Entries from Search Engine Roundtable tagged with 'maps'

A couple weeks ago, Google began helping business owners find themselves with a link in their Google Local Business Center that read "See your listing on Google Maps." The thing is, for some, when you click on that link, it...

Posted on November 3, 2009 8:56 AM

Google has just updated the Business Listing Quality Guidelines for Google Maps. There are many changes to this guidelines page - in fact - it seems like it was completely revised. So I will show you the old version and...

Posted on November 3, 2009 8:34 AM

If you scope out Bondi Beach in Australia you will see a little easter egg: See it? I would be shocked if this was not mentioned elsewhere or if this was not some public stunt that I missed. But a...

Posted on November 2, 2009 8:27 AM

A few days ago, we reported on complaints that Google Maps for Israel was in Hebrew, people wanted it to be English or to have the option. Well, Googler Dave updated the Google Maps Help thread to inform us it...

Posted on October 30, 2009 9:14 AM

The big news the other day was on the Google Maps Navigation for the new Android 2.0 OS which will run first on the Verizon Wireless Droid starting November 6th for $199 with a contract. Android is not as 'sexy'...

Posted on October 29, 2009 8:07 AM

For at least a month now, there have been complaints in a Google Maps Help thread that Google is showing, in some cases, a single map result, when it should be showing seven map results. For example, a search on...

Posted on October 28, 2009 8:45 AM

There have been some recent complaints in the Google Maps Help forum from English speaking people who live in Israel. In short, Google seems to have recently changes the Israel data to show street and city names in Hebrew (עברית)....

Posted on October 27, 2009 9:16 AM

I spotted an old Google Maps Help thread that reported that in the past, a competitor was able to add a coupon to this guys business listing. So if you visited his business, you would see a coupon for another...

Posted on October 23, 2009 8:47 AM

A very active Google Maps user reported a bug in Google Maps at Google Maps Help forums. Recently Google Maps launched place pages for each business listing. It basically meant Google made a nice shiny page for each local business...

Posted on October 21, 2009 8:54 AM

When Google local business listings are showing on the web search results, Google is now asking users to confirm if the business information is accurate. Even if the business listing is verified by the business owner. Here is an example:...

Posted on October 20, 2009 8:28 AM

Since we are on a Google Maps coverage roll today, how about we keep it going. Google Maps recently announced changes to their map data, which Mike somewhat called out. In short, for many locations in the US, Google is...

Posted on October 13, 2009 8:23 AM

What happens when you have Google Satellite view and map street data not lining up? Well, I can show you. If you look at Cairo, Egypt you will see that the Satellite detail is shifted about 90 meters west of...

Posted on October 13, 2009 8:19 AM

I was playing around with Google Maps the other day and noticed that for my office building, in Street Views, Google is showing the office building number, in a water mark like style above the building. Here is a picture:...

Posted on October 13, 2009 8:12 AM

The local SEMs are buzzing about how Google dropped three listings from the local space in the Google search results. Now, instead of showing the "ten pack" of ten local search results pulled from Google Maps on the Google web...

Posted on October 12, 2009 8:18 AM

If you check out New Delhi on Google Maps, you will see a big fog hovering over the location. Why is that? Here is a current picture: A Google Maps Help thread reported this issue this morning. A few hours...

Posted on October 1, 2009 8:38 AM

Google announced the launch of "Place Pages" on Google Maps. What this means is that instead of Google showing you a large bubble when you click on "more info" on a business listing in Google Maps, it takes you to...

Posted on September 25, 2009 9:12 AM

If you look at the World Trade Center Site on Google Maps, you will see Google still labels it, "September 11 Attacks." An upset Google Maps user posted his distaste for such a label in the Google Maps Help forum....

Posted on September 11, 2009 8:37 AM

I have been noticing a recent spike in the number of complaints about their business reviews going missing in Google Maps. One of those complaints has a response from a Googler. A Google Maps Help thread has one business listing...

Posted on September 3, 2009 9:13 AM

Over the past few months, there have been random complaints from Google Maps users about the live traffic data. In short, people are saying that when they zoom into see more detail on the red colored traffic indicators, the color...

Posted on August 27, 2009 8:45 AM

Google Maps Guide, Brianna, announced in a Google Maps Help thread that there is a brand new verification form for those who use the bulk upload process, to upload their business listings to Google Maps. Google has struggled with spam...

Posted on August 17, 2009 8:11 AM

Earlier this year, we reported how the colorblind were blind to Google Maps traffic because many of them could not distinguish between the various shades of colors. It has come to my attention from a Googler named Dave via the...

Posted on August 6, 2009 8:17 AM

For a few months now, users from Finland have been complaining that Google Maps Finland is in Swedish and not in their native language, Finnish. A Google Maps Help thread has those complaints. A Googler even responded on May 26th,...

Posted on July 28, 2009 9:18 AM

The Google Maps Help forums posted an announcement that there will be scheduled downtime this Wednesday, July 29th. The downtime will be between 1pm - 2pm(edt) / 10am-11am(pdt). I assume that after 2pm on Wednesday, we might be in for...

Posted on July 27, 2009 8:39 AM

I spotted a thread at the Google Maps Help forum asking why Google doesn't allow people to walk across the George Washington Bridge. Specifically, why doesn't Google let people plot the directions as walking directions when traveling across the bridge....

Posted on July 23, 2009 8:41 AM

Starting a few weeks ago the Google Maps Help forum reports that when you want to display text in the bubble of a Google Map pin mark, using the longitude and latitude of the location, it would no longer work....

Posted on July 15, 2009 8:15 AM

According to at least two Google Maps Help Threads, Google Maps changed how they handle looking up a specific location by longitude and latitude. Supposedly, in the past, entering in the longitude followed by a comma and followed by the...

Posted on June 24, 2009 8:28 AM

This almost wants me to switch to an Android device, even though I am getting the new iPhone 3GS on Friday. Google announced that you can now search Google Maps on an Android device by your voice, a lot like...

Posted on June 17, 2009 7:27 AM

Google Maps updated the business listing quality guidelines over the weekend. The new guidelines are welcomed by those who have noticed an influx of spam or borderline spam submissions to the Google Local Business Center over the past couple years....

Posted on June 1, 2009 9:05 AM

Back in March 2007, Google Maps had an easter egg that allowed people to search for directions from places like New York to London, and it would tell you to swim across the Atlantic Ocean. It was a little geek...

Posted on May 26, 2009 8:16 AM

In the past couple of weeks, we showed how Google Maps can cause real pain for some business owners. I first showed you how you can close down competitors on Google Maps and then I showed how your business listing...

Posted on May 7, 2009 8:14 AM

I found a very disturbing Google Maps issue via Google Maps Help forums. Mike Blumenthal has uncovered that Google is merging competing businesses that have nearby addresses. Let me say that again, but show you an example, that was uncovered...

Posted on April 29, 2009 8:30 AM

A confirmed Google Maps bug seems to be causing the reviews in Google Maps to disappear. A Google Maps Help thread has several business owners complaining that their reviews (all or many) are now missing. Googler, Joel H said that...

Posted on April 27, 2009 8:52 AM

There are two large threads at Google Maps Help Forums with reports from Internet Explorer users receiving errors when trying to view and link to Google Maps. The error some of these IE users are seeing is: Webpage error details...

Posted on April 23, 2009 8:39 AM

A Google Maps Help forum thread has a post from Steve Thornton, the IT administrator at Solid Ground, an organization that does a lot of good. In short, Steve posted his extreme displeasure with how Google Maps is listing a...

Posted on April 7, 2009 8:02 AM

It appears that the Google Local Business Center is not working for many businesses interested in updating their Google Maps/Local business listing. A Google Maps Help thread (well, there are a few) reports the issues from several users. In short,...

Posted on April 2, 2009 8:11 AM

There are several people who are complaining that Google Maps is incredibly slow for them. If you have slowness issues with Google Maps, you may be in luck. A Google Maps Help thread has a Googler helping these users by...

Posted on April 1, 2009 8:08 AM

Earlier this month, we informed people how one can close down a business on Google Maps without being that business owner. Since then, Google has posted instructions on how to reopen your business on Google Maps. The issue is, it...

Posted on March 18, 2009 8:26 AM

I found a unique and somewhat weird post at a Google Webmasters Help thread. Let me quote the request for you: I hope you can help find my husbands truck using your technology. 7 welding trucks have been stolen in...

Posted on March 12, 2009 8:37 AM

Imagine that a search for "Gentlemen's Club" and your zip code in Google returns your business in the top result set. Now, imagine if you are not a Gentlemen's Club and you get all these men coming to your office...

Posted on March 11, 2009 8:35 AM

If you go to Google Maps and zoom into the World Trade Center Site, you will see that Google has labeled the area, "Ground Zero." Ground Zero was what many people started calling the World Trade Center after the terrible...

Posted on March 10, 2009 8:43 AM

A few weeks ago, I wrote a story named Google Maps Closes Down Business When it is Still in Operation. In short, Google labelled a business in Google Maps as being closed, when it was actually in business and servicing...

Posted on March 6, 2009 8:25 AM

Yesterday, we reported that Google's Local Business Center was injected by escort services in the Google Maps results (by the way, it is still there). Today, I spotted a thread in Google Maps Help thread with a complaint from a...

Posted on February 12, 2009 9:37 AM

We all know, Google Maps has their share of trouble with spam, including porn and escort services. Heck, even Google admitted the problem yesterday in the Up Close With Google Maps & Local. Now a search for auto insurance los...

Posted on February 11, 2009 9:35 AM

Google is asking you to share your favorite or coolest "My Map" in the Google Maps Help forum. Maps Guide Brianna said: Does anybody have any really cool 'My Maps' they'd like to share on this thread? I started making...

Posted on February 10, 2009 9:55 AM

Let's add this to the list of Google bugs we have been reporting about in the past week or so. A Google Maps Help thread has confirmed reports from Google that their "print" button on Google Maps is not working...

Posted on February 9, 2009 8:03 AM

If you tried bring up New Zealand in Google Maps yesterday, you would be surprised to see, Google lost all the map data for that early bird country. A Google Maps Help thread have reports that are confirmed from Google,...

Posted on February 4, 2009 8:42 AM

Google Maps has very useful traffic data but it plots that traffic data using colors. For example, here is a screen capture of traffic new NYC: But those that are severely colorblind are not able to see traffic data. One...

Posted on January 30, 2009 2:12 AM

Let's say you wanted to drive from the zip code 10302 to 10308, which are both in Staten Island, New York. If you plugged that into Google Maps, Google would tell you, you have to be prepared for a three...

Posted on January 21, 2009 8:18 AM

Maps Guide Adam created a new thread in the new Google Maps Help discussion forum clarifying how Google's Tele Atlas maps distribution deal has helped improve Google Maps. The two main points Adam made were: (1) You can see blocks...

Posted on January 15, 2009 8:30 AM

Construction. It is the one word commuters hate hearing. But it is everywhere and mapping providers, such as Google Maps, Yahoo Maps and MapQuest need to be aware of these construction zones in order to have up-to-date directions. So what...

Posted on January 13, 2009 8:06 AM

Believe it or not, there are times where I want to find the latitude and longitude values of the location I am currently at or at an other location. I spotted a Google Mobile Help thread that goes through the...

Posted on January 8, 2009 8:17 AM

Google may have come out with some great street view enhancements lately, but there's a bug with Chrome and Street View that Google is aware of and will be fixing. The bug reported is: When I toggle the left-side information...

Posted on December 2, 2008 9:27 AM

Do a search for 1055 Budapest, Szent Istvan krt. 1. in Google Maps. Note how I spelled Budapest correctly in my search, now look at what Google returns as the spelling in the ballon marker. You got that right, Google...

Posted on December 2, 2008 7:53 AM

Numerous (10) Google Maps users are complaining that they are reliant upon Google Maps but the "Saved Locations" is empty even though some have saved 50 locations or so. Addresses are hard to remember by the human mind, so why...

Posted on November 20, 2008 10:01 AM

Mike Blumenthal has been covering Google Maps spam since Google Maps came out. I guess he got sick of covering the issues and not much being done about stopping it. He decided to do something a bit extreme. He hijacked...

Posted on October 31, 2008 7:40 AM

Google is on march to make sure to continue monetizing searches in any way possible. This time, Google has added AdSense to Google Maps, in some cases. This was reported at Search Engine Land, Digital Inspiration and Bloggle first. Let...

Posted on October 10, 2008 8:24 AM

Google has primary used two sources of data for their Google Maps product. Google announced in a Google Groups thread, that they are going to be sticking with just one source for the foreseeable future. That source is Tele Atlas....

Posted on September 22, 2008 6:29 AM

Recently, maybe a few weeks or months ago, Google Maps added street data for Israel. Before, they only had limited Satellite data for the country. But now, you can get street outlines with very limited street names in the map...

Posted on September 19, 2008 7:46 AM

When Google Maps redesigned a couple months back, many users became extremely upset. Why? Because Google pulled a few features that users felt were critical to the mapping product. Those features included the ability to reorder the your destinations and...

Posted on September 3, 2008 8:33 AM

At the end of June, we announced the launch of Google Map Maker. Now, two months later, Google has its own update. From a Google Groups thread, we're told that Google Map Maker is now available in 57 countries. Again,...

Posted on August 22, 2008 9:51 AM

Google Maps Guide Brian announced in a Google Groups thread two minor but important features Google has added to the new, blue Google Maps. Printable Street Views were added to the new Google Maps. Brian said Google received "a lot...

Posted on August 4, 2008 8:16 AM

In the Google Maps Help Group, you're introduced to 7 new and old Googlers who will help make your Google Maps experience a more pleasurable one. The Google Maps Guide folks are: Maps Guide Jen, from Illinois Maps Guide Sirene,...

Posted on July 30, 2008 10:08 AM

Google Maps Street View feature has always been on the to-do list of privacy advocates. Over a year ago, Google gave us a way to report images to be removed from Google Street Views. Tamar did a great job walking...

Posted on July 29, 2008 8:35 AM

A Google Groups thread lead me to believe that Google Maps will soon be offering walking directions to everyone, in the near future. So, I decided to check the example I was watching, i.e. 200 Madison Ave to 200 Lexington...

Posted on July 22, 2008 7:52 AM

A Google Groups post by Google Maps Brian announces the launch of Google Maps Maker, which is a "service that allows you add or edit features, such as roads, businesses, parks, schools and more." Only Brian forgot to add the...

Posted on June 25, 2008 9:16 AM

Google Universal Search has been around for a while now. But today, Sam asked me to look at a search for scuba diving, which shows the local results smack in the middle of the page. Now, Sam (via Tamar) did...

Posted on May 23, 2008 12:23 PM

Google Maps has really come a long way since it originally launched, a really long way. The mapping tools offered by Google are not only informative but very fun to use. From street views, directions, plotting your own points, user...

Posted on May 23, 2008 6:55 AM

Google has moved the location of the "Saved Locations" feature in Google Maps. Now, you should see an arrow down on the right hand side of the search box, in Google Maps. Clicking on that arrow will show you your...

Posted on May 13, 2008 6:36 AM

In order to make it easier to get driving directions and see an intersection or area before you actually get to your desired location, the Google Maps team has integrated driving directions with Street View. For example, take a look...

Posted on May 2, 2008 10:28 AM

Remember the Google Maps stickers spotted throughout the UK? They looked like the image on the right of this post. Well, a while back, probably a year or so ago, I convinced Google to send me one. It never actually...

Posted on April 29, 2008 7:49 AM

Last week Yahoo added a nifty feature to Yahoo Local Search. For example, let's say you are looking for the nearest ATM machine. You can type in ATM, and then your zip code. But you won't be shown the nearest...

Posted on April 28, 2008 7:29 AM

You can now enter any category that you feel is best for your company in the category section of your Google Local Business Center listing. In the past, you had to select a specific category that was in Google's database....

Posted on April 15, 2008 7:30 AM

Back about 6 months ago, one of the main factors in ranking well in Google Local and other local engines, like Yahoo, was to have your address as close to the center of the city as possible. A new Search...

Posted on April 11, 2008 7:11 AM

Using Google's My Maps feature, you can now move the marker exactly where you want people to visit. This is especially useful for me because whenever I check my address on the map, it's about 2 blocks away. Now, I...

Posted on November 21, 2007 9:50 AM

Forum members are noticing a bit of a change in terms of presentation for Google Local results. One member was a bit disgruntled by the results presented when he performed a local search and found 10 links -- without the...

Posted on November 19, 2007 10:03 AM

A Google Groups thread has a confirmed bug with adding Google maps listings in the local business center. If you see a message that reads: Posted Dec. 31, 1969 And it says you are verified, you can rest assured that...

Posted on October 26, 2007 7:39 AM

As I mentioned last week, Google was planning on making it easy to embed its maps onto websites without knowledge of the API. Now the dream is a reality. A Google Press Release announces its official launch and highlights some...

Posted on August 24, 2007 9:00 AM

Mike Blumenthal has been vigilant about uncovering and reporting abuse of Google Maps's Local business submissions. In fact, in the past week or so, he has reported a couple of cases of Google Local abuse, where companies submitted hundreds or...

Posted on August 7, 2007 7:54 AM

In April, Google added the My Maps feature which gave users the ability to personalize their maps with lines, shapes, text, photos, and video. Now, they've gone a step further with personalization. From a WebmasterWorld thread, the new features allow...

Posted on July 12, 2007 9:18 AM

According to a Google Groups post, Maps Guide Brian has informed us that users can now write reviews for businesses in eleven countries. The catch: you need a Google account to do so. To write a review for a business,...

Posted on June 26, 2007 9:34 AM

David Tussey from Google Maps announced that you can now do neighborhood searches at Google Maps. So if you are on the upper west side of Manhattan and you want bagels you can find them over here. But yes, if...

Posted on May 22, 2007 8:17 AM

Update Barry: I just asked several people around the world if they see Google News and Google Local results in the middle of the Google Web Search results. They all have confirmed seeing it, except for one in the UK....

Posted on May 15, 2007 3:52 PM

Yesterday, Google announced new personalized maps, a concept that was picked up by WebmasterWorld, DigitalPoint Forums, and Search Engine Watch Forums. On DigitalPoint Forums, a user summarizes the features: Now with Google Maps you can create and share personalized, annotated...

Posted on April 6, 2007 9:56 AM

A member writing on the Google Groups thread asks why Google replaced its maps to satellite imagery that was taken prior to Hurricane Katrina. He says: How do I get Google's attention to complain that the maps of New Orleans...

Posted on April 5, 2007 8:07 AM

I began tracking image searches to spot new changes reported by those in the image world. The first thing I spotted was that Google appears to have added the "Maps" navigation link to the Google.co.uk pages. The photo I spotted...

Posted on March 29, 2007 7:55 AM

EarlPearl at SEO Refugee Forums notified me of a Google Groups thread where an employee at Duke Medical Center named Bart said a search for Duke Medical Center in Google Maps returns "two different entries in the top 10 results,...

Posted on February 21, 2007 2:25 PM

Bill at WebmasterWorld notifies us that Google launched a Chinese version of Google Maps. You can see Google Maps China at http://ditu.google.cn/. I assume ditu is maps in Chinese? :-) Based on the thread, it appears that: City detail is...

Posted on February 13, 2007 7:46 AM

Extremely impressive release by Microsoft with Virtual Earth. It is basically a Google Earth product with "dramatic 3-D mapping" in your browser, as Greg Sterling reports. I personally tried installing it on Mac running Windows in Parallels but it did...

Posted on November 7, 2006 8:14 AM

Danny reported that Google Maps Gets Coupons, yea so you can now show coupons to those who find you on Google Maps/Local. You know, for bridging the online and offline conversion metric... So I decided to give this a shot....

Posted on August 16, 2006 7:01 AM

Yesterday was a pretty good day, of the three Google questions we posted, three were answered. (1) We asked why do some ads match between web search and map results and some don't. AdWordsRep responds: Google Maps is part of...

Posted on August 2, 2006 7:22 AM

Stacy Williams who speaks often at the SES conferences started a thread at Search Engine Watch Forums asking why does Google for some queries show the same AdWords ads in Google Web search results as they do in Google Maps...

Posted on August 1, 2006 7:08 AM