If the changes going on in local search are giving you a headache, you’re not alone. For example, Google’s Pigeon update is a newly released algorithm to provide more useful, relevant and accurate local search results that are tied more closely to traditional web search ranking signals. The core changes are behind the scenes, but […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Experts Weigh In On Google’s “Pigeon” Update Aimed At Improving Local Search Results Last week, Google made new search waves when it rolled out updates to its local search algorithm. The […]
Last week, Google made new search waves when it rolled out updates to its local search algorithm. The “Pigeon” update (the name Search Engine Land gave it in absence of an official name from Google) aims to deliver improved local search results, with enhanced distance and location ranking parameters. According to Google, the new local […]
On July 24, 2014, Google released a major local search algorithm update, we named Pigeon. Google told us the new algorithm will lead to a more useful and relevant experience for searchers seeking local results. But like with any new algorithm launch, there are always bugs, unexpected outcomes and less relevant results. A search for […]
In part 1, we talked about some practical tips for converting a satisfied customer to a raving fan who is willing to talk about their experience with your service-based company online. In this article, we’ll discuss how to get that fan to talk about your website in a way that benefits your search marketing efforts. Creating […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google’s Pigeon Update Solves Yelp Problem, Boosts Local Directories As the analysis continues on yesterday’s Google local search algorithm changes — that we’re calling the Pigeon update — one thing appears […]
As the analysis continues on yesterday’s Google local search algorithm changes — that we’re calling the Pigeon update — one thing appears to be clear: Local directory sites are getting better visibility in Google’s search results. More specifically, it looks like Google has fixed its “Yelp problem” and is now showing Yelp pages at the […]
Last night, Google released a pretty significant local search algorithm update. Google told us there was no internal name for the update, but now that we see that it was fairly significant, we decided to give it a name: Pigeon. Pigeon is the name we decided on because this is a local search update and […]
Google has released a new algorithm to provide a more useful, relevant and accurate local search results that are tied more closely to traditional web search ranking signals. The changes will be visible within the Google Maps search results and Google Web search results. Note: We’ve named this update the Pigeon update. The core changes […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: It’s Time For Marketers To Attend To The Branding Benefits Of Search Google recently released a study that concluded, “Search Ads Lift Brand Awareness.” The study tested brand recall for searchers […]
Google Maps announced a new “Explore” feature yesterday for its Android and iOS app. The new feature offers a “local guide” that adapts to wherever the user may be. According to the release: Now, whenever you want to discover places in your area, simply tap the new Explore button at the bottom right corner of […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Top Luxury Brands Spent $22 Million On Google Text Ads In The U.S. Last Year [Study] Paid search research firm, AdGooroo, has analyzed the paid search activity by luxury brands and […]
Google has formally announced that it is surfacing and displaying ads on Google Maps and Google Maps for Mobile in the scrolling list view it debuted recently. The ads appear above the organic listings and can include location extensions and call extensions. Location extensions are what allow advertisers to include ratings, store hours and the […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: How To Generate Customer Experience Reviews For SEO Profit – Part I Here’s a question for all you search marketers out there: given the option, would you prefer to optimize a […]
Google is pushing out an update for their Android Google Maps app and with that, Google announced three new changes: (1) View search results on the map or in a list and easily switch between them (2) Search for places you’ve reviewed or saved using the “Your places” filter (3) Bike directions now include elevation […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Microsoft Bing Now Added To Google Chrome New Tab Page Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, is now an option within Google’s Chrome new tab page screens. Prior, if you changed your default […]
Google has quietly changed the search results interface within Google Maps to show more listings via a scrollable search box. You can now scroll through the first ten or so local search results when you conduct a search in the Google Maps search box. Here is an example: This new feature launched sometime over the […]
Google is introducing the ability to set up location extensions at the account level by linking your Google My Business account to your AdWords account. No longer will location extensions need to be set up separately for each campaign. Formerly called Google Places for Business, Google My Business, is where businesses can manage location listings […]
Google Maps has updated its app for iPhone and iPad. The new version adds features and content and even makes the app more visually appealing. The new version includes the following improvements: Search results appear with descriptions on the map Easy switching between map and list view of results Reservations via Gmail indicated on map […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Leaked Documents Show How Yelp Thinks It’s Not Getting Screwed By Google Yelp may once again feel Google is robbing it of its fair share of search traffic, with a study […]
Local search provider YP has been investing in its mobile app, doing brand advertising and generally seeking ways to better compete with rivals such as Google, Foursquare and Yelp. It doesn’t have the reach of Google or the content of Yelp but with its mybook feature the company may have found a way. MyBook was soft-launched […]
Yelp may once again feel Google is robbing it of its fair share of search traffic, with a study that’s been leaked to TechCrunch to prove it. A close read of that study actually shows that it proves the opposite — or at least, that it’s certainly not as damning as it sounds. Leaked Documents […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google’s EU Censorship Removes Links For More Than Just Names On Their Own It turns out that those in the European Union asking Google to “forget” links they don’t like that […]
Google has quietly announced on Google+ that they have added the distance-measuring feature to the new version of Google Maps. The feature allows you to draw points on Google Maps to see how far in distance (feet/miles/etc.) it is from one point to the next. This feature was available on the old version of Google […]
Say goodbye to local search as we know it. We have entered into a period of the human algorithm. The future of local search can be summed up in two words — collaboration and trust. Are you prepared? Listen to Justin Sanger, a long–time innovator and leader in local search, share his insights into the […]
Local SEO provider Placeable, which competes with a range of companies in the increasingly crowded national-local segment, has released new travel-related survey data . The study’s findings, at least as presented, don’t tell an entirely coherent story about user behavior however. Basically the survey says that travelers rely heavily on search — mobile search in […]
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Foursquare will soon be charging a small number of partners to use its Venue Database. Recently Microsoft and Foursquare agreed to a $15 million investment/licensing deal that brings Foursquare content to Bing search results and Windows Mobile. According to the WSJ article: The New York startup is […]
YP is the largest of the major U.S. yellow pages publishers (and local search providers), with roughly 4,000 sales and support reps and 575,000 (mostly small business) advertisers. The company has now joined the ranks of the Google AdWords Premier SMB Partner Program. Also on the list are fellow publishers Dex Media, Hearst and hibu, as well […]
Google announced they have released a mobile app for the new Google My Business. In summary, Google My Business is the new unified interface designed to make life easier for local businesses as well as brands to be better found within Google. The apps were released for iOS and Android and enable business owners with […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: eBay’s “Paid Search Is Ineffective” Study Gains Buzz And Skeptics, Again By claiming that paid search is largely “ineffective,” eBay has attracted a lot of attention and buzz with media outlets […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Rather Than Opt-Out Of Google, German News Publishers Demand 11% Cut Of Revenue German news publishers are picking up where the Belgians left off, a now not-so-proud tradition of suing Google […]
In this week’s Search In Pictures, here are the latest images culled from the web, showing what people eat at the search engine companies, how they play, who they meet, where they speak, what toys they have, and more.
One of the features in the forthcoming iOS 8 is apparently called City Tours. These are animated flyovers of various cities in Apple Maps. Mostly a novelty, they’ll take users on a 3D tour of key buildings and landmarks in a city. Google Maps/Earth have allowed developers to create animated virtual tours of places since 2009. […]
The emerging consensus from the early “hands on” or “first look” reviews is that the Amazon Fire Phone has some novel and interesting features but that it doesn’t measure up, overall, to the iPhone or “true Android” devices. I’ve argued that Amazon missed the boat with its high-end pricing. Interestingly, there has been almost no […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Will Google & Bing Penalize Microsoft Over Their Sponsored Post Campaign For Internet Explorer? This morning, news broke that Microsoft Internet Explorer is getting help from SocialChorus to build more awareness […]
SearchMetrics released a study on the penetration of Universal Search results in the Google search results. By Universal Search we mean the way Google “blends” results from “vertical” search engines like Google Images, Google Videos, Google Maps or Google News into its web search listings. The study shows that for all searches, 85% of them […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Russian Search Engine Yandex Now 100% “Not Provided,” Blocks Referrer Data Yandex announced (in Russian) today that they have now went 100% secure, encrypting all search queries, resulting in a huge […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google’s Payday Loan Algorithm 3.0 Rolling Out Now Google is now rolling out the 3rd version of the PayDay Loan algorithm. Last night we reported that Google is going to be […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google My Business: A Visual Tour Of Google’s New Tool For Local Businesses & Brands Google My Business is Google’s new unified interface designed to make life easier for local businesses […]
Google My Business is Google’s new unified interface designed to make life easier for local businesses as well as brands to be better found within Google. It’s a big, huge change. Our visual tour below is designed to give you an overview. Getting Started Google My Business was announced today. You’ll find our overview story […]