VIDEO + SLIDESHOW: The Future of Local Search – The Human Algorithm

Say goodbye to local search as we know it. We have entered into a period of the human algorithm. The future of local search can be summed up in two words — collaboration and trust. Are you prepared? Listen to Justin Sanger, a long–time innovator and leader in local search, share his…

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What Local Business Leaders Must Know About Search Engines And SEO

When I write about SEO and business success, I often realize that I’ve touched upon a point that merits a column of it’s own. This is one such column. It will focus on the fact that online and offline marketing have grown inextricably codependent — especially for local businesses….

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Report: Apple Accelerating Crowdsourced Maps Improvements

According to a couple of reports (Reddit and MacRumors) Apple has stepped up the pace of map-data corrections and improvements. The MacRumors report, from a couple of weeks ago, says that changes are being implemented weekly. The Reddit thread says they’re happening nightly — at 3 am…

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VIDEO + SLIDESHOW: Local Search at 60+ MPH

Every business needs to know what’s coming next, whether it’s shifting demographics, supply and demand changes or product pricing predictions. What are some of the near–future changes coming, and what are the systems, brands, and technologies that that will impact businesses on a…

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Foursquare To Charge For Local Database — Will Partners Balk?

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Foursquare will soon be charging a small number of partners to use its Venue Database. Recently Microsoft and Foursquare agreed to a $15 million investment/licensing deal that brings Foursquare content to Bing search results and Windows Mobile….

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YP Joins Google’s Premier SMB Partner Program

YP is the largest of the major US yellow pages publishers (and local search providers), with roughly 4,000 sales and support reps and 575,000 (mostly small business) advertisers. The company has now joined the ranks of the Google AdWords Premier SMB Partner Program. Also on the list are fellow…

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Get Your Business To 100% In Google My Business

Last week, Google started rolling out the new Google My Business platform to much applause from the industry. Several experts have provided excellent coverage already (thanks, Danny Sullivan and Mike Blumenthal)… but that’s not what I’m here for today. Quick Aside: I originally planned on…

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Is Your Local Business Ready For Google’s Neighborhood Algorithm?

While doing some research in Costa Mesa, CA last week, I hit a Google test bucket that specified the East Side Costa Mesa neighborhood as my location in Search Tools: Google has long understood super well-known dense neighborhoods like SoHo, NY. But there’s a good reason why neighborhoods,…

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Yandex Introduces Cityguide Apps For Russian Market

Combining maps, business listings, reviews and other content aggregated from 70 partners, Yandex has introduced a cityguide app for iOS and Android. There’s also a PC site as well. Called Yandex City, it’s a straight-up map-centric local search site. It’s only available for Russia…

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9 Tricks For Local Businesses To Increase Their SERP Click-Through Rate

Sometimes you can move the needle — and dramatically — outside of obsessing and laboring over obtaining improving rankings in search engines. Simply increasing your click-through rates on the organic rankings you’ve already achieved can increase sales and revenue, even without…

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Up Close @ SMX Advanced: Local Super Therapy Session

Local SEO is a tough beast to tame, so it wasn’t surprising that the room was packed for the Let’s Talk Local Search: Super Therapy Session For Advanced Local Marketers session that kicked off SMX Advanced 2014. Moderator Matt McGee, editor in chief of Search Engine Land, decided to make the…

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Google My Business: A Visual Tour Of Google’s New Tool For Local Businesses & Brands

Google My Business is Google’s new unified interface designed to make life easier for local businesses as well as brands to be better found within Google. It’s a big, huge change. Our visual tour below is designed to give you an overview. Getting Started Google My Business was announced…

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Survey Finds Organic Search Delivers The Best ROI For Local Businesses

We at BrightLocal recently conducted a survey that examines the sources of traffic and leads to local businesses. We had 288 SEOs and SMBs complete the survey. Combined, this group claimed to have optimized over 7,000 locations in the last 12 months. (That’s a whopping 24 locations per head…

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