Local & Maps
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Topics related to local search and online mapping. For more background, see the Locals Only column or local search & mapping stories from our sister site, Search Engine Land. Below are topics submitted by Sphinn members:
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Best of The Web adds a local component, making a great directory an even better resource on the consumer level. read more »
1 Comment     
As I watch search marketers often continue to obsess about things like PageRank, I wanted to do a personal post / wake-up call related to our SMX Local & Mobile Search Marketing show happening next month in San Francisco, July 24-25. Because for all read more »
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Some quick ideas on why you might want to optimize your site for phone number searches. read more »
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David Mihm's excellent analysis of the Google Local / Map Algorithm which argues in compelling fashion that citations (mentions of the business without a link) play an important role in ranking well in the Google's Local Listings. read more »
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A fully optimized Local Business Profile contains a well-crafted business description, containing a unique selling proposition based on market and keyword research, domain name and email cross branding (including generic domains), authentic testimon read more »
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David Wallace writes... The days of flipping through a big fat yellow book to find a local business are quickly coming to a close. After all, why settle for a simple phone number when an online search can also net you menus, pricing, hours and consu read more »
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An thoughtful response by Ahmed of iBegin to the recent Yahoo Affiliate Mapspam reports asking:

•What is mapspam?
•What is a reasonable approach to to the varying forms of it?
•How do we respond to it?.
•What are the technical and human limits read more »
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An excellent article, Mike, and excellent suggestions. It is an unfortunate byproduct of universal search and multiple algo's that the effort by Google to provide "better information" is at times providing "inferior and erroneous" information. read more »
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Tim Nash reveals in a local study that SEO firms which target local businesses are not in fact getting that many local clients. read more »
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For the first time many have witnessed, Google is now serving unverified local listings in its blended local result plus boxes. read more »
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Andrew's past position at InsiderPages makes him a fascinating Local SEO to chat with. Read what Andrew has to say about Maps, IYP, backsplashes and more! read more »
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How to get the businesses with multiple locations in the same city (e.g. two Starbucks on opposite corners) to rank for the same local search query, or something to that effect. read more »
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This post is important. Learn simple Local Business Center procedures to show up in the G-maps category of YOUR CHOICE. Mike Blumenthal discusses first research to reveal workings of Google's map categorization process. read more »
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"Monday afternoon I received a call from a Psychic Counselor inquiring as to how she might show up in the Local OneBox for Psychic in Santa Fe, NM. I was intrigued that a pyschic would turn to me from results she found in Google. I decided to take t read more »
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Categorized list of 41 different local search engines, yellow pages, meta crawlers, data providers and local social communities. Complete with descriptions and links sign up, list or learn more. read more »
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Congratulations Matt! "With the inclusion of maps and local in Google, Ask.com, Live Search and Yahoo search results, local search marketing became even more and more important in 2007, especially for small to medium sized storefront businesses." read more »
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An interesting comparison of different ways to present information on local businesses read more »
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How to outrank your competition on Live.com's map search and on Windows Live Mobile, even if you are not the closest business to the searcher's location. read more »
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A national brand sends a cease & desist letter to one of its local retailers for using the brand name in a URL. Can you believe it? read more »
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A blow by blow analysis of how SEOMoz updated Yelp's SEO tactics. read more »
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Making sure your business’ location and services data is up to date across the Web is perhaps the most important thing you can do to help potential customers find you. Here's the list of pages where you can do it for free. read more »
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Interesting article from Greg Sterling: "The staff said to me rhetorically, 'If you’ve got a problem with something, you should tell us first rather than going online and posting.'"

One step back for local search.... read more »
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I can't stand it when a web designer plants his name right in the middle of the home page of a client's site. Oh the humanity... read more »
8 Comments     
You know those birds that sit on the backs of hippos waiting for some chow to drop out of the animal's mouth? See how one SEO company is sitting on the back of a Yellow Pages' SEO platform waiting for the SEO crumbs to drop out of page one of Googl read more »
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Attorneys, plumbers, financial advisor’s, electricians, pizza parlors, cleaning services, snowplow drivers, caterers, insurance companies, and hardware stores alike ask Should we keep our Yellow Pages ad? Finally there is definitive data. read more »
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Search Marketing Expo

Save the date for:
SMX Local & Mobile - San Francisco, CA (July 24-25) See the agenda, and register now!
SMX Sao Paolo - Brazil - (Aug. 7-8)
SMX China - September 23 & 24, 2008
SMX Stockholm - September 23 & 24, 2008
SMX East - NYC - (Oct. 6-8) Registration is now open.
SMX London - November 4 & 5, 2008