LBC Workaround to ‘Flagged waiting for content check’ bug?

There has been a long standing “feature” in the Local Business Center where certain listings would be ‘Flagged waiting for content check’. There have been numerous inquiries into the support forums but often with no word from Google as to what the problem was or how to solve it. For example, one post started in …

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Loci 2008: Ahmed Farooq

Ahmed Farooq is the founder of iBegin.com. He has created, sold and recreated significant local web properties several times over. I communicate almost daily with him about his and my activities and I have found no one to have a better handle on the technical and social issues that confront local nor a better idea …

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Loci 2008 – Maps Guide Jen shares highlights of 2008

The inestimable Maps Guide Jen, Google Map’s not very public face, has agreed to share her highlight in Local from 2008. If I were Google, I would turn Jen loose to be their voice in Local.  ***** Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share some picks for 2008. Matt did a great job …

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Loci 2008 – Martijn Beijk’s The year in Local Search 2008

Martijn has a background in the semantic and contextual webs and he brings that expertise to Local Search with a European perspective. Martijn is currently living in the Netherlands where he focuses on research and optimization at Onetomarket, a leading online marketing agency covering most of European markets. He writes at his blog, Local Search Optimization and …

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Why Google has Trouble Getting it Right

I roundly criticized Google’s product (a less than fully functional Local Business Center) and their process (erratic and inconsistent customer support for same) in my post: Why the Google Local Business Center Fails. As is Google’s fashion in these matters when a complaint starts spreading across the internet, they very often solve the specific problem. Google …

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Loci 2008: The year in Local from Michael Jensen’s Point of view

Michael Jensen– @mdjensen on Twitter, is co-founder of SoloSEO.com, an SEO toolset and project management platform. Michael has a strong interest in local and mobile search, and blogs about Local Search and Local SEO. Michael is also behind LeaveFeedback.org, a free service for local businesses to help improve online customer feedback, customer reviews, and local …

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Why the Google Local Business Center Fails

Update: Be sure to readthe related article at SEO Igloo Blog » The Local New Year’s Resolution I Wish Eric Schmidt Would Make by Miriam Ellis. Google Maps is marching towards dominance in the mapping world and the Universal Local results often generate traffic and  sales for those businesses able to achieve Local 10 Pack Status. …

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Google Maps Support Groups Switching to New Platform

Google rolled out a new forum platform in early November with the intention of moving their support groups over to it. They have just announced the pending move of the Google Maps Help Group to the new environment. The Google Mobile Group moved to the new platform at the end of November. Here is the …

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New Local Search News Site

Steve Espinosa, the world’s biggest Chicago White Sox fan, local search expert and a frequent speaker on Local at the many conferences, has just rolled out a new local search site called Local Search News. It will be an everything local site with both tactical and strategic information on Google Maps, Yahoo Local, Local SEO, …

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Would you get marriage counseling from this woman?

A Local 10 Pack in Google Maps is a coveted position for any business. I am always fascinated by the lengths and lack of discretion (think Boob Job San Diego) in attempting to game the system.  This listing though, has got to take the cake for best effort. Interestingly, she showed in at least 8 …

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