As you might be aware, I’m a Google Local Guide. Whenever I’m out and about I tend to post reviews and take photos of just about every single establishment, local business, and tourist attraction that I go to. Google Local Guides get points for every review, photo, and edit of everything that’s listed on Google Maps. There’s a strict point system, and different levels, based on how many points you have as a Local Guide. Currently, uploading a video gets you the most points. [Read more…]
Google Testing 3 Pack of Videos in Local Search Queries
Google is putting a 3-pack of videos in the search results for certain local search queries. The videos that are showing up in the search results 3-pack do not appear to be from YouTube or Google videos. Here is an example of a search query that shows the 3-pack of videos. [Read more…]
Google Testing Indexing of Google My Business Posts
It appears to me that Google may be testing allowing Google My Business posts to get indexed in the search results. Previously, the Google My Business posts have not been getting indexed in Google’s search results. However, it appears that a limited number of them (about 3,100 of them) are getting indexed. I’m not sure if this is Google testing certain posts and allowing a limited number of them get indexed–or if it’s a mistake. From what I can tell, though, it appears to be a limited test of about 3,000 GMB posts. [Read more…]
Hotels Are Way Too Paranoid About TripAdvisor Reviews
Hotels and hotel managers have gotten way too paranoid about online reviews. How have we become a culture where we rely so heavily on online reviews (true or not) that one or two online reviews will make or break a business? Or even stop people from going to a hotel just because of something we read on the internet? [Read more…]
Google Local Business Knowledge Panel Not Showing? Here’s Why
Last week I noticed that for my local business, Hartzer Consulting, that the knowledge panel for my local business was not showing up. If you searched for Hartzer Consulting (the name of the business, which is unique), then the Google My Business listing would NOT show up. It had looked to me like it was a change that Google had made, as others were reporting it, as well. [Read more…]
Be Careful: Widget Vendor Tries to Give Themselves GSC Access
Be careful of all of the code that others request that you add on your website, even supposed trusted SEO-related tool vendors. If you don’t fully understand the code and why it’s being place on your website, then it’s your responsibility. The tool vendor may be giving them access to your website or even to Google Search Console without an explanation. [Read more…]