Tech News
Google Business Profiles to Become Un-Free in 2011?
Eyebrows are raised. The sheer timing of recent changes to Google Places (reported here) and the introduction of Google+ (reported here) is suspect. Google strips a considerable amount of information from Places profiles in the same month as they release Google+, which enables rich social interactions for users. A coincidence? Local Search experts are reading … Continued
2011 Google Places Updates
Google Places listings are looking different from week-to-week, as Google actively tests different profile displays. Last week, Google axed 3rd party reviews from Places listings (reviews from sites like Yelp.com), and removed the “More About This Place” feature where business citations were listed. What’s next? After researching and following these changes closely and anxiously anticipating … Continued
Google+ (A New Social Platform in 2011)
Google+ is a new social platform which many see as Google’s answer to Facebook. There are several components to the free product, launching now and over the next several months: 1) CLICK TO SHARE The first feature (available now to all Google users) is the ability to “+1” Google search results. Enable this feature, and … Continued
Google Tags Expires in 2011 – Need a Boost?
After only one year, Google is discontinuing Google Tags. Tags was a tool that enabled local businesses to promote specific areas of their business for $25/month. Are you running a Tag currently? Here are examples of how these bright yellow call-outs appear in local Google results: Announcement An excerpt from Google’s brief email notice to … Continued
List of Banned Terms in Google Places in 2011
Are you a small business owner who’s seen this ominous message in Google Places? Eeek, it’s scary looking right?! The Google Places forum is full of posts from people who have received this error after using correct, official business data in their listing. They do not understand which terms within their listing are banned. We … Continued
Does 2010 Google Voice Speak to Your Needs?
For the last few weeks, U.S. fans of the search engine giant, Google, have been trying out its VoIP telephone service, Google Voice. Over a million people have signed up for this free service, which joins a cornucopia of Google goodies. With the wide range of communication features offered through Google’s Gmail interface, sorting them … Continued
Google Updates Search Algorithm Daily in 2010
Look past the tee shirt– Google principle engineer Matt Cutts is legit. In the video below, Cutts explains the phenomenon of continuous changes to Google’s “algorithm”, stating that it was updated between 350 and 400 times–in batches– during the year 2009. Talk about constant improvement.  Search Engine Watch defines algorithm as “the technology that a … Continued
Google Maps Finally Supports Service-Based & Home-Based Businesses in 2010
Google Maps has added a new feature that enables those in the service industry to include their “service areas” as well as allowing those working from home the option of excluding their home office address from the listing. In the past, companies like plumbers and window retailers could only include the address of where their … Continued
2010 Google Places – Become a Favorite Place (Like Upright!)
Last week, Upright Communications received great news from Google. Have you, too? A letter stated that in 2009, thousands viewed the profile of our Cincinnati, OH headquarters in Google Places (formerly Google Maps). Now, Google Places considers our main office a solid recommendation for local users. This notice comes at a perfect time, as we … Continued
Bing: 2009 Features We Can All Use
Have you felt it? The world’s new #3 search engine, Bing, is making real waves. UTalkMarketing.com reports Bing has increased user activity 45% since its June launch, stealing significant usership from search leaders Google and Yahoo. We will keep you aware of Bing’s growth trend over the next few months, as it may affect our overall … Continued