There is a sea change in local searches as a result of Google Maps

[pops]

Thanks for the comments Matt and welcome to the Refuge.

[Matt McGee]

Alright, you guys are gonna accuse me of running up a post count if I keep doing one-by-one replies, so I'll condense at this point.

If not then G is scanning far more resources for its data.

Dave, I have seen more new data sources listed in Google Maps in the past 2-3 days than ever before. In fact, when they launched the new Onebox display on Jan. 29, the business listings had dramatically more reviews/ratings and web references than they'd ever had before. I'm convinced Google started tapping into more data sources immediately prior to the rollout of the new display. They must've needed it to make the system work across such a wide range of potentially local queries.

We know that it uses Acxiom to populate its list of categories (which we cannot edit/alter at the moment) and the category name is also a major factor in ranking.

Interesting stuff, pittbug. So, perhaps Acxiom is the source of some categorization in Google Maps that I was unable to locate anywhere else (as being the source)?

Where's the easiest place to search Acxiom's database to see categorization?

Thanks for the comments Matt and welcome to the Refuge.

Thanks Pop. I like it here -- this forum moves at a nice speed. I just joined Digital Point, too, and that one makes me dizzy!

[pittbug]

Originally Posted by Matt McGee

Interesting stuff, pittbug. So, perhaps Acxiom is the source of some categorization in Google Maps that I was unable to locate anywhere else (as being the source)?

Where's the easiest place to search Acxiom's database to see categorization?

I don't know what you were searching for, so I can't be certain. If you already have a superpages.com account, edit your business listing and go through the categories there, or you can checkout allpages.com, which is powered by acxiom.

[earlpearl]

As it regards address information I have 2 experiences:

Pops I've already tried what you were asking about and it didn't work for my business site. I think Matt describes it well. The other address either confuses G, is established in a way that they can check it...or they simply disregard the "made up" address.

On the other hand, if you have 2 real addresses, G will see it and record it appropriately.

2ndly, even as G maps has burst onto the serps with maps and its own rankings/serps...I still believe in the serps methods and address information as it applies to basic long tail search in organic google.

You still want to rank for that and in some cases it will be far more prominant and important than G maps.

(in my case most of my relevant search queries come via a state geo description-not a city/town description) state geo terms don't convert into geo maps methods <yet>.

Back in Feb. 05 Google changed algos in a way that made address information extremely important for ranking for long tail geo searches.

Bill described this in depth off of a google patent : http://www.cre8asiteforums.com/forum...opic=26893&hl=

Address and phone number information is critical for this application within organic search.

I'd advise following that. It should cover both G maps and G organic.

[pittbug]

I extracted the list of categories within the Google Local Business Center here:

http://www.reubenyau.com/google-lbc-categories/

[mblumenthal]

Nice work.

Not we just need a similar list from axcion
Mike

[earlpearl]

Guys, I hate those lists. They are so old, antiquated and developed thru a beaurocratic YP basis. We argued with YP (local Verizon) to expand their categories for about 15 years. Then when a competitior came in w/ expanded categories Verizon was willing to adjust. Bah!!!!!!

If you read through Google categorization with regard to various businesses w/in G maps and the onebox...sometimes the categories match those categories and sometimes they are broader.

If you check out the complaints/comments at G Groups for G maps/business owners...you will see a number of complaints about the limited number of cateogories.

[Matt McGee]

That is a good list, Reuben. Thanks.

Not we just need a similar list from axcion

Amen to that, Mike!

If you check out the complaints/comments at G Groups for G maps/business owners...you will see a number of complaints about the limited number of cateogories.

Yeah, this gets back to the problem of inconsistent data. Google has its own list of categories (see Reuben's post), and they also get categories from other providers like Acxiom. Hopefully they're working on integrating everything into one big list, but I haven't seen any of the Maps Guide people comment on that -- has anyone?

[pittbug]

The number of Acxiom categories is far greater, you can browse them here: http://www.allpages.com/category.html

[mblumenthal]

Yes, Google should be more transparent about the categories and how one gets into a category...it seems unfair that a listing should be in a category that is not available to all...

Ultimately, they need to consolidate and expand their list to encompass all of the categories...nothing else is really fair...even then as Dave points out there will be problems