Google Showing New Local Scroll Pak

Google appears to be testing (rolling out?) a new Local Scroll Pak display that provides a horizontal scrolling view of the top local search results. The result, first pointed out to me by Todd Moss, is currently showing on my iPhone for the search Moving Companies San Francisco. It is also showing for similar searches …

Continue reading

Google My Business Rolling Out Short Names

Google has started the rollout of “Short Names”; the ability of a business to create a custom, short URL that then can be used for easy access to their business profile on Google. Customers can enter the short name URL in the browser’s address bar, like “g.page/[yourcustomname]”, to go directly to your Business Profile. So …

Continue reading

Finding Google Local Spam at Scale

TL;DR On the shoulders of others, a technique that can help you uncover Google Local Spam at greater scale. The Inspiration Over the years, Google Maps has lost many advanced search features* making spam identification harder and harder. A few weeks back Dave DiGregorio, a local SEO in NJ, posted a tip on Twitter that …

Continue reading

How Google Helped Foster the Fake Review Economy and Benefits from It

Fake reviews are a long term AND growing problem at Google. The unfortunate reality is that Google helped create this illegal market place and benefits from it economically. Google has, over the years, created both new opportunities in existing markets AND created new market opportunities.  And Google often touts the economic benefits that it brings …

Continue reading