Comments on: Adding Multiple Locations to Local Search Listings: Google, Bing and Yahoo http://pegcorwin.com/2009/08/adding-multiple-locations-to-local-search-listings-google-bing-and-yahoo/ Twitter, Facebook, blogging, etc Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:39:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Web 2.0 Marketing for Small Business -- Top 2009 Posts — Web 2.0 Marketing For Small Business http://pegcorwin.com/2009/08/adding-multiple-locations-to-local-search-listings-google-bing-and-yahoo/comment-page-1/#comment-5764 Web 2.0 Marketing for Small Business -- Top 2009 Posts — Web 2.0 Marketing For Small Business Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:04:24 +0000 http://pegcorwin.com/?p=5651#comment-5764 [...] Adding Multiple Locations to Local Search Listings: Google, Bing and Yahoo [...] [...] Adding Multiple Locations to Local Search Listings: Google, Bing and Yahoo [...]

]]> By: Peg Corwin http://pegcorwin.com/2009/08/adding-multiple-locations-to-local-search-listings-google-bing-and-yahoo/comment-page-1/#comment-5472 Peg Corwin Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:57:05 +0000 http://pegcorwin.com/?p=5651#comment-5472 Stefan, Sorry I was not clear. Here are the links. http://pegcorwin.com/2009/07/google%E2%80%99s-local-business-center-business-%E2%80%9Ccitations%E2%80%9D-and-geotagging-some-keys-to-being-found-locally/ http://pegcorwin.com/2009/07/46-links-on-local-online-marketing-techniques-to-promote-your-local-business/ Peg Stefan,

Sorry I was not clear. Here are the links.

http://pegcorwin.com/2009/07/google%E2%80%99s-local-business-center-business-%E2%80%9Ccitations%E2%80%9D-and-geotagging-some-keys-to-being-found-locally/

http://pegcorwin.com/2009/07/46-links-on-local-online-marketing-techniques-to-promote-your-local-business/

Peg

]]> By: Stefan http://pegcorwin.com/2009/08/adding-multiple-locations-to-local-search-listings-google-bing-and-yahoo/comment-page-1/#comment-5467 Stefan Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:32:55 +0000 http://pegcorwin.com/?p=5651#comment-5467 This article started off "Earlier I described how to get your business listed for free in local search...". I looked but was unable to find the earlier article, can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks for any help, Stefan This article started off “Earlier I described how to get your business listed for free in local search…”. I looked but was unable to find the earlier article, can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks for any help,
Stefan

]]> By: Gail http://pegcorwin.com/2009/08/adding-multiple-locations-to-local-search-listings-google-bing-and-yahoo/comment-page-1/#comment-1535 Gail Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:24:00 +0000 http://pegcorwin.com/?p=5651#comment-1535 Thanks for the great post, you made some valid points and I didnt know we could do bulk listings so learnt something new which is always a good thing. I am from New Zealand so will go and see if all you offered in your post works here. Brilliant Gail Thanks for the great post, you made some valid points and I didnt know we could do bulk listings so learnt something new which is always a good thing. I am from New Zealand so will go and see if all you offered in your post works here. Brilliant
Gail

]]> By: Drew http://pegcorwin.com/2009/08/adding-multiple-locations-to-local-search-listings-google-bing-and-yahoo/comment-page-1/#comment-905 Drew Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:56:09 +0000 http://pegcorwin.com/?p=5651#comment-905 Peg - Thanks so much for your comments here! Very helpful! It sure is tricky trying to approach LBL in this manner. The current workaround that we just adopted was to partner w/a telecom vendor ("My 1 Voice") to create many local phone numbers all over the country that push to the same line on our end. They cost about $5 per number per month, so this is proving to be an expensive option for now, but it will serve us in the short to mid-term. It is working for the most part but requires a huge time investment, and we are noticing that LBL is very clunky and will often say it is calling us but it actually won't, and then it will stop allowing certain phone numbers we've selected and we have to start all over again. I would say it works perfectly only about 30% of the time believe it or not. The unverified option may have to be something we explore even though the risks Mike point out are significant. (by the way, thanks Mike!!) Some of our competitors have somehow made LBL work for them on a grand scale and they have our exact same business model, but I have a hunch they did so back before Google implemented stricter verification measures. Peg, as a sidenote, one of my best friends worked for Score for a few years after college....he really loved his time there.....you have a great organization....I was always so interested in hearing about what Score was up to. Good luck to you in trying to get your locations listed and with your operations in general! Thanks again! Best, Drew Peg – Thanks so much for your comments here! Very helpful! It sure is tricky trying to approach LBL in this manner. The current workaround that we just adopted was to partner w/a telecom vendor (“My 1 Voice”) to create many local phone numbers all over the country that push to the same line on our end. They cost about $5 per number per month, so this is proving to be an expensive option for now, but it will serve us in the short to mid-term. It is working for the most part but requires a huge time investment, and we are noticing that LBL is very clunky and will often say it is calling us but it actually won’t, and then it will stop allowing certain phone numbers we’ve selected and we have to start all over again. I would say it works perfectly only about 30% of the time believe it or not. The unverified option may have to be something we explore even though the risks Mike point out are significant. (by the way, thanks Mike!!) Some of our competitors have somehow made LBL work for them on a grand scale and they have our exact same business model, but I have a hunch they did so back before Google implemented stricter verification measures.

Peg, as a sidenote, one of my best friends worked for Score for a few years after college….he really loved his time there…..you have a great organization….I was always so interested in hearing about what Score was up to. Good luck to you in trying to get your locations listed and with your operations in general!

Thanks again!

Best,

Drew

]]> By: Peg Corwin http://pegcorwin.com/2009/08/adding-multiple-locations-to-local-search-listings-google-bing-and-yahoo/comment-page-1/#comment-810 Peg Corwin Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:36:33 +0000 http://pegcorwin.com/?p=5651#comment-810 I appreciate your stopping by my blog to leave an comment. I have to tell you I’m in your shoes, and not a pro. We’re struggling with the same issues. SCORE Chicago has the same phone number for all locations, but I’m talking 20, not 1,500. I haven’t even entered descriptions yet. So far I can tell you that the upload went through. But when I log in again, I am no longer able to see the listings pending verification. I did ask <a href="http://blumenthals.com/blog/" rel="nofollow">Mike Blumenthal of Understanding Google Maps and Local Search</a>, about duplicate phone numbers, and this is what he said: "You can choose not to verify bulk uploads but they will then be open to community edits and will unlikely rank well. So each location needs to be independently verified. Google will not phone verify more than 3 locations at the same number at which point the phone verification will stop functioning properly (a security measure on Googles part but no meaningful message will be provided). You should be able to postcard verify at those addresses." He also gave me a heads up to his new post on Google Whitelisting: http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/14/get-bulk-uploads-verified-in-google-maps-local-business-center/ I appreciate your stopping by my blog to leave an comment.

I have to tell you I’m in your shoes, and not a pro. We’re struggling with the same issues. SCORE Chicago has the same phone number for all locations, but I’m talking 20, not 1,500. I haven’t even entered descriptions yet. So far I can tell you that the upload went through. But when I log in again, I am no longer able to see the listings pending verification.

I did ask Mike Blumenthal of Understanding Google Maps and Local Search, about duplicate phone numbers, and this is what he said:
“You can choose not to verify bulk uploads but they will then be open to community edits and will unlikely rank well. So each location needs to be independently verified. Google will not phone verify more than 3 locations at the same number at which point the phone verification will stop functioning properly (a security measure on Googles part but no meaningful message will be provided). You should be able to postcard verify at those addresses.”

He also gave me a heads up to his new post on Google Whitelisting: http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/08/14/get-bulk-uploads-verified-in-google-maps-local-business-center/

]]> By: Drew http://pegcorwin.com/2009/08/adding-multiple-locations-to-local-search-listings-google-bing-and-yahoo/comment-page-1/#comment-787 Drew Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:48:15 +0000 http://pegcorwin.com/?p=5651#comment-787 Great posts and topics. I've been struggling with trying to get a bulk upload through for one of my clients for quite some time now. I've read all the tricks of the trade about altering the listings slightly to get rid of words / phrases etc. LBL doesn't like, but that's not the issue. I've successfully created one-off manual listings for his business, but we have a unique problem on the bulk side I believe. My client runs an e-commerce business but he partners with about 1,500 local locations all over the country where his clients must fulfill their order after online purchase on his website. (those locations also partner w/many other folks like him). It would be huge for us to be able to create LBL in bulk for all of these locations, but I think that b/c he only has one central phone number (so only one number for each location in the bulk listing) and perhaps b/c the "description" I've used for each of the 1,500 locations is exactly the same...it just won't go through....it is flagged. Any advice for this unique situation would be GREATLY appreciated!!! Thanks!!! Great posts and topics. I’ve been struggling with trying to get a bulk upload through for one of my clients for quite some time now. I’ve read all the tricks of the trade about altering the listings slightly to get rid of words / phrases etc. LBL doesn’t like, but that’s not the issue. I’ve successfully created one-off manual listings for his business, but we have a unique problem on the bulk side I believe. My client runs an e-commerce business but he partners with about 1,500 local locations all over the country where his clients must fulfill their order after online purchase on his website. (those locations also partner w/many other folks like him). It would be huge for us to be able to create LBL in bulk for all of these locations, but I think that b/c he only has one central phone number (so only one number for each location in the bulk listing) and perhaps b/c the “description” I’ve used for each of the 1,500 locations is exactly the same…it just won’t go through….it is flagged. Any advice for this unique situation would be GREATLY appreciated!!! Thanks!!!

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://pegcorwin.com/2009/08/adding-multiple-locations-to-local-search-listings-google-bing-and-yahoo/comment-page-1/#comment-731 Mike Blumenthal Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:54:02 +0000 http://pegcorwin.com/?p=5651#comment-731 Peg The bulk upload whitelisting is still in beta and it is not obvious how to get your business whitelisted. The current bulk upload available in the LBC still requires that you individually verify listings. Peg

The bulk upload whitelisting is still in beta and it is not obvious how to get your business whitelisted. The current bulk upload available in the LBC still requires that you individually verify listings.

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