Understanding Google My Business & Local Search
Entries Written By Mike Blumenthal
New Universal Local Search Result Type: Branded Local OneBox
While Firefox is not supposed to have geolocation available until ver 3.1, it appears that Google is personalizing search results using some form of geolocation now. Last month, David Mihm first spotted and pointed out a new Universal Local Search Result; the Branded Local One Box. The new Universal Result appears to only show in …
Google has once again elevated Mapspam reporting
With the swicthover to the new forum, Mapspam reporting was temporarily buried amongst the many threads. Last week its profile has once again risen and the thread is now visible at the highest level of the forum Kudos to Maps Guide Adam and Google for again giving people easy access to this reporting tool. Never …
Google Heatmap confirms value of Local 10 Pack Listing
Google has released some results from their eye tracking studies at the Official Google Blog. The results confirm the value of having your listing show up in the Universal Local Results. From the entry: Based on eye-tracking studies, we know that people tend to scan the search results in order. They start from the first …
Confessions of a Google Enabler: In search of Coupons
Each morning when I rise, I check the RSS feed from the Google Maps Support Forums. I try to answer a few questions from wayward business folks that have no place else to turn. I often feel that in doing so, I am removing from Google the very real burden of providing actual support. Here …
Will Google’s Streetview Data be used to replace TeleAtlas?
When Google expanded StreetView coverage for the U.S. in December. I was struck by the visual on their blog. Google is not a company that often buys data from others. They usually either buy a company or they build it themselves. This map begged the question: Could Streetview Data be used to replace TeleAtlas? In a …
Local Links of Interest
Cellphones as Credit Cards? Americans Must Wait Leslie Berlin, NY Times It is almost certain that mobile-phone payments will eventually come to the United States. After all, the technology promises something for everyone involved: Credit-card companies would have a new way to attract and keep customers and would save money by no longer sending cards …
Local 10 Pack Tweaked – review links removed from listing
Update 1/22/09: Reviews are back in the Local 10 Pack once again It appears that over the past 48 hours Google has rolled out a tweak to the Local 10 Pack layout that removes the number of reviews and the link to the reviews in Maps and simply has the More link on all listings. …
The Semmy Nominations Announced
The Semmy Awards, founded by Matt McGee to honor search marketing content online, has announced the 2008 nominees in the following categories: SEO PPC Small Business Local Search Google Blogs & Blogging Link Building Social Media Analytics Search Tech Rants LOL Funny! Online Marketing / General Reputation Management Viral Marketing News & Announcements Design & …
Google Coupons see Large Decline in Major Markets Amongst SMB’s
There is the old marketing rule of thumb (written of course by marketers) that the time to grab market share is in a down market. The other marketing rule of the thumb is that coupon use goes up in down markets. According to a recent NY Times article In Lean Times, Online Coupons Are Catching On. …
Mapspam Reporting Looses Visibility In Map Support Groups
Update from Google’s Maps Guide Jen: “We’re working on a solution. In the meantime, we’ll try to be extra vigilant about the spam that is reported”. Google’s recent upgrade to their support forums has a number of pluses and a few minuses. The tighter integration with their Help System and the ease of locating the forums …
© Copyright 2025 - MIKE BLUMENTHAL, ALL RIGHT RESERVED.