'Net Features : google maps

Google Search Improves the View for Local Businesses

Michael Garrity — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:00:00 GMT

As the pace of the Web gets even faster and more users start to access the Internet while they're on-the-go, it's important that they have as much necessary information readily available as possible. Some recent improvements to Google search aim to aid those busy users conducting searches for local businesses.

The basis of these changes is a desire to "make it a lot easier and faster to answer" questions about local restaurants, hotels, businesses, landmarks, museums and more.

Google understands how people search and has clearly noted that most users will either search for a specific location in order to find out more about it or take the more general approach in order to compare potential establishments in a loosely-defined location. In an effort to make these common searches more meaningful for consumers and businesses alike, Google has enhanced the look of its SERPs for local businesses and/or industries.

Now, a search for a local business will bring up more than just the old standby results page that sends users to the business' website, because now there is a new panel to the right of the results. The familiar map showing the location of the business still exists, but now there is addtional information to supplement the search. The most immediately noticable difference is a series of pictures below the map.

These pictures will virtually transport searchers right to the restaurant using Google Maps' "street view" feature. And not only do users get the opportunity to view the exterior of the building to see the area, but they will also be able to get an inside view of the establishment, which is especially helpful for users looking for a certain atmosphere in a bar or restaurant.

In addition, there is a link to the business' Google Places page, but users practically don't even need to go there (unless they're highly interested in reading reviews) because below the map and pictures is a new "Details" section, which doles out helpful information like price range, hours of operation, nearest transit and more. It even offers links to "more reviews" from other websites.

When users search for a type of business in an area, as opposed to a specific business, Google has made it considerably easier to compare their options with a simple scan of the SERP. Simply hovering over the ">>" symbol to the right of each option listed will bring up the same level of detail found when conducting business-specific searches.

While these changes are very useful for customers, they could be even better for businesses. Before, there had to be a heavy focus on SEO in order to stand out among the competition on Google's SERPs, but as the search giant becomes increasingly local business-friendly, it will become easier to appeal to potential customers with a strong Places profile.

Of course, this doesn't count out the need for strong SEO practices (after all, you still have to earn your way onto Google's SERPs to begin with), but it does give businesses an opportunity to differentiate themselves from their local competition in a manner more suited to the way that consumers search. Obviously, the information readily available to searchers will depend on how much the businesses put online, so it is crucial that you optimize your Places profile and provide as much important information as you can to help you stand out and promote your unique message to potential customers.

Icons and Labels in Google Maps

Pete Prestipino — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:50:00 GMT

Google added icons and labels to its Maps product for prominent businesses and places of interest in August of last year. Leading up to today, there have been many questions (and even some complaints) from business owners about how they could get their own icon embedded in the base layer of Maps. It looks like Google (at least in Australia) has made some headway in that regard.

Google launched a new feature that builds on the feature, According to the post, "Now when you visit Google Maps in Australia, it'll be easier to find some of those shops and other businesses you visit most often because when you zoom in, some businesses will be identified by a small representation of their logo. These easily recognisable logos more closely depict online what the offline world looks like, so next time you're trying to find your way on the map you can navigate more easily using these icons as landmarks."

Perhaps most noteworthy for Web professionals is that the new feature could help business owner promote their physical location through a logo. Advertisers will have to pay to have these sponsored map icons appear instead of a generic icon, but there has been no word on how much. If you're an advertisers interested in this closed-beta program, there is a form available to submit your details.

Google's Local Business Center

Mike Phillips — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:09:00 GMT

If you operate a local, brick-and-mortar business, you will want to check out Google's Local Business Center (LBC). No doubt, consumers have learned about your business through a Google search, or found directions to your location through Google Maps, or both. In fact, the use of Google Maps has been rising quickly and steadily over the past several months, according to data from Compete.com. Increased usage means that it's critical to not only be listed, but that information is accurate and descriptive of your business. With LBC, you can take control of that information, and see detailed reporting about how customers are finding your business, where they are coming from, and more. By using this information, you can tailor your offerings, provide relevant experiences based on consumer expectations, even offer coupons. According to the official Google blog, here are a few of the options from Google's LBC:

Impressions: The number of times the business listing appeared as a result on a Google.com search or Google Maps search in a given period.
Actions: The number of times people interacted with the listing; for example, the number of times they clicked through to the business' website or requested driving directions to the business.
Top search queries: Which queries led customers to the business listing; for example, are they finding the listing for a cafe by searching for "tea" or "coffee"?
Zip codes where driving directions come from: Which zip codes customers are coming from when they request directions to your location.

Begin by claiming a new listing, or optimizing your existing business listing here.

Google Goes Hyper-Local

Pete Prestipino — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:44:00 GMT

One of the major issues that local search has had in the past is that "local" really meant "local as defined by the user" - until now. Google has made a major advancement in local search and essentially integrated some basic IP intelligence into local search.

Google has already rolled out the new local search results, which will appear on a Google Map even if you don't type in a specific geographic location along with a keyword query (such as Chicago Thai food). This is a major development for those websites that rely on local traffic. Google is matching user IP address to a broad geographical location (where you are) and presents listings based on that information. Unfortunately, as it stands right now though, it's got problems.

After searching through a few local results, I would have to say the change (despite its major importance and potential) is a pretty significant failure. Based on my albeit limited experience with these results, it seems the listings are based on too broad of a geographic area. Being successful in a town like this and I'm betting other towns as well, will mean narrowing results to neighborhood location or even zip code location which matches IP addresses.

Don't get me wrong: this is perhaps one of the most important local search developments in years. I advise every company (that has not already) to sign up to Google Maps immediately, as the trend towards IP matching is, once again, crucial to your Internet success.

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Local Thursday : Google Maps For New Local Business

Pete Prestipino — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:51:00 GMT

As more and more people look online first for finding goods and services from local businesses, it is essential that your business not only has a website with the information they seek for influencing their purchasing decisions, you also want to make it as easy as possible for them to find your business online and in your community. Adding your business to Google Maps enables potential customers to quickly and easily find your business and if they choose to, they can print out driving directions from their home.

Read Website Magazine contributor Nick Stamoulis' Local Thursday article and learn how Google Maps can help drive local business to your door!

Serving Video In Google's Local Business Center

Administrator — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:56:00 GMT

Google announced at SES this week that Maps will now support the option of adding videos to existing business records in the Local Business Center.

This could be a great opportunity to feature customer testimonials, product demonstrations or even a personal invitation from the owner! Similar to the process of adding photos, businesses are allowed to display up to five videos in their Maps record and pull videos directly from YouTube. The best part? These videos show up directly within the listing, and by some reports, as early as an hours after posting.

The addition of video into Google Maps listings follows an announcement from March 8th, which introduced the addition of photo uploads, custom attributes, the ability to adjust the Google map marker location and statistics (the number of people that viewed and clicked a listing).