18 replies to this topic

[kevs]

Never see a guy get on google local twice in first 7. BWT it's now only showing A-G
Used to show 10 no?
Anyway, how does one file a complaint about this? thanks.

[rustybrick]

You can complain at http://www.google.co...um/p/maps?hl=en

[kevs]

Gimme a break! thats a forum. thats not Google.

[rustybrick]

Googlers, several of them, reply in that forum.

[kevs]

My experience with Google forums is they are dead as doornail, no one replies

this is simple question, where do you complain to google, what is the form.

[DonnaFontenot]

The answer is simple. You don't. There is no form.

Ok, sorry, that was a bit abrupt, so let me be a little nicer.

You may be able to find the answers you seek either here:
http://maps.google.c...mp;answer=98014

or here:
http://www.google.co...m_campaign=maps

Edited by dazzlindonna, 13 October 2009 - 03:11 PM.

[SEOigloo]

Kevs,
There are verticals in Google's local results where spam or multiple accidental listings cause the results to list the same company even more times than twice.

And, yes, the 10-pack seems to be on its way out. We now have the brand new Lucky 7 Pack!

[kevs]

Thanks Dazz and SEO, personally I'd get rid of local completely, as I cannot get into it on first page, and I do very well with regular organic.

That said, I remember a form where you could report bad techiniqes, but maybe it just does not exist for local

[SEOigloo]

Kevs,
Unless your industry is so polluted with spam that there is no point in trying to compete in Google Maps, you have to learn how to compete. Local rankings have little direct relationship to organic rankings, so you've got to learn new techniques and skills if you want to succeed. You can't rely on your organic success and assume good organic practices mean you deserve a spot at the top of the 7 pack. Just like you have to work to deserve organic rankings, you've got to do this with Local. Try to see it as an opportunity if you can, if Local is relevant to your business, or you are risking being left behind.

Edited by SEOigloo, 13 October 2009 - 11:52 PM.

[kevs]

SEO,
I posted a lot about local. I now have a slamming great local page with dozen great reviews, coupon, 10 photos -- but still on page 3.

[rustybrick]

Kevs, Googlers do indeed reply. I see it every day, all day. In the Maps forum, Googlers likely specifically reply to about 25% of the threads (which is huge, imo).

[bwelford]

In the Maps forum, Googlers likely specifically reply to about 25% of the threads (which is huge, imo).

Parhaps that is the best indicator you might have that there are many things that are gravely wrong with what is being done so far.

[kevs]

Barry what did this mean?
"Parhaps that is the best indicator you might have that there are many things that are gravely wrong with what is being done so far."


The guy has two listing in the 7 on first page. excact same company name/ website, but two different phone numbers. And he is now #1 in organic results. BEfore was like page 2-3 organic

[glyn]

If you're in local, expect to see your organic results pushed down.

[bwelford]

kevs, all I meant was the following:

The Google Local Business Center probably creates as much anguish among a great number of people than all the other Google properties combined.

I hope that Google management therefore regards it as a priority to 'get it right'. However if you rely on computer algorithms as Google does for scalability reasons then I'm not sure that you can 'get it right'. Using citations from any sources the spiders can find means that you are relying on some very 'dirty' data. Yellow Pages for example seems to have some weight in the computations but can be slightly erroneous in some cases.

Given that the computer will not get it right, at least the Googlers seem to be pitching in to do the best they can to clean up the data.

[kevs]

glyn,
just opposite!
I see people I have never heard of shoot to #1 organic.
Then I look up and see that are in top 5 for local.


thanks Barry,
I hope they can it altogether. It's a disaster.
I did not understand most of your 2nd paragraph.

Is there a form to complain as there is with bad SEO practices?

[rustybrick]

You guys should see the AdSense forum. They got like 5 reps, but maybe, at best, 5% of the posts get answered by Googlers.

25% is a really good number.

I think the most active Google forums are AdSense and Webmaster Help. Maps is pretty active but not compared to those.

[glyn]

Kevs. Different keyword sectors, different ranking algo's.

[kevs]

Glyn:
I definitive notice those who get in that top 7 local first page, also get top 1,2 organic. I'm seeing the link there.