So as far as I can tell Google just rolled this update out.
The Google Local Business Center (the dashboard where businesses can edit their local business listings) has added a new feature:
“post to your place page”
It seems to be a some sort of blogging functionality for creating posts about your business which then show up [...]
I have known about MerchantCircle for quite awhile but had never really delved deep into all that they have to offer.
Interestingly, today I was creating a listing on MerchantCircle as part of some local search optimisation for a client and I found that MerchantCircle offers a basic blog and a (seemingly free) basic newsletter [...]
here is an interesting article about getting customer reviews on Google!!
http://www.semreportcard.com/small-buiness-tips-for-local-online-customer-reviews/
There has been a lot of talk about these new ads:
Google Intros Local Listing Ads to LBC in Limited Markets - Blumenthal
My Thoughts on Google Local Listing Ads - David Mihm
They haven’t come to Florida yet so I have a little breathing (and learning) time…
It seems that the jury is still out on whether they [...]
Are your competitors spamming Google Local?
Turf them out!
Google has a page for reporting Google maps spam
Thanks Blumenthal
Ok. So Blumenthal had an interesting post detailing with a pie chart how to get your google local listing 100% complete.
Although whether this matters or not is up to debate and the odds are on the side of it NOT mattering.
But it is fun to have a 100% nonetheless so I tested it out [...]
Google has been making changes to its local search algorithm (the formula that determines rankings).
Google is, among other things, penalising category spam.
Here is a good article on that:
Google’s Recent Changes to its Local Algorithm
As of October 2009, Google has also changed from the 10-pack to a “lucky” 7-pack.
Here is another article about Google’s changing [...]
This article by the foremost local search engine optimisation expert, David Mihm, is a must read.
These are his “10 commandments of marketing online for small and local businesses”
I do local search engine optimisation for my small business clients and I have to say the list hits the nail on the head.
On Google Local, citations (the links to your listings in other business listing services) are key.
The following is a list of (mostly) free business listings:
superpages.com
yahoo local listings
bing local listings
insiderpages.com
InfoUSA.com
citysearch.com
merchantcircle.com
hotfrog.com
magicyellow.com
openlist.com
localsearch.com
akama.com
cityvoter.com
IBeginSource.com
addresses.com
getfave.com
yellowusa.com
Yelp.com
localeze.com
yellowpages.com
allpages.com
kudzu.com
zvents.com
manta.com
topix.com
yellowpages.iaf.net
citywaboo.com
And if that is not enough for you….
Here is a very comprehensive list of internet yellow pages
