Why Local Search Is So Important

Google, Yahoo, and the other search engines have revolutionized how we learn, how we collaborate, how we shop, and in general have helped billions of people around the world harness the full power of the internet.

Today there are well over 10 billion unique searches done each month, and that’s just in the United States! Of those searches,

• 40% of queries have Local intent ⁽¹⁾
  • 5% use the city and/or state name
  • 2% use informal terms, like neighborhoods
  • 0.5% use zip codes

On Yahoo alone, 100 Million unique visitors per month search with “local intent” ⁽²⁾. We can extrapolate that there are HALF A BILLION unique Local searches per month on Google, based on Yahoo’s ~15% market share (though we’ve not seen any “hard numbers” released by Google about its average Local Search volume). We’ve seen both Google and Yahoo make dramatic shifts in how they return results in 2008, and all the trends point to Local.

On top of that data, respected technology experts around the world think the world of mobile search is ready to take off in 2009 and 2010. In some places around the world, like Japan, many of these technologies are already in place. They’re in use even in the United States, with more sophisticated devices like the iPhone. Mobile searches are primarily going to pull their results from Local Search Engines.

 All of this is to say: 

The potential to attract new customers via Local Search is enormous.

- (source: Frazier Miller, GM of Yahoo Local)

Google Plus for Restaurants, why it's going to be better than Facebook, Twitter

Here we go again another social media site or so I thought. Google plus to me is the next evolution in social media. In Google fashion they found a way to unify several of the services we already use in Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin. Not only have they succeeded they’ve also improved it over the other social media sites.It’s been that most of us will open a Facebook account for our personal contacts, linkedin for business, and twitter for both; yet, there have been times when a business associate “friends me” on Facebook, I accept not to be rude, and it never fails one of my college buddies makes a comment that’s not business friendly. Right now, I have family, friends, and business associates in what I call a social toss salad. There are times you want to post a message for family only; unfortunately, post are visible to all your friends. This has been my biggest hang up with Facebook. Google develops an awesome tool to group my friends and keep my post private to the groups I select. Best part is that no one is aware of the group they belong to as far as they’re concerned they are just part of my social network.

Let’s review some of the Google plus features

Sparks it brings content to you automatically based on your interests. Each topic will get its own “Spark” page and provide links to related articles, videos, and photos.

Hangouts are virtual rooms where you can video chat like Skype with people in your circles. Yes, they integrated their own Skype! Google has always had Google talk, but this version is better. You can also do a conference with your circle.

Huddles allows you to send group messages to your circle. If you have an android device there is an app you can download at https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.plus&rdid=com.google.android.apps.plus&rdot=1 send messages from your phone or create a huddle, and everyone can chat.

What you can do with Google plus

If you’re using an Android you can upload your photos instantly and share them with a circle. This is great when you’re in your restaurant and take a spontaneous picture and upload it for your followers.

How do you get Google plus?

It’s by invite only. They did this when they launched Gmail too; however, you can visit the Google plus home page https://plus.google.com/up/start/?continue=https://plus.google.com/&type=st&gpcaz=d559b008 to request one. Eventually, everyone with a Google account will have Google plus.

Try the demo at http://www.google.com/+/demo/

Out the gate and already developing tools for Chrome

With only 2 weeks out the gate developers are already developing cool tools for Chrome with Google plus. Chrome is the web browser created by Google, so it’s only logical they will have tools integrated with Google plus to enhance the user internet experience.

Google plus solved the privacy issue that Facebook has been plague with since their inception. Google plus uses circles to keep your posts private. Like I mentioned earlier I don’t want the public to read posts that my college buddies think are funny, but unprofessional to my business associates. Circles work more like a filter and allow users to keep certain posts with the right circle of people.

When Facebook first started we went from 10 to hundreds of friends making our Facebook home page noisy as hell. It’s the same issue I have with Twitter. There are people who are proud they have thousands of tweets and somehow feel that spitting out everything that’s on their mind is relevant and somehow elevates their status. Actually it’s more annoying, and after a while they get ignored. I rather read tweets with substance, then to hear people verbally vomit everything that comes out their mouth. Yes, you can unfollow these people or block them and you can do the same with Google+, but the biggest difference is that all those noisy tweets can now be filtered by groups, especially the inappropriate posts.

The final word is still out; however, we find it to be a very compelling experience. Google Plus invites will roll out to users over time; the first stage is being called a Field Test. Users will send feedback to be collected before fully rolling it out to the public.

If you’re using it, we would like to hear your thoughts. Will millions of users leave Facebook, Twitter, and Linked in for Google+?

It appears Google has recently changed its algorithm for Local Business Listings by only giving the top spots to those feeding the search engine’s ever increasing need for content. Keep reading to learn what are Google Local Business Listings, what’s changed recently, as well as how to optimize so your local business is on top of the map.

Google Local Business Listings are different than organic or pay-per-click listings. They typically only show up when the user types a service oriented business followed by the city for their search. A large map from Google Maps appears alongside up to ten URLs with a phone number by each. If you need more than ten listings you can click in “More Results from ‘Insert City’ “ and you’ll be taken to a map with alphabetically lettered red pegs for each register business on Google Maps.

It seems over the last year being listed on Google Maps and/or Google’s Local Business Listings is becoming even more important since they are being displayed more often in search with up to ten listings before organic listings even start.

Changes in Google Local Business Listings’ Algorithm

One client of ours was listed and is still listed under a Local Business Listing for their service, but it seems the listing fell in a short period of time; they went from #2 to #44 out of 3,656. Since many local business owners are seeing the value in these listings and Google makes the submission process much easier to understand than the general ins and outs of SEO, competition is on the rise.

With this recent surprise in dropping, I have decided Google Local Business Listings has its own algorithm. After noticing what the patterns were and what the top listings did, I made some adjustments using the modeling method. Soon after I noticed a huge rise in ranking.

Based on researching and observation, the pattern that presents itself for those that are high on the listings is they have:

1. Photos - They only recently they allowed this. Add as many photos as you can and a company logo.

2. Multiple Reviews - It’s important that these be from real customers. You can not have too many. Don’t fake them either, it’s easy to see. Just as with Amazon, people trust products with lots reviews that have kept above three stars.

3. Use Keywords in Company Description - They offer an area where the business representative can describe what the company offers.

4. Use Keywords in Company Name - Don’t be deceptive by changing your company name, but if your keywords are in the extended business name or LLC, make sure this is the name in which you register.

5. Add a Coupon – Google allows printable coupons to be added by your listing.

Add these elements to your Google Local Business Listing and you are sure to be in the top ten.

6. Create links to the listing – Add a link from your homepage to the listing and encourage current customers or website visitors to review your company.

7. Add Videos- If your company already has videos on YouTube you can place them right there on the page.