state in regular paid search) is that this will pay off very well for the first advertisers. But then everyone will start doing it - and nobody's really highlighted relative to their competitors, yet everyone's paying $300/year to Google. It's good to be a (near?) monopoly. Mike -

You make a good point about how this will pan out as it becomes popular.

My feeling (not having data at this point, but generalizing from similar “highlights,” such as specifying your state in regular paid search) is that this will pay off very well for the first advertisers.

But then everyone will start doing it – and nobody’s really highlighted relative to their competitors, yet everyone’s paying $300/year to Google. It’s good to be a (near?) monopoly.

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-495279 Mike Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:34:31 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=6816#comment-495279 @Lora and Tom There is the behavior within maps that I term "velocity"...there are a number of things that offer temporary bumps to standing; claiming a listing, a number of reviews, etc....my sense is that this "activity" is used by Google to identify "live" businesses. In that sense any and all activity about your business; reviews, new links, edits in the Places, all add up to knowledge on Google's part that the business is a going concern. In that sense it adds up to Google finding the right place for that business. If I were a betting man, I would venture that this is the type of signal to Google that is taking place.... @Lora If he isn't in the 7-pack then what benefit do you see from it? While it isn't hurting you in a ranking sense it is hurting you in a limited financial sense. Does it produce as much or more value than spending $00/yr on adwords or Facebook ads? @Lora and Tom

There is the behavior within maps that I term “velocity”…there are a number of things that offer temporary bumps to standing; claiming a listing, a number of reviews, etc….my sense is that this “activity” is used by Google to identify “live” businesses. In that sense any and all activity about your business; reviews, new links, edits in the Places, all add up to knowledge on Google’s part that the business is a going concern. In that sense it adds up to Google finding the right place for that business.

If I were a betting man, I would venture that this is the type of signal to Google that is taking place….

@Lora
If he isn’t in the 7-pack then what benefit do you see from it? While it isn’t hurting you in a ranking sense it is hurting you in a limited financial sense. Does it produce as much or more value than spending $00/yr on adwords or Facebook ads?

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