Home / SEM

Google Maps Scraping for Content

Critics of search engine optimization have long claimed that the practice of SEO would be eliminated as Google proceeds to introduce increasingly personalized and localized search results to its users. Those critics should spend some time reading cutting edge blog posts like this one by Mike Blumenthal. Google Maps: Now Adding Reviews from News Sites, Hyperlocal Blogs and Other Non Traditional Review Sources

Writing in his Understanding Google Maps and Local Search blog, Blumenthal takes a deep, technical look at Google’s new practice of scraping content from local news, review and event websites and applying that content to business listings generated through Google Maps.

With their newly implemented sentiment analysis, Google Maps is apparently now reaching across hyperlocal blogs, local portals and news sites and retrieving blog entries, general editorial reporting and even blog comments for inclusion as reviews on their Places Pages.

When it feels the need to add content to a local listing generated by Google Maps, the search engine might extract information from review sites, blog posts, blog comments or local news and events sites without the author’s permission. In other words, Google is using general comment as editorial advice and recommendation in local business listings found on Google Maps.

This method of information retrieval raises several levels of concern for consumers and business owners alike. Especially of concern is Google’s practice of presenting someone’s writing without context. In many cases, if a writer understood his or her views were going to be used as the basis for a business listing at Google, they might have chosen different wording.

In his blog post, Blumenthal cites several examples where Google uses information scraped from unrelated websites to fill into a listing generated by Google Maps and outlines how readers can check out if Google has used similar techniques in their local areas.

Naturally, SEOs and reputation management specialists will be interested in the effects of posts, comments and reviews in local news and event sites on small business listings though not necessarily for the same reasons. For SEOs, this practice gives another opportunity to boost a client’s business through another search channel. It also gives SEOs something else to help small businesses guard against.

Danny Sullivan to Speak at Affiliate Convention

Danny Sullivan, one of the founding fathers of the search engine marketing industry, will appear as a speaker and panelist at the upcoming Affiliate Convention Los Angeles, on December 3 – 4. He is scheduled to appear on an interactive site clinic on Thursday December 3rd.

Danny is the editor-in-chief of Search Engine Land, head moderator of the online marketing social network Sphinn, co-chair of the extremely popular Search Marketing Expo series of conferences and trade-shows, and a partner in Third Door Media. Previously, Danny was the founder of Search Engine Watch and the Search Engine Strategies conference and trade-show series.

Danny also hosted the Daily Searchcast on WebmasterRadio.FM for several years. His writing originally popularized and explained search marketing both to the public and virtually every active search marketer. He is without a doubt the most oft’ quoted expert in search engine marketing and one of the most respected individuals in the industry.

Danny Sullivan joins a growing number of A-list experts from the affiliate and online marketing sectors to speak at Affiliate Convention Los Angeles. Among the other A-list speakers appearing at Affiliate Convention Los Angeles are, Tim Ash (SiteTuners), David Szetela (Clix Marketing), Heather Paulson (PMG), Shai Pritz (Unique Leads), Brent D. Payne (Tribune Company), Marshall Simmonds (New York Times), Shawna Fennell (1choice4yourstore), and Cindy Krum (Rank Mobile).

If you’re going to Affiliate Convention, Danny’s presence on the interactive site clinic is not to be missed. Please follow this link for more information on registering for Affiliate Convention.

Three New WebmasterRadio Shows Debut in August

August is a busy month here at WebmasterRadio.FM. Along with our full scale coverage of the upcoming Search Engine Strategies Conference (complete with a full-scale SearchBash party), WebmasterRadio.FM has three new shows debuting this month.

WordPress developers and bloggers will be pleased to note, world renown WordPress expert, Joost De Valk hosts “Press This!”, a show featuring exclusive interview with fellow WordPress developers, topics such as WordPress hosting and SEO, and news on the latest plug-ins and updates. “Press This“ premieres August 4th and will air every Tuesday at 5pm Eastern/ 2pm Pacific.

For email marketers we have, “Inboxed”, an e-mail marketing program recently added to the network offering best practices for email marketing strategies. “Inboxed“ is hosted XY7 and Rapid Response Marketing CEO Kevin De Vincenzi, Marketing Director Jon Fondy and and email marketing expert Adam Young. The program airs Wednesdays at 5pm Eastern, 2pm Pacific.

“Search Cowboys” is a program that covers news on search engine marketing, social media and other related subjects. Based in Europe, “Search Cowboys“ will have a special interest in Search in Europe, and they will also feature bloggers from around Europe. The program is hosted by European search engine marketers Bas van Den Beld and Roy Huskies, premieres August 20th and will air every Thursday at 1pm Eastern/ 10am Pacific.

Searchonomics – Dealing with a Depression

About a year ago, several search marketing commentators, myself included, suggested that the (worsening) economic conditions would pose less a problem for the search marketing sector than other sectors and might, in fact, provoke greater redirection of ad-spend towards search.

At the time, the assumption was simple to make. Every business needs to advertise, especially when business is slightly down. Since search marketing provides inexpensive yet highly effective and traceable advertising options, clients should be beating paths to the doors of search and Internet marketing companies.

In most respects, the assumption has held true. While we read of major layoffs in the traditional advertising sector almost every day now, relatively few layoffs have occurred in the search engine marketing sector. Many SEO, PPC and SEM shops are busier than ever. In one extremely important respect however, what feels like a safe assumption is in reality somewhat shaky.
Read more

The Original SEO 101, only on WebmasterRadio.FM

Revamped, retooled and ready to take you back to school, the “Original SEO 101″ re-debuts on the WebmasterRadio.FM network, Monday February 2 at 5pmET, 2pmPT.

Hosted by Ross Dunn (CEO, StepForth Search Marketing) and Jennifer Evans Laycock (Editor, Search Engine Guide), the Original SEO 101 will offer opinion, ideas, controversy and an education you’ll never forget.

Tune into the relaunch of the Original SEO 101 exclusively on WebmasterRadio.FM –> Monday February 2 at 5pmET, 2pmPT.

Letters of advice to a guy named Jeff R.

I get a number of letters from listeners but this one was written with a passion that sort of stood out from the rest. It started a short series of correspondence.

In early December 08, I received a message via Facebook from a Webcology listener named Jeff R. He lives in La Verne California which is a bedroom community of Los Angeles.

I ended up writing a lengthy reply. Earlier today, he wrote me back and again, I responded with a lengthy reply. I also asked his permission to use the letters in a blog post. I think there are a lot of techies like Jeff out there who are seeking similar advice.
Read more

Oh Behave! How Behavioral targeting will affect SEO

This week’s SEM Synergy show is dedicated to behavioral targeting and how the technology is changing the search industry as we know it. Bruce, Susan and Virginia start off the show by looking at how behavioral search may decrease the importance of rankings as the prime metric of successful SEO campaigns, a prediction Bruce shared in an interview with Ralph Wilson. Bruce makes the point that if 50 people search for the same query and everyone gets different results through behavioral search, rankings can no longer be a metric for SEO success.

Virginia then interviews Debby Richman, senior vice president at Collarity, a community-based search technology company. Debby breaks behavioral targeting down into three areas: ads, search, and recommended links. She explains that through Collarity, site owners can see users’ behavior grouped in anonymous buckets segmented by their usage patterns on the site. Information about those users’ behavior on other sites is not reported as it is not highly relevant.

Then Susan and Virginia discuss how to leverage behavioral targeting on your site. Through self-segmentation, you can improve conversions by giving the user what they want. Segmentation encourages engagement, provides opportunities to offer more focused content, and helps with market research. If you do chose to implement behavioral targeting, it’s important to remember that success takes time and that the different media of your online marketing campaign must work together.

*courtesy SEMSynergy.com

Don’t be afraid of China

On SEO Rockstars today at 4pm EST, Daron will be interviewing Grace Su, CEO of Tyloon.

Tyloon is the only multilingual yellow pages and local search engine allowing you to search 15-million US businesses in English, Spanish, Chinese and more.

China had 220 million broadband users, making it the country with the largest number of people online, however it is still situated for monstrous growth as 81% of the population has not yet gotten online. China has an almost 90% market penetration by foreign companies in the high tech sector, despite assumptions by those in the west that China can be a difficult place to conduct business.

Daron and Grace will be discussing way to help companies looking to expand their search engine marketing into the Chinese market and the state of search marketing in China.

Good Morning!

So, it’s 5:18 and I’ve been up all night long. Looking at new feed readers, text to speach parsers, and more. Irrelevant…the point is, this is the first meaningful post on the WebmasterRadio.FM new Blog.

For the longest time, I fought the Blogosphere tooth and nail. Well, you know what they say…if you can beat them…join them! So here we go.

This blog will grow rapidly, as I expect that each show host will want ti be involved in some way.

Thanks for being a part of the blog and of course for continuing to listen to the station.

 Internet Marketing Success Genius Patrick Thona Joins us for this Saturday&..

The USA Today Secret to Getting Attention

Understanding the Difference between Marketing & Promotion « Mr.L..
Read more

Subscribe to the WMR Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest news & "what's happening" with your favorite WebmasterRadio.FM show's, networking events & so much more. Be the first to learn about new programs and special listener-only offers. Don't be left out, 2 mins to opt-in and you're a part of the club.

Name:

Email:

Powered by Subscribers Magnet