For your convenience, here are the most recent posts from the Local Search Community – filled with news and tips. (Feed auto-updates)
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So excited to finally be able to announce the launch of the new Google Places Dashboard. YAY! This new All-in-One Google Local Listing Management Dashboard offers SOOOOO many significant advantages and yes the old dashboard is really going away. Tons of new info and screenshots below.
FULL ANNOUNCEMENT, complete with all the screen shots, all new Google help docs FAQ and more at the Local Search Forum. Update rolling out now!
Sorry but blog comments are closed. All discussion takes place at the forum now.
Ask questions and read all the updates as they roll out, in this thread at the Local Search Forum.
Wowser, Google is just hitting it out of the park with improvements this week. Much of this has been in the works on the back end for many months and I’m so happy to now be able to share the news and have been getting the word out.
REMINDER: I post ALL News at Local Search forum AS SOON AS IT HITS!
I only post to the blog now as an afterthought, as I get time.
So be sure to grab the Local Search Community RSS Feed
Major Google Local Review Improvements! Better Algo = More Reviews
Google has been hard at work over the past few months trying to fix and improve the review piece of the local puzzle. See big post from Google about it + amazing clarity from them about exactly what NOT to do if you want your LEGIT reviews to show up live.
HUGE NEWS! Phone Support for Google Local DATA Problems Just Launched Google just let us know they EXPANDED PHONE SUPPORT! Recently they tested phone support, that was only for Places verification problems. Now it’s available for data issues too. See screen shots and I’ll explain more below.
.:. Expanded from 2 to 4 hours
.:. Spit into 2 group training sessions over 2 days
.:. More content – Same price
GENERAL TRAINING INFO
ADVANCED Google+ Local TRAINING (For EXPERIENCED Local Search consultants only) This is not beginner Google+ Local training and we don’t have time to cover any 101 content in this course. This is advanced training. You need to have demonstrated hands-on experience to benefit from this knowledge.
The Advanced Google Places/Google+ Local training is delivered interactively via phone, personally by me. No canned content or videos.
SOME of the TOPICS COVERED and BONUSES INCLUDED…
Click link below for complete details, agenda, testimonials and more.
New Intensive ADVANCED Google+ Local TRAINING
Visit the Local Search Community for the Latest News, Help and Support
Over 1,150 SEOs took part in BrightLocal’s 2012 Local SEO Industry Survey.
Excited to announce the survey is back! Click here for the 2013 survey.
The objective of the survey is to gain a clear understanding of the health & nature of the Local SEO industry. We will publicly share the results so everyone in our industry can benefit from the findings. The survey explores the following topics -
Below is roundup of recent Local Search news & tips posted at the Local Search Community forum. Subscribe to the Local Search Community RSS Feed so you don’t miss the latest Local Search news.
Google+ Local Optimization Tips/Tricks To Improve Ranking
Pending Review in Google+ Local AKA Google Places Dashboard Problems
Monster List – 200 Best Local SEO Posts of 2012
2 New Google+Local Updates to Reviews and Images
Service Area Business DELETED – Google+ Local Support Saga
Over-Optimization Penalty for Local Sites Internal Links?
What Causes Google+ Local Merged Listings – How to Fix?
Best Strategy to Merge Duplicate Listings?
50 Leading Local Review/Citation Sources in the US
New Local Search Google Map Maker Forum
Warning Google+ Local Hijacking Scam
Rebrand or Name Change – Map Maker Says Open New & Close Old
Best Practice for Designating Service Area – By Mile Radius or Cities?
Hit “Recent Posts” at the top of the forum for the very latest…
Curated news from the Local Search Forum Community…
There are several new Google+ Local bugs ‘bugging’ folks and I have not done a very good job of reporting them individually over at the Local Search Forum as they come up. I’ll try to do a better job of sharing new issues as I become aware of them.
But here are a few recent bugs/problems/issues all in one post…
I thought this was a great post to kick off the New Year, since most local search pros I know are workaholics and this post gets into some great insight from leaders in the field about work/life balance, making time to stay healthy and taking time for family.
I was emailed recently by Adam Steele, a member of a Local Mastermind Group I’m involved in, and he asked me to participate in a group article/interview called “Do You Have Entrepreneur’s Guilt?” Well I was helping with my daughter’s surgery recovery AND have been sick AND the Holidays were hectic AND to be honest (sorry Adam) didn’t really get the relevance of the topic, so I passed.
Some top local search experts however did take the time to respond, including: Mike Blumenthal, Alex Fusman, Mary Bowling, Darren Shaw, Matthew Hunt and Mike Ramsey.
Adam asks the group questions about something he terms “entrepreneur’s guilt”, then asks questions like: Do you maintain a healthy lifestyle? Do you make time for yourself? How often? With your free time, what do you do? Do you have any work/life balance tips that you can provide? Or is balance a myth?
Do You Have Entrepreneur’s Guilt?
Why is no one talking about entrepreneur’s guilt? Is it possible people just don’t have a name for it? Perhaps they call it poor work/life balance or being a work-a-holic? For me, neither of those entirely fit the bill. In the aforementioned article, Mary Hirshberg says: “it’s never a solo venture, it always involves a family.” This resonated BIGTIME with me.
I decided to go beyond asking friends and family. I shot out some formal questions to a number of entrepreneurs with significant others, children, etc. that I know. Some of the responses blew me away. So much so I had to make an executive decision not to include some responses in this piece. I will say however, that many were filled with stories of marital dispute, divorce and worse.
Happy Holidays & Season’s Greetings
There have been so many important topics at the Local Search Forum, I don’t I have time to cover them all. It’s getting so busy over there with multiple hot topics and major Google local updates coming in every day.
You guys REALLY need to subscribe to the Local Search Community RSS Feed so you don’t miss the latest Local Search news. I’m not sure how much longer I can keep up with trying to copy important stuff here to the blog.
Major Expansion – Tons of New Forums Added – Here we GROW again! New forums just added include Google+ Local specific problem areas like Google bugs, updates, reviews, citations, dupes, moves, service area business issues. Plus we added new forums for ON-SITE Local SEO, mobile, social and much more. Check forum home page to see all the new forums.
HOT NEW ISSUES and GOOGLE UPDATES
IMPORTANT GOOGLE UPDATE – Must DELETE your G+ Business Page if you are Service Area Business w/ Hidden Address!
New “Business Moved” Feature for Google+ Local Listings – Joel and Jade from Google both weigh in due to confusion and conflicting MapMaker issues.
Google FINALLY Releases How to Move Local Listing Help Doc – IMPORTANT info about this and conflicting guidelines and advice from Google Maps.
If You Aren’t Making Money as a Local SEO Consultant You Aren’t Alone – Must read if your business is not currently thriving.
If You HAD to Start Over – What would you do Differently??? – If your local search consulting business is struggling (as above) read this!!!
Dec 18 Google+ Local Algo Update?
Nailed it! What’s #1 Ranking Factor for Local SMBs in 2013?
100% Complete Doesn’t Impact Ranking
Insiders Guide To Selecting The Right Local SEO Tools – Great feature and price comparison chart
Black Hat Google Reviews – Competitor Sabotage
Seeing Double? 2 G+ Local Links in SERPs? Here’s Why? – Some thought bug. I discovered it’s a SERPs display update.
NEW PHOTO BUG JUST HIT? This just came into forum, we are investigating.
Hit “Recent Posts” at the top of the forum for the very latest…
What were the biggest changes to Local SEO in 2012? What do experts predict is coming for Google+ Local in 2013? What’s the best advice for the coming year? And let’s throw in some crackpot predictions too!
I was recently interviewed by Myles from BrightLocal, along with thought leaders Mike Blumenthal, Mike Ramsey and Laura Betterly. Read the link below to discover our answers to the questions below.
Looking back… what has been the biggest change in local search in 2012?
What do you predict to be the biggest change for ‘local’ in 2013?
What is your biggest concern for how ‘local’ will develop in 2013?
What will be the biggest change(s) to local SEO ranking factors in 2013?
What changes do you predict for Google+ Local in 2013?
What are the 3 pieces of advice you would give to local SMBs for 2013?
What’s your most ‘crackpot’ prediction for ‘local’ in 2013?
Head over to read my CrackPot Prediction for 2013
Let the “Best Of” and “Year in Review” posts begin!
There were several defining moments in local search in the year 2012; The update to Google+ Local, the ability to merge your Place page with your Google+ Business page (still not ready for prime time), the Google Local review problems and the thousands of small businesses deleted by Google due to the service area/hide your address fiasco.
Following are my picks for the best local search blogs posts of 2012. Categorized by topic, but in no particular order:
Google Local: Train Wreck at the Junction
Mike Blumenthal – GOOGLE+ LOCAL PROBLEMS
Google Places Is Over, Company Makes Google+ The Center Of Gravity For Local Search Greg Sterling – GOOGLE+ LOCAL UPDATE
Google Places Pages Are No More – But What has Changed?
Mike Blumenthal – GOOGLE+ LOCAL UPDATE
Google+ Business Pages: To Merge Or Not to Merge, That is the Question
Mike Blumenthal – GOOGLE+ MERGE
BREAKING! Google+ Business Merge with Google Place Pages Starts Now!
Local Search Forum – GOOGLE+ MERGE
Local Search Ranking Factors
David Mihm – LOCAL SEO
The Zen Of Local SEO
Miriam Solas – LOCAL SEO
Local Search Ecosystem: Fall 2012 Update
David Mihm – LOCAL SEO
How Long Does Local-Search Visibility Take?
Phil Rozek – LOCAL SEO
Asking for Reviews (Post Google Apocalypse)
Mike Blumenthal – REVIEWS
The Local Business Reviews Ecosystem
Phil Rozek – REVIEWS
New Guideline – Hide your Address or Risk Losing your Place Page
Linda Buquet – SERVICE AREA – DELETED LISTINGS – DO NOT SUPPORT
There are so many great bloggers and 2012 was filled with great insights and many other great posts. Please feel to post any others you feel deserve an honorable mention in the companion post over at the Local Search Community.
When Google acquired Frommers, the travel guide, back in August there was speculation about how Google would use/integrate all their rich travel content. I think I discovered one of the ways last week. It looks like they recently started adding Frommers content to Google+ Local pages.
Has anyone else seen these big rich descriptions above the “At A Glance” section of Google+ Local pages before? I think this is new. Have not seen anyone blog it yet. Here’s how I discovered it.
I helped the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose at the Google Forum. You can see the description added to the Museum’s Google+ Local page right above the reviews. The description was incorrect and out of date, so he wanted to know how to change it.
When I searched for the content I found it on the NYtimes travel domain, some Google books, Frommers and several other sites. So initially I just thought Google was scraping it, like they do the review sentiments in the “At a Glance Section”. Then I remembered Google purchased Frommers back in August, so it makes sense they would integrate the content.
Here are a couple articles about Google’s Frommers acquisition.
Google buys Frommer’s travel brand – Aug. 13, 2012 CNN
Zagat Take Two: Google To Acquire Frommer’s Travel Guides – SearchEngineLand
See any other good examples? I have not had time to do a deep dive on this.
Join the discussion at the Local Search Forum.
Latest local SEO and Google+ Local news from the Local Search Community.
These are just a few of the many great threads that started in November.
There are lots of other great discussions too, so head over and join in!
Does Google Hate Small Businesses? (Hot off the press, a few minutes ago.
A lively discussion is sure to follow.)
Google+ Local MERGE or Wait? + Benefits of Verifying G+ Business Page
Custom VS Default Google+ Local Categories
Getting 500 Error on Google+ Local Business Page?
Extensively Convoluted Google+ Local Offerings
Guide to Handling Ranking Drops and Google Algo Changes with Clients
Jumpstart Your Local Search Consulting Business
The Worst Local SEO Client You’ve Ever Had
Setting Your Local SEO Business Up for Success
Is G+ Local Sentiment Analysis Worth A Hang? Really?
Funny Google Local Listings and Reviews LOL
LOCAL VideoScribing – Amazing New Local Business Idea
Take the P out of NAP and you’re left with NA
There are too many new posts to list so, head over to read the rest.
Local Search Community RSS Feed SUBSCRIBE via RSS or EMAIL
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WOW! Did someone at StreetFight just reach inside my brain and pen all my Google Local frustrations? He summed up SO many of the complicated Google+ Local issues, that plague consultants and business owners alike.
See full article below, but 1st – a Google Places CARTOON that says it all!
I am consulting for a company that has a hornet’s nest of complicated G+ L problems. Have never seen one company with so many Google local problems. Every problem in the book! Yesterday after I explained how to fix just a small portion of the problems, my client sent me the following cartoon.
That about sums it up, right???
Head over to the Local Search Forum for the link to the VERY comprehensive article about all the Google+ Local complications and confusion and please weigh in with your thoughts. Extensively Convoluted Google+ Local Offerings
Back in June 2011 I broke a story about Google’s new “City Pages” which I discovered a couple days before Google officially announced them. It looked like they were going to be very cool city directories – and for awhile they were.
Now it looks like they are all gone and the ones I have checked go to 404 error pages. It looks like Google is now going for Official Google+ City Pages instead. (Which makes sense but does not offer a big fancy city directory like before.)
I’ve been collecting Official Google+ City Pages as I find them and am listing the ones I’ve found so far. If you live/work in a particular city you may want to circle the page, comment on posts and get to know the local Community Manager. Having friends in high Google Local places never hurts!
Google Local Chicago
During the time that I’ve been gradually tracking down City pages to create this list, Matt McGee posted about the changes over at Search Engine Land Google Starts Shutting Down Its City Pages, Shifts To Google+ Local and noted 2 of the new pages. So head over and see what he had to say.
If you discover any other Google Local City Pages please share in comments. There is also an open discussion over at the Local Search Community.
We just added a new section to the Local Search Forum forum.
This new forum is dedicated to providing resources to help manage the “Business Side” of local search consulting. It’s also a place for the community to share business-building and organizational ideas OR ask questions about business-related issues.
Great topics for this forum would include anything related to: prospecting, pricing, packaging, billing, time management, productivity tools or anything about managing and GROWING a more successful business!
I have some helpful resources/posts in the works, but here are the 1st 3.
Just Say No to Bad Local SEO Clients – Let them Walk!
How to Write Universe-conquering Marketing Proposals
Biz-Building Tips for Local SEOs
FEEL FREE TO START A NEW THREAD ABOUT: New business-building articles you read, productivity tools you like or to ask questions about business issues you may be struggling with.
Visit the Consultant’s Corner here.
Latest local SEO and Google+ Local news from the Local Search Community.
Biz-Building Tips for Local SEOs + How to Find a GOOD Local SEO for SMBs
Hardcore Local SEO Competitive Analysis with Places Scout
The Zen Of Local SEO by Miriam Ellis
Tips from David Mihm’s Presentation at SearchLove 2012
Google+ Marketing Tips, Tricks and Treats
Breaking: Will Google Kill Search Location Setting? Bad News for Local SEO
Google Business Forum VIDEO Wrapup – October 19 2012
5 Tips for Optimizing Your LinkedIn Company Page
What Impact Will Google Now Have For Small Businesses?
Your Local SEO Strategy is One Millimeter Off! Video
Google Places for Business Help – Will Not Update Clients URL
Adding Schema Location Markup to Your Site: Structured Data First Steps
There are too many new posts to list so, head over to read the rest.
Local Search Community RSS Feed SUBSCRIBE via RSS or EMAIL
Don’t miss the latest Local Search news and community tips!
Today is our 3 month anniversary at the Local Search Forum. Can you believe this thriving community is only 3 months old? Wow! It’s been a crazy whirlwind of activity that has resulted in over 4,000 posts and almost 400 members. (And most of the world does not even know about us yet – so please help spread the word!)
David and I have each helped build a lot of forum communities over the past 10 years and we’ve NEVER seen one take off this fast and build this strong.
There are 2 primary reasons for our growth. 1) I think the Local Search community was just REALLY hungry for a positive and productive place to learn, discuss local search and support each other. 2) The quality of our members and the knowledge they bring!
To celebrate our 3 month milestone we wanted to add 3 new member perks!
New Top Contributor Program – Announcing Our 1st TC (Who is it?)
Local LEADERBOARD – Recognizing Our Top Members (Are you on the list?)
Member Reputation Bump (Give KUDOS to fellow members)
Thanks to all who support the Local Search Community!
We work for you!
Sincerely,
The Local Search Community Team – Miriam, David & Linda
Busy week? Today might be a good day for you to take a break and catch up on the latest local SEO and Google+ Local news from the Local Search Community Forum you may have missed. Following are just a few October posts I hand picked and think are some of the most important to read.
You Thought Google MapMaker BOTs Were Bad? See Image, New Patent!
LOL! (Hot off the press, new this AM.)
Yelp Fake Review Sting OUTS SMBs, Warns Consumers
Local SEO Warning: City in Title Tag – Former Google Spam Team Member Speaks Out
LOCAL Keyword Research Tools and Tricks
Local SEO Ranking Expert Survey – How Long Does It Take to Rank?
New Google LOCAL Algo Changes – Here’s the Scoop
Yay! PERMANENTLY CLOSED – Moved Business – Google Update
Local Exact Match Domains Still Rank – Google Algo Update
Google Business Forum VIDEO Wrapup – October 5, 2012
New Google Local Site Preview Highlights Competition
Google+ Local Ranking Factors – Competing for Visibility
There are too many new posts to list so, head over to read the rest.
Local Search Community RSS Feed SUBSCRIBE via RSS or EMAIL
Don’t miss the latest Local Search news and community tips!
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I couldn't believe my results! Went from #44 to #1 (Chiropractor Washington) I'm an experienced web marketing consultant, but have to admit, l learned a lot from my info packed Google Places Optimization training with Linda. (SEO Consultant)
After a diligent fight with Google Places bugs, Linda got us a DOUBLE #1 ranking. #1 organic AND #1 (Letter A) in the blended results. I had Linda Buquet train me and a few employees in our office on Google Places and local SEO. She was extremely professional and very knowledgeable on the topics. Some of the insights she provided were completely new ideas to us and really helped us learn more about the industry we work in. Hiring her was a great idea and worth every penny! (Agency) #1 Google Maps Expert Out There! I am Howard G. and I am a dentist with a private practice. The results as I expected are fantastic. (Dentist PA)
