Understanding Google My Business & Local Search
Entries Written By Mike Blumenthal
Google Testing New Local Listing “About Page” Layout – Just What are They Thinking?
Google is testing a new enhanced “card” layout for the About page on local listings. The new layout, visible to me in Firefox only, was pointed out by Mary Kelly Gaebel of ADP. The big difference is that the page now can be displayed in either a single, two or three column layouts depending on browser …
Google Rolls Out Android Mobile Places Dashboard App
This afternoon Google rolled out a new mobile Google Places for Business app that allows management of a business’s Google Plus listing via Android. From the Google Play description: Keep your business listing fresh and up-to-date across Google with the free Google Places for Business app: – Update your business information, including hours, address, contact …
Hummingbird, Local Knowledge Graph & Shitty Search Results
The big news earlier in the week was Google’s announcement of the Hummingbird search algo upgrade. InformationWeek noted that “the Hummingbird update expands Google’s use of its Knowledge Graph”. Local search results were some of the first entities moved to the Knowledge graph and displayed as knowledge graph results. For me there are thus two questions. …
Local U Advanced NYC Sold Out
Apparently we have sold the last seat to the Local U Advanced session in NYC. We will be holding another advanced event in Valley Forge, Pa next March 7 & 8th. Let us know if you want details. Thanks to all for your support of this event We will be announcing our (very busy) winter …
LocalU Odds and Ends
Lot’s has been happening at LocalU. We have an advanced LocalU coming up Monday in NYC that has just 5 seats left. If you do sign up be sure to use the discount code WS-LUA10 for 10% off. If you are already signed up be sure to reach out to me and introduce yourself. We …
New Countries Added to Places for Business Category Tool – Volunteers Needed
We have just upgraded the Google Places Category tool with categories for the new dashboard from: UK – United Kingdom contributed by Andrew Loy, Occupancy Marketing NL – Netherlands contributed by Eduard de Boer FR – France contributed by Ken Fagan Aus – Austria contributed by Petra Kraft IT – Italy contributed by Andrea Scarpetta CA – Canada contributed by Darren Shaw Norway …
Google Becoming Slightly More Transparent About Nuking Reviews
Update 9/28: I had myself taken off as a manager of Barbara’s page and my review instantly lost the notice and showed back up on the listing. Historically at Google Local, if a review triggered the spam filter, the reviewer would still see the review associated with the business if they were logged in and …
NY State AG Brings Down the Hammer on Fake Reviews (Again)
The NY Times is reporting that the NY State Attorney General will be announcing a crackdown today against 19 NY based companies, both SMBs and “reputation management” firms, for posting fake reviews online. The companies will pay fines totaling $350,000 and agree to cease to the practice. “Among those signing the agreements are a charter …
Some Random Thoughts on iOS 7.01, Siri and Buying the 5s
I live 75 miles from the nearest Apple store but we do have an ATT store in town. I got there at 11:30 and managed to snag their last iPhone 5s. They serve a small, rural market with a total regional population of about 50,000 and received only 15 of the 5ses (?). And were …
Upgraded Google Places for Business Dashboard Listings Now Allow Managers to be Added
Once a listing in the Places Dashboard has been upgraded to G+ Page social functionality, Google inextricably intertwines the listing with the social Page with both (mostly) positive and (some) negative effects. For example deleting the G+ Page will now delete the Dashboard listing and changing owners of the Page will transfer ownership of the …
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