Google is experimenting with new local search results formats, a move that appears to be good for consumers but devastating for the SEO of online business directories as well as for some small-to-medium businesses.

Many management advice books recommend that businesses should make better use of what’s often their biggest investment: employees. Yet, a lot of companies fail to inspire, motivate and exploit the good ideas of their employees. Local search marketing often has an employee component that’s overlooked as well. Read on for some tips on leveraging your [...]

Google’s recent introduction of Place Pages within Maps came closely in sync with some key adjustments in the factors used to rank local search content. The combination of changes has resulted in Wikipedia abruptly emerging onto the scene as a highly influential factor. I’ll describe what appears to’ve happened, and how it can impact local business rankings.

In August of this year, Google quietly began incorporating small, clickable areas within Maps, for parks, landmarks — and yes, even some businesses. These clickable “landmark icons” appear for any kinds of searches, even simple address searches. For a business, what does it take to achieve “landmark” status?

Earlier, this Spring, a number of local search marketers noticed that Google began displaying their 10-pack of local business listings based on searchers’ geolocation when search queries didn’t include a local search term. Matt McGee suggested that this would likely alter user behavior and reduce referral traffic to online directories. Stats show it may have happened. Read on about this “Brave New World” faced by internet yellow pages.