Posts Tagged ‘Google Local’

Google Slams Spam

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

As the diligent Chief of internet submission company, Submission Company, search engine Submission Company, I am constantly watching the evolution of the Google Maps protocol.
In recent weeks to months it seems that Google has begun taking some drastic measures to curb the use of their gmail service for the dissemination of spam. At first it merely appeared that Google was tightening its quality requirements for listings on the Google Maps, (Google’s Local Business Listing Center). Google is always anxious to provide its customers quality information about the products and services they are seeking.) While one can only speculate, it is likely they were concerned about people using tricks to get high rankings on their local business listings. Their thinking may have been that companies using various techniques to feature keywords in their listings, may have been moving ahead of businesses more qualified to provide the services the online shopper was looking for. Google laid down a number of guidelines as to how to fill out individual text fields on their applications, and made it clear that listings not compliant with these new guidelines might be removed from the local listings. Apparently, this trend is only one step in Google’s war against unethical Internet practices.
In a move that is sure to upset many Google Maps users, Google now requires that all new gmail accounts, not coming from a non-gmail email account, must be verified by text message sent to a cell phone. Would be gmail users not in possession of a cell phone are advised to borrow one from a friend. This new system is being called G-mail beta. One wonders how long the test will continue. Google has apologized for this new stringency and explained that the move was needed to curb the use of gmail by spammers who have been using gmail for their email advertising campaigns.
Lately, in a another more drastic move, Google is tightening the belt when it comes to verification of new Google maps accounts. It appears that the Google computer is being programmed to recognize more and more spammy business submissions, right at the start. And these submissions are being flagged, and held for review I decided to add back single keywords to see which ones would be accepted by the Local Business Center, without triggered another flagging. I only added back “emergency mobile locksmith,” and the listing was again flagged. The idea that a listing should be flagged for such an innocuous keyword is extremely consternating. I looked on various discussion boards but couldn’t find anyone else with my experience. Until otherwise proven, I am convinced that Google is cracking down on the locksmith industry, because of spam, and may even be placing a quota on the number of times a keyword can be used in a given geographical area.
As more and more people register on the Google Maps, and as Google creates more and regulations to protect the quality of the local business listings, it is more and more of a challenge to get top listings. Google has created a number of helpful articles and videos for businesses wishing to list their company. But for business owners who do not have time to list themselves, or for owners and professionals alike who are looking for ways to be compliant with Google, and yet successful in getting high ranking on the maps, the additional guidelines create new challenges. For new up to date ideas on meeting this challenge, check out “4 Hours to a First Page Listing on Google Local” an e-Book with constantly updated suggestions as to how a business owner can be compliant and competitive in the ever changing Google Local Business Center Directory.

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Tips For The Small Businessman Trying To Advertise On The Google Local Business Center

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Any businessman, who wants to insure his company will have adequate Internet presence, is obligated to register his company on the Google Local Directory. Google Local Business Center is the most widely trafficked directory for searches for a local product or service. While registration is free, and generally supported by the Google staff, there are, nevertheless certain strategies, which will enable a business owner to give his business an edge over the competition. As the ranking formulas and set up of the Local submission form change, so do the strategies evolve. As Director of Express Submit Google Local Business Center a business list submission company, and author of the ebook 4 Hours to a Page 1 Listing on Google Local Google Local Application I am obligated to keep up with the changes on Google Local, and every once in a while I am pleased to discover a new approach to filling out the form that is beneficial to my clients. So it was that recently, I discovered a new use for the category section of the Google Local application, which produced amazing results.

After applicants fill out the initial information page of the Google Local Application Google makes a search to see if it can locate the business in the data files. If not, a category text box opens up on page 2 of the Google Local Application. After submitters fill out the initial information page of the Google Local Business Directory , Google makes a search to see if it can locate the business being submitted, in its data files. If not, it will subsequently go to page 2 of the application, and open up a category text box. Applicants are prompted to type a word or phrase into the text field, which describes their business’ service category, such as “restaurant,” “law firm,” or “plumbing company,” Frequently, after the applicant fills in a word, he will be prompted by Google. For example, if someone types in “carpet cleaning,” Google may suggest “Carpet Cleaning Service.” A carpet cleaner adding this category to his list will now be among the businesses displayed on Google Local when anyone in his area searches for “carpet cleaning.”. In a city like New York, however, where there are over 2,000 carpet cleaners, this could mean that he will be listed on page 200, which is far out of the money.

Many people, for this very reason, have been skipping the category section of the Google application, when they submit to Google Local. Now there is a solution for this problem, which makes the category section a valuable part of the form. For close to a year now, however, Google has been permitting companies to create their own category selection, and their choice will be displayed in the category list. This means a company can create a much more detailed category description. The more detailed the category term, the less likely that other companies are using it, and the more likely that the company will be ranked high when someone searches for that term For example, I recently submitted A-Z flooring, a carpet cleaning company in New York. A-z was unable to get a high listing on the search term carpet cleaning in New York City. I subsequently went back and copied the service descriptions from A-Z’s web site, and added them to the Category section of the Google Application. Now when anyone in New York City searches for “deep carpet cleaning, A-Z comes up first on the search engine. This may not be a common search, however, every time it’s made A-Z is first.

There is no limit to the number of categories that can be added to the category section of the application, so at least theoretically, a company could add detailed descriptions of all their services, and come up #1 on many searches on Google. Recently, for example, I submitted an application for Shah Peerally Law Firm of California: www.peerallylawfirm.com. The law firm specializes in immigration law, which included helping foreigners obtain USA visas. I added the technical names of visas that the law firm specializes in to the category section of the Google application. I was subsequently pleased to discover that Peerally Law now comes up first on the Google Maps, when anyone in the whole state of California looks for help for any one of these Visas, types. One might argue that search terms like these are more like keywords, or brands, than business categories. However, I believe that’s not necessarily the case.

A company registering as a restaurant might just as well call themselves a Mexican Restaurant, or Fast Food Restaurant, if that’s what they are. Not every handyman does kitchen remodeling, and not every plumber likes to fix outdoor drainage systems. I once submitted a carpet cleaning company that specialized in Carpet Shampooing. For that company, carpet shampooing is a service category and not a key word. Likewise, not every immigration law firm enjoys doing all types of visa work. Some prefer work visas, some family visas. So in that sense, I felt that it was legitimate to enter visa types that Perally Law specializes in, into the service category boxes.

I have been submitting Google applications for some time, and. as I tell my clients, I stuff my applications like a Thanksgiving turkey, and I am gratified that to this day I have a 100% success rate of getting my clients first page listing on one or more important keyword searches. I am always pleased when I find new approaches that help my clients get more out of their application process. While completing the Google Local Submission Form may seem to some like a routine fill in the banks type exercise. To me, it is more like a Chinese painting, made by an expert who will paint the same subject for his entire career. No two paintings will be exactly the same. And as he learns more and more about the subtleties of his art form, his product will evolve from a mere craft to a work of art.

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Tips For Creating An Effective Submisson To Google Local

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

Any storeowner or service provider doing business on a local level will want to advertise his business in the Google Local Business Directory, fondly called the Google Maps. This amazing directory automatically displays a list of local companies providing products or services, sought after by web surfers, who enter a product name and location in the Google search box. Google then automatically displays a map of the locale at the top of page 1 with store location signified by the presence of bright red tear-drop shaped arrows projecting out of the map. The businesses are listed to the right of the map, with their phone number and address handily displayed.

The local list continues on page 2 and beyond, but business owners have rapidly come to recognize the value of first page listings. Some professions have reportedly been netting over 1/4 million dollars annually from sales generated by top listings on this free directory! With this much revenue at stake, it is no surprise that the competition to get the top listings has increased dramatically, with many businesses submitting multiple listings, and some store owners using “tricks” to get ahead. The lists have become so popular, in recent days, that some search categories, such as house cleaning in Los Angeles, are showing 300,000 or more listings.

So how does a businessman, not well versed in computers, get a top listing on this important directory? First of all you have to fill out an application. It’s not hard to register. You just need a Gmail account, and an hour or two of free time. It takes 2 minutes to fill out the Gmail form. There’s no need to verify the account, and you can immediately log in. Next you need to search on Google for the, Google Local,the Google Local Directory,the Google Local Business Center, and open up the site. You can then click on the “my account” link on the upper right hand corner of the screen, and a new page will open up. A large box will prompt you to “Add a New Business.” When you click on this link, the local business application will appear. Now just go down the list and begin filling in the various boxes. If you’re puzzled by any of the questions you can click on the Google “help” link, at the top of the page. This will open up a series of short articles, from beginner to advanced, that will explain the ins and outs of “Google Maps,” registration. In addition to basic information about your store location, contact phone number, and store hours, Google will ask you to describe your products and services in 200 characters or less. This information will tell customers who you are, and will also help the computer determine what searches you should be ranked on, so be as complete as you can in the 200 characters. Google will also ask you to select the categories of business that apply to your company. Additional questions concern your hours of operation, and the forms of payment you accept. You will be able to append videos or photographs to the application, for customers who open up your listing.

At the end of the application, you’ll have a chance to add additional optional information, of your choice, such as the areas you serve, company specials, and whether or not you provide free estimates. When your registration is completed, you can verify the application through a computerized phone call from Google, or you can request that a 4 digit pin number be sent to you through the mail. Once verified, your listing will appear on the Google Maps, when someone searches for one of your services in your local area.

As Director of Express Submit, Google Local,the Google Local Directory,the Google Local Business Center, an Internet submission company, and author of the eBook, “4 Hours to a Guaranteed First Page Listing on the Google Local Directory,” keywords, key phrases, search terms, I am often asked how does one, get the best possible listing for his business. The answer is, to provide the search engine with as much information as possible. Take time to answer every question on the form, and do your research ahead of time, so that you can enter a complete description of your business, which contains the important keywords potential customers will be using to search for your service. Keep in mind, the goal of Google is to help online customers find the services they are seeking. So be sure to pin point your own unique products, and strongest areas of service, and submit information about them on the application. keywords, key phrases, search terms or key phrases, which accurately describe the services you provide and excel in, is far more valuable than a generic keyword that gets a lot of hits each month, but only loosely applies to services your offering. First of all, you are more likely to get high ranking on keywords, key phrases, search terms that are less in demand.

Secondly, when a potential customer calls you, he’s more likely to do business with you, since your service is exactly what he is looking for. Thirdly, if you’re like most smart businessmen, you probably advertising your specialties in free directories such as Craig’s list and Kijis. Once a month, Google “spiders” the web looking for information about your company, and when they see keywords associated with your business name, that describing your business specialties, then they are assured that you actually provide those services, and this will make you come up higher when people search for those specific keywords.

While the best things in life may not come for free, Google Local,the Google Local Directory,the Google Local Business Center, is proof that sometimes they can and do. Submitting your business to this local directory is well worth the few minutes it will take to do a good job filling the registration.

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