Entries from Search Engine Roundtable tagged with 'maps'

Google Can't Show You Your Maps Listings? Let Them Know

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...

Google Maps Updates Business Listing Quality Guidelines

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...

Australia's Google Maps Easter Egg

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...

Google Maps Israel Back to English: Was a Bug

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...

Google Maps Navigation Makes iPhone Users & Others Jealous of Droid

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'...

Google Maps to Fix One Web Box Result Bug

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...

Israel on Google Maps, Now in Hebrew

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)....

Running Coupons On Google Maps Business Competitors

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...

Google Maps Still Offering Old Business Listings Page?

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...

Google Adds "Is This Accurate" To Map Details on Web Search

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:...

Google Maps Drops Tele Atlas For Google Data in US

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...

When Google Maps Satellite & Map Detail Don't Line Up

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...

Google Street Views Now Showing Street Numbers

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:...

Google Showing Only 7 of 10 Local Results Now

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...

Foggy Google Maps Satellite Pictures?

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...

Place Pages: Google Gives Everyone A Page On Google Maps

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...

Google To "Fix" September 11 Attacks Mark on Google Maps

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....

Google Maps Business Reviews Gone Missing?

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...

Google Maps Live Traffic Changes Based on Zoom Level?

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...

Google Maps New Bulk Upload Verification Process

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...

Google Maps Helps Colorblind See Traffic

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...

Finland Google Maps Users Want Language in Finnish Not Swedish

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,...

Google Local Business Center Update Coming?

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...

Google Maps Won't Take Pictures of George Washington Bridge

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....

Google Maps Bubble Info For Longitude & Latitude Coordinates Workaround

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....

Google Maps Lookup by Longitude & Latitude Now Requires LOC Prefix

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...

Voice Search Enabled On Google Maps For Android

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...

Google Maps Makes Much Needed Update to Quality Guidelines

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....

Google Maps Disables Swimming Directions

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...

How Google Maps Can Seriously Hurt Your Business

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...

Google Maps Merging Competing Business's Local Information

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...

Google Maps Bug Causes Reviews To Go Missing

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...

Google Maps Bug Prevents Certain Locations From Loading in Internet Explorer

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...

Google Putting Battered Women At Harm?

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...

Google Local Business Center Not Functioning For Many

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,...

Google Maps Incredibly Slow? Troubleshoot Issues With Google

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...

Reopening Your Business on Google Maps Can Take Two Weeks

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...

Car Stolen? Find It With Google Maps?

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...

Google Sends 'Horny' Guys To Marketing Firm's Doorstep

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...

New Yorkers Upset Google Label's World Trade Center Site as Ground Zero

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...

"Place Closed" In Google Maps: Close Your Competitors Down on Google

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...

Google Maps Showing Adult Images From Panoramio

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...

Adult Spam Makes Its Way Into Google Maps

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...

Share Your Favorite Google "My Map" With Google

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...

Google Maps Print Button Stops Working For Many

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...

Google Accidently Knocks New Zealand Off The Globe

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,...

The Colorblind Want To Use Google Maps Traffic Data

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...

Google Maps Says 3 Hour Drive To Go From Staten Island to Staten Island

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...

How Did Tele Atlas Improve Google Maps?

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...

When Construction Happens, Who Updates Google Maps Directions?

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...

How To Get a Locations Longitude/Latitude Using Google Maps on iPhone

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...

Google's Updated Street View Enhancements Feature Bug

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...

Google Maps Forgets How To Spell Budapest, Capital of Hungary

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...

Google Maps Loses Saved Locations -- Fix in Progress

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...

SEOs Make Microsoft & Yahoo An Example on Google Maps Hijacking Hole

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...

Google AdSense Added to Google Maps

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...

Google Maps Now Exclusive To Tele Atlas Data

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....

Google Maps Adds Streets to Israel & Mobile Coming Soon

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...

Google Maps Finally Brings Back Reordering Destinations & More

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...

Google Map Maker Now Available in 57 Countries

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,...

Google Maps Adds Printable Street Views & Avoid Tolls

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...

Google Announces the Google Map Guide Staffers

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,...

Google Maps Street Views Privacy Concerns Hits Home

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...

Google Maps Now Has Walking Directions

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...

Google Map Maker Launched

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...

Google Universal Search Local Results Adds "Change Location"

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...

Love Google Maps? Help Improve It With Your Suggestions

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...

Google Moves "Saved Locations" Feature in Google Maps

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...

Google Combines Street View and Driving Directions

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...

Google Maps Stickers Gone Missing

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...

Yahoo Adds Circles To Local Search

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...

Google Local Business Center Allows Free Form Categories Now

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....

Google Changes Local Ranking Algorithm

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...

Move the Map Marker on Google Maps: A Screenshot Tour

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...

The Local Sphere: Ask.com Does it Better than Google

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...

Google Maps Local Business Center Bug

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...

Google Makes it Easier to Embed Maps on Websites

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...

Google Maps Working on More Automated Local Spam Fighting Tool

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...

Mapplets and Additional Features Added to Google My Maps

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...

Google Maps Supports User Generated Reviews

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,...

Google Maps Allows You to Search Your Neighborhood

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...

Google Local Results Found In Google.com Web Search Results

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....

Google Personalizes Maps by Adding "My Maps" Feature

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...

Google New Orleans Maps Restored to Post-Katrina

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...

Google Adds "Maps" Navigation Link To Google UK

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...

Google Maps Sends Health Emergencies To Wrong Location

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,...

Google Maps China Now Live

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...

Google Earth Meets Windows Live "Virtual Earth"

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...

Google Coupons & Custom Map Icon: A Deeper Look

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....

Responses to Ads on Web Search vs. Maps, NOODP Hurting Rankings & Indented Google Results

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...

AdWords in Google Web Search Versus Google Maps

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...

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