Google has announced that it has added an additional 39 languages to the Google Maps software, enabling an additional estimated 1.25 billion people worldwide to use the app in their native languages. Google also said that over 1 billion people use Google Maps on their computers or mobile phones to get from place to place. […]
Google Maps adds 39 new languages supporting over 1B people Read More »
I have a growing concern about fake online content. Last year, I wrote an article about eight different types of fake content and how the epidemic would hurt local search. It seems the problem is continuing to get worse, much worse. Perhaps the most outrageous example of fake online content in the past year is the
Why we need to fight fake reviews Read More »
Mike Blumenthal reports that Google is now slowly rolling out the new Google My Business dashboard that it announced back in November 2017. I have had the new dashboard for my account for a month or so, but according to Mike, who watches the space closely, it is rolling out to more people slowly now. Here
New Google My Business dashboard for multiple listings rolling out Read More »
Google My Business has updated the Insights analytics tool within Google My Business to let business owners see a heatmap of locations from which searchers request directions to their businesses. Allyson Wright, the community manager for Google My Business, announced that Google has “made some changes to your directions heatmap.” Specifically, the new directions heatmap
Google My Business updates the directions heatmap in Insights reporting Read More »
Google looks to be adding a feature in Google My Business that allows business owners to add descriptions that appear in the local panel in search results. Both @deegs20 and @maulikpanchal posted screen shots of this in action. Google removed this feature back in 2016 when they dropped the Google+ support but it seems to be
Google adding business descriptions in Google My Business & local panel Read More »
Women-led businesses can now add a new icon and label to their Google Maps or local listing in Search by going to their Google My Business profile and adding the “women-led” attribute under their “info” section. After they add the attribute, a new “women-led” icon will appear in the business attributes section of their business
Google My Business adds ‘women-led’ icon & attribute to business listings Read More »
Google has announced that all of Disney’s US theme parks are now available on Google Street View. Users can also take visual Street View tours of parks outside the US, such as those in Paris and Shanghai. Street View allows users to virtually view and walk around almost all of the park’s attractions and rides.
Disney theme parks now on Google Street View Read More »
The New York Times is reporting that Google will sell Zagat to restaurant search and recommendations site The Infatuation. Terms were not disclosed; an announcement will be made today. The potential sale was first reported by Reuters earlier this year. Google bought the Zagat brand and all of its content in 2011 for roughly $151
Google selling Zagat to restaurant recommendations site The Infatuation Read More »
Yesterday Yelp announced “custom ads” for small businesses. They offer advertisers on the platform the ability to select a desired review and image to appear in their ads. This is similar to TripAdvisor’s ad program allowing advertisers to feature a favorite review. Yelp says these ad units are being quickly adopted: By giving advertisers the
Yelp offers new ad customization to advertisers Read More »
E-commerce and local search might seem to be exclusive functions. Local search is typically associated with store locations and driving offline purchases, while e-commerce usually involves online transactions. But recently the crowded e-commerce space has led online-only stores to encroach on the turf of local stores and services. Amazon opened a bookstore in Seattle and
6 smart e-commerce lessons to boost local business Read More »
