Google adds features to local listings; competes with local online business directories.
Google is enhancing its local business listing features and will now compete head on with local business directories such as yellow pages, and to some extent geo domains.
With its new Local Business Center, business owners can add a listing for their business or claim an existing auto-generated listing on Google. They can then add videos, photos, and even online coupons.
But the real power of the local listings is that Google now offers analytics to help customers understand where their business is coming from. Google Local Business Center lets business owners see:
Impressions: The number of times the business listing appeared as a result on a Google.com search or Google Maps search in a given period.
Actions: The number of times people interacted with the listing; for example, the number of times they clicked through to the business’ website or requested driving directions to the business.
Top search queries: Which search queries led customers to the business listing
Zip codes where driving directions come from: Which zip codes customers are coming from when they request directions to your location.
The service is free.
Johnny says
Will these new listings by syndicated to parked pages as well Andrew?
That would be great if they did.
Andrew Allemann says
Johnny – these are organic listings, not ppc. Although I’m sure the point is to get local businesses to advertise more.
Johnny says
Thanks for the clarification. 🙂
Trey says
Google is moving more and more into the business of creating directory based businesses around top keyword results searched in Google. Effectively they are raiding search results and negating the value of organic search by super imposing those directories above those top organic results.
We need legislation to separate Google the Search Engine, from that of Google the Monopoly, raiding the results of the keyword searches.
Effectively Google is killing off organic search withoust actually saying so. Real Geo domain businesses, comparison site businesses, directory business or any successful internet business is at risk if Google perceives that niche to be profitable.
Google can no longer be considered an organic search engine. Google is now one huge directory, with some organic search results strategically placed to placate website owners but with very little real benefit. Google is now judge, jury and executioner.
Organic Search in Google are in it’s dying days, welcome to the new era of Google Directory.
Andrew Allemann says
@ Trey – Google is becoming more and more of a content source, not just a content search engine. I think you’re right, this does create a conflict of interest. I wonder what Yelp thinks about all this.
Tim Davids says
Trey…your right on the money
this may however open the door for the next smart “search engine”
At which point google is the new yellow pages but not the top web site SE
EM @ KING.NET says
This is bad for business, google is slowly taking a small pie of our business. I don’t know about you but giving the service for free is hard to beat.
A website with personal touch might survive, because google doesn’t have this feature. I think they have no intention of providing one. A good example as adsense publisher, when was the last time you talk to google representative?
IMHO
EM @ KING.NET
http://twitter.com/kingnet
Johnny says
Great observations Trey. I don’t know why I did not pick up on that. That is exactly what they are doing.
They are going to make sure everybody, or almost everybody pays.
bd77 says
I’m not about to get out of the directory business just because google wants in. If google continues to focus outside of their core business(search)they will find someone else is more than willing to take their place. I know I know it hasn’t happened yet but eventually the destructive force of capitalism will strike google and they better hope their ready for it.