Google Places Optimization & Local SEO News

As I often do, I'm taking good SEO info and putting a Local SEO spin on it. Below is a great infographic which tells the tale, BUT I want to focus on a comment that's made in the intro.

I know lots of Local SEO consultants that are struggling to make a profit. My comment above and the infographic below, is part of the reason. See posts in our Consultant's Corner for help and insights about growing your Local SEO consulting business.

WHERE Does this Leave Google+ Local?

There has just been a big re-organization at Google. Sources say it's the most significant management reorganization since Google co-founder Larry Page became chief exec in 2011.

Some of the articles mention Maps & Local Search but no one specifically mentions Google+ Local? Some make reference to the maps/commerce unit as being in disarray and having problems.

I asked Google for a comment. Stay tuned...

If you deal with Google+ Local you know getting categories right is a big deal when it comes to ranking!

Once again Google Map Maker vs Places guidelines conflict or at least are not in alignment. Turns out the MM guidelines or at least the unwritten rules that "power mappers" and reviewers are privately told by Google are MUCH stricter than what Places guidelines allow.

REMEMBER if a Googler or Mapper (or even a bot) gets eyes on a listing,
they MAY edit or delete it based on MM rules - not Places guidelines!

Bunch of local category guideline warnings inside.

If you care about where the future of search is heading, read every link in this post to get clarity on these issues.

1st up a VERY IMPORTANT quote from Eric Schmidt, the Executive Chairman of Google. Then below that some important links from Mike Blumenthal that directly relate to local and how all this markup stuff works and why it's so very important to start using it.

If you have a local business, you will need to incorporate local into all aspects of your online marketing strategy, including your content marketing. This can help ensure that more pages of your website (your blog in particular) rank well when people are searching for local content. In today’s post, we’re going to look at ways to easily incorporate local into your content marketing strategy, from finding topic ideas to promoting your content with a local audience.

I think this is good for the industry, so I'm helping Myles promote it. Be sure to check out the rich data and results from last year's survey below.

Over 1,150 SEOs took part in BrightLocal's 2012 survey. See results then head over to take the 2013 survey.

By popular request, I finally added a Google+ Local 101 section to the forum for SMBs and new local search consultants.

I stay so busy with advanced issues, new updates and bugs, it was just hard for me to find time to add this section. But it's important obviously for new consultants and business owners alike.

To start this forum off right, below are links to a few posts that have good foundational knowledge or best practice posts that would be helpful to those new to the world of Google local.

Places guidelines are often very vague. Some corresponding MM are very strict and explicit. IMPORTANT to know the MM rules.IF a listing for any reason ends up going to the MM team or a Googler on the maps side of the house, evals or edits your listing, they could very well be editing per the MM guidelines, not the Places guidelines. Your listing could be edited OR deleted if it does not comply with the MM rules.

Top Map Maker rules, guidelines and help docs inside...

Wowser, Google is just hitting it out of the park with positive changes this week. Tons of major updates, upgrades, new features and improvements you NEED to know about inside.

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.

I just completely restructured and expanded my intensive Advanced Google+ Local training program. Doubled the time and added tons of content - without increasing the price.

There is SO much important new info with all the new problems (like moves, do not support problems, etc.) and all the new G+ merge stuff that needs to be covered, that I could not cover it all in 1 session.

Expanded from 2 to 4 hours. Spit into 2 group training sessions over 2 days. Same price. Details at link above.

I always call Google Local a "SHE". People often comment either thinking it's cute or they act slightly annoyed that I have the nerve to call Google, who everyone else thinks of as a 'he' a 'she'. It's become a bit of an industry joke. So I thought I'd share my rationale…

1st off I think of Google in general as a 'he', like most people. I also think of the organic algo as a 'he'. It's only Google LOCAL I refer to as 'she' and here are the reasons...

Location data platform and provider Yext has introduced a range of new data types and rich content into its PowerListing local data syndication product. The new offering is called PowerListings+ (Like Google+).