Understanding Google My Business & Local Search
Entries Written By Mike Blumenthal
Reviews Are Dead! Long Live Reviews – Will Facebook Places Change the Review Landscape?
It is early in the game and folks are just digesting what Facebook Places is all about but I was struck by a Twitter comment by Seb Provencher (@sebprovencher): With the FB Places launch, we can officially say it: merchant/place reviews are dead. Status updates are the new merchant reviews. So I asked several folks …
What are the implications for SMBS of Google Integrated Local Search Result Tests?
Since the beginning of July I have been writing about Google’s test to radically change the display of local search results on the main search results page. Miriam Ellis of Solas Design decided she really wanted my opinion not just my screen shots: I’d like to ask the million dollar question, though: what do YOU …
Just for Good Luck – Google has Different Test with Floating Map
While poking through markets and verticals looking for examples of the new integrated local and organic search result I came across this hybrid result that keeps the 7 Pak but moves the map to float along the right side of the results when a user scrolls down (click to view larger):
Additional Screen Shots of Integrated Results with Tags
I am still able to view some of the new result pages and now can see results for Florists + City, St. EarlPearl asked what the new local and organic integrated results would look like with Tags. His wish is my command (click to view larger):
Google Continues to Test Integrated Local and Organic Results
In early July, I reported (via Linda Buqeut of Catalyst eMarketing ) that Google was testing New, More Integrated Local Search SERPs. These tests are apparently on-going, having shown up in Philadelphia and recently in NYC. Starting this past Thursday, the new results showed up for me in a number of upstate NY markets for hotel …
Google Places Updates Quality guidelines – Now Allows Business Names with Punctuation
Google has recently added a new “best practice” to their business listing quality guidelines: Use standard capitalization & punctuation, unless your business name or address in the real world contains unusual capitalization & punctuation. The guideline makes it clear that you can only uses non standard capitalization and punctuation if in fact your real business …
Whither Google Maps Traffic? Are Google Maps and Mapquest Once Again Vying for the Lead?
From the moment that Google Maps became Google Maps there has always been strong growth in the numbers of unique visitors. For period in from 2007-2009 it was growing at rates of 50 to 60% year over year. During that period it quickly passed Mapquest and Yahoo as the leading Mapping product. Often Google would …
Responding to Negative Reviews – Your Prospects are the Real Audience
Things though can go wrong with the response process if your business does not have a good response plan in place. To get a sense of how far wrong things can go when an SMB decides to respond to negative reviews see Inc’s You’ve Been Yelped detailing how bookshop owner Diane Goodman, was “booked for battery …
Google Upgrades Google Places Monthly Performance Update
Allowing SMBs to add responses to reviews posted on Google Maps is not the only olive branch that Google is handing to businesses. They have also upgraded the monthly Places Account Performance Update to include more information, to educate and market new features and to promote their Tags product. The report is very useful as …
How Google Has Handled Reviews Reflects a Long History of a Tin Ear and Little Action
Google’s recent introduction of the ability for SMBs to respond to reviews is a welcome and surprising turn of events in the Places arena. Reviews have long been a sore point with businesses that often feel wronged by the review procedures at Google. Many SMBs think of the current arrangement as unfair and they rarely …
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