Here is the much requested Q & A from the State of Local Search in 2015 Webinar w/ Blumenthal, Ramsey & Dorfman.
It's so long I had to do a separate post. I stripped out all the email addresses and tried to strip out most of the comments that were just about sound quality or whatever.
Colan and I were responsible for all the A: answers, but the file does not indicate which of us was answering and sometimes we both were typing at same time so there are double answers. So if you need further clarification on one of our answers, please ask in the main thread linked above.
Can't spend any more time on this, so the formatting is not ideal, but it's readable.
Q & A CHAT LOG
Q: Is there a hashtag for this webinar I can use for social?[Laura Trujillo]
A: #insidelocal
Audience Question:
Q: Can we get a link to that blog post?[Patricia Ptacek]
A: AdAge: Getting Closer to Customers in 2015 with Local Marketing - SIM Partners
Q: Thank you![Patricia Ptacek]
Audience Question:
Q: Can we get a link to that blog post?[Patricia Ptacek]
A: How to Get Closer to Customers with Local Marketing | DigitalNext - Advertising Age
Audience Question:
Q: will you guys be recording this webinar?[Anthony Acampora]
A: Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: InsideLocal: Expert Local Search Webinar Series | BrightLocal and here: State of Local Search in 2015 Webinar w/ Blumenthal, Ramsey & Dorfman - Slide deck and this QA chat will be posted at that forum link too.
Audience Question:
Q: Hi, I know you that you guys are busy with the webinar but I have ran into a problem. I love bright local but it only goes back 5 pages I need something to track maps results 20 pages back I was using Places Scout desktop but it no longer works in new maps and he told me he isn't going to fix it so im out 5 months of use that I paid for but I wanted to know if anyone knew of a program that tracks 20 pages back for tracking map results? please help![Nathan Olsen]
A: Scout is coming out in desktop version but not sure how many pages back
EDITED – I was typing too fast, didn’t mean desktop but online version.
Audience Question:
Q: Rank drives customers ;)[Skyler Jarman]
A: Good point!
Audience Question:
Q: @Linda - yes - CONVERSIONS are more important than traffic (of course, once you have sufficient traffic!)[Ed W]
A: Yes, so true!
Audience Question:
Q: What do you think are the most important steps to consider for local WITH mobile optimization?[Adam Greshowak]
A: This tool from Google is a great start - https://www.google.com/webmasters/to...bile-friendly/
Audience Question:
Q: what type of services is he describing that are outside "the google experience"?[Mike M]
A: I would think of offline opportunities. Other search engines, social media platforms..
Audience Question:
Q: what are some goodways to get NAP data out to Apps for new businesses? [Tom Zigtema]
A: Good question, not too sure..
Q: How can new businesses upate apps with NAP information?[Tom Zigtema]
Audience Question:
Q: Ah. I familiar with that. Are there other steps to take, such as optimizing local profiles with a mobiole priority (ex. Yelp, Google+, Foursquare). what else is important?[Adam Greshowak]
A: Sure, yep, that's a good one. How about ensuring that the mobile site has a click-to-call button enabled...
Audience Question:
Q: They were just talking about this - what is the current best practice for multi-doctor / lawyer locations? It used to be OK for each doc ot have a listing...no?[John Griffith]
A: Yes, they still can have a listing for each doc..
Audience Question:
Q: They were just talking about this - what is the current best practice for multi-doctor / lawyer locations? It used to be OK for each doc ot have a listing...no?[John Griffith]
A: Still is OK per Google. But still will kill your rankings - per Linda ;-)
Audience Question:
Q: phew - OK[John Griffith]
A: If the practice only has 1 doctor, they can only have 1 listing..not one for the practice and 1 for the doctor...tat's a new guideline change..
Audience Question:
Q: oh - not so phew[John Griffith]
A: Ya dupes almost always hurt. I have a post on how to handle. Let me find hang on.
Q: Kind of stinks when a single doctor practice gets a new doctor though...[Rachel Rossicone]
Q: no issue there[John Griffith]
Q: then you have to split out practice/original doctor listings again i assume?[Rachel Rossicone]
Q: wouldnt use it for single doc location[John Griffith]
Audience Question:
Q: oh - not so phew[John Griffith]
A: Dr and Atty dupes - how to handle: http://www.localsearchforum.com/goog...attorneys.html
Audience Question:
Q: On the question of why is local so important to google, does anyone have a sense of the advertising revenues it makes??? It has to be enormous[dave oremland]
A: 50 billionish..
Q: $50 billionish?? That is enormous. All the players want some of that and google wants most of it. LOL[dave oremland]
Q: want to know how much $ google makes - read the SEC filings Investor Relations - Google[Chris Petracco]
Audience Question:
Q: Please address the Trade Mark Symbol in Business Name for Citation and Directory Profiles as it relates to NAP consistency, LOCAL SEO, and TOS guidelines for aggregators. [Roger Gill]
A: This webinar is more big picture and not that specific. Can post the Q in the webinar thread and I'll try to get a speaker to answer later. State of Local Search in 2015 Webinar w/ Blumenthal, Ramsey & Dorfman
Audience Question:
Q: Ok thanks Linda - or whover sent link[John Griffith]
A: Yep that was Linda. Forgot you guys can't see who's posting. It's either Colan or I and our minds are one! :-)
Audience Question:
Q: For Google 7 Pack my dentaist client was in position 1 or 1 for two years. About 6 months ago they dropped off of page 1 completely for 7 pack. They are located outside of the city border but within the city zip code. Is city central (according to Google) a HUGE determining SERP factor? [Archie Allan]
A: Archie, post your issue over here - Help & Support for Google Local
Audience Question:
Q: For Google 7 Pack my dentaist client was in position 1 or 1 for two years. About 6 months ago they dropped off of page 1 completely for 7 pack. They are located outside of the city border but within the city zip code. Is city central (according to Google) a HUGE determining SERP factor? [Archie Allan]
A: No longer city center. Have a post about it too complicated to answer now. For questions we can’t get to during the event, please post at Webinar Q & A thread here: >>> State of Local Search in 2015 Webinar w/ Blumenthal, Ramsey & Dorfman
Q: what is your take or the presenters take on the Yelp and Google situation? Is Google putting a priority on directories with rating systems, perhaps?[Adam Greshowak]
Q: Do the panelists believe that Yahoo will be a bigger player in local search because of Yelp integration to reviews and Mozilla default browser???[Evan White]
Audience Question:
Q: can you pose this question to the speakers?: Dont many users trust Google because we feel that its an even playing field, and not a pay model? if they start to monitize will that ruin the trust that users currently have?[Ryan DeVaul]
A: Sorry I don't have a way to copy Qs from here to speakers. Myles may see and ask them.
Audience Question:
Q: Yahoo Search is embarrassing compared to G[toby beavers]
A: Agreed!
Q: Is this information pulled from Bing maps?[Faiz Merchant]
Audience Question:
Q: How do I rank locally in Siri search?[Faiz Merchant]
A: Too specific for this webinar. We are talking more big picture. For questions we can’t get to during the event, please post at Webinar Q & A thread here: >>> State of Local Search in 2015 Webinar w/ Blumenthal, Ramsey & Dorfman
Audience Question:
Q: It seems like local ranking factors are not as strong (in terms of ranking) compared to traditional SEO. Is that true?[Chris Ratchford]
A: Traditional SEO ranking factors seem to be playing a bigger role in local lately....but the local ranking factors are still important
Audience Question:
Q: How do I rank locally in Siri search?[Faiz Merchant]
A: We're talking Apple later too
Audience Question:
Q: What's the view on something like a virtual office?I personally don't like it much, but is this something we will see an increase in?[Michelle Phibbs]
A: Well it's agianst Google's guidelines...so it's risky..
Q: Great Answers! Go Adam! (Charley from SIM Office)[Charles Vail]
Audience Question:
Q: Does anyone have a simple explanation for why doing the same search in Classic Google Maps vs. New Google Maps is often yielding different results? (only the New Maps and local packs match)[Andrew Mendel]
A: They run on separate algorithms..
Audience Question:
Q: What's the view on something like a virtual office?I personally don't like it much, but is this something we will see an increase in?[Michelle Phibbs]
A: I just did a BIG post about it at the forum yesterday and how violators with virtual offices get busted.
Audience Question:
Q: Does anyone have a simple explanation for why doing the same search in Classic Google Maps vs. New Google Maps is often yielding different results? (only the New Maps and local packs match)[Andrew Mendel]
A: Yes Linda has done posts at forum. Classic uses a datacenter that has the OLD algo. That's why diff. New maps uses Pigeon algo
Audience Question:
Q: Why does Blumenthal have the widest biggest video presence?[dave oremland]
A: he's da man :)
Q: the audio is killin the experience[mike gurung]
Audience Question:
Q: Specifically how can Google "bust" virtual office holders? How can they tell the difference between a virtual office and a standard office building a business may operate out of?[Tom Zigtema]
A: Google reviewers, Map Maker editors...
Audience Question:
Q: Could you provide that link to the post?[Skyler Jarman]
A: Which one?
Audience Question:
Q: can you post a link to the blog about Google finding Virtual offices?[Ryan DeVaul]
A: Read this: BUSTED! Warning for Attorneys with Regus or Non-compliant Offices - http://www.localsearchforum.com/goog...t-offices.html
Audience Question:
Q: Can you provide a link for the post about virtual office ciolators?[Tom Zigtema]
A: here's a good one - http://www.localsearchforum.com/goog...t-offices.html
Audience Question:
Q: "I just did a big post about it at the forum yesterday"[Skyler Jarman]
A: http://www.localsearchforum.com/goog...t-offices.html
Audience Question:
Q: What are some things I can do to truly take advantage of Local?[Meraises Miranda]
A: Good tips here: How to Have a Successful Local SEO Campaign in 2015 - Moz
Audience Question:
Q: What are some things I can do to truly take advantage of Local?[Meraises Miranda]
A: Get to know the foundational level items and keep learning, stay interested..
Audience Question:
Q: what is the link to " just did a BIG post about it at the forum yesterday and how violators with virtual offices get busted.
"?[mike gurung]
A: http://www.localsearchforum.com/goog...t-offices.html
Audience Question:
Q: what is the best way I can currently market to local mobile users?[Darren Morizet]
A: http://www.localsearchforum.com/insi...y-dorfman.html
Audience Question:
Q: Hi, coming in late. Will there be a replay of this webby?[Lee Hardin]
A: Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: InsideLocal: Expert Local Search Webinar Series | BrightLocal and here: State of Local Search in 2015 Webinar w/ Blumenthal, Ramsey & Dorfman - Slide deck and this QA chat will be posted at that forum link too.
Q: thanks.[Lee Hardin]
Audience Question:
Q: are citations after location the biggest factor for rankning in local and if not, what is the most important?[Michael Schwartz]
A: Onsite is one of biggest now I think
Audience Question:
Q: are citations after location the biggest factor for rankning in local and if not, what is the most important?[Michael Schwartz]
A: Have youo read the LSRF - Local Search Ranking Factors 2014 - Local SEO and How to Rank in Google - Moz
Audience Question:
Q: Yes thanks when you say on site do you mean on web page?[Michael Schwartz]
A: Yes
Q: which businesses have different needs in a marketing perspective per Mike Ramsey's perspective[dave oremland]
Audience Question:
Q: Yes thanks when you say on site do you mean on web page?[Michael Schwartz]
A: Need really good Local SEO on the site.
Q: i love Mike Blumenthal[mike gurung]
Q: what's the opinion of using video on mobile for local search? It is going to grow? Is it a good idea? Please ask panelists!!![Evan White]
Audience Question:
Q: How important do you feel integrating other local businesses, landmarks or icons are into local content to gain ranking?[Jenni Watkins]
A: I think it really depends on how relevant the landmarks are to the searcher's intent
Q: If a local listing is doing better in Classic Maps than New Maps - I imagine something needs to be fixed to have the new algorithm be rank-friendly. Any thoughts on most likely areas that need fixing?[Andrew Mendel]
Audience Question:
Q: whats the best way to get added on the data aggregators?[Derrick O'Keefe]
A: MozLocal has a great tool that cuts out the verification process and is pretty cheap...
Audience Question:
Q: Valid point, d oyou think it proves legitimacy in that local market as opposed to just showing a physical address and exemplifies activity in the community?[Jenni Watkins]
A: It certainly could..
Audience Question:
Q: what does real time data aggregators mean? Like if you change your business hours on google+, then google will instantly change those on search results? [Robin Mordini]
A: Yes, or if a change is made in Map Maker it will update real-time on the Google+ Local page..
Audience Question:
Q: Is this webinar being recorded for review later?[Richard Ray]
A: Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: InsideLocal: Expert Local Search Webinar Series | BrightLocal and here: State of Local Search in 2015 Webinar w/ Blumenthal, Ramsey & Dorfman - Slide deck and this QA chat will be posted at that forum link too.
Audience Question:
Q: what about manually creating citations as opposed to relying solely on aggregators? Doesn't manually adding ciations get published faster?[Tom Zigtema]
A: Yes, they do.
Audience Question:
Q: Should i rely on aggregation or manually publish citations or a mixture of both?[Tom Zigtema]
A: A mixture of both is a solid strategy..
Audience Question:
Q: If a local listing is doing better in Classic Maps than New Maps - I imagine something needs to be fixed to have the new algorithm be rank-friendly. Any thoughts on most likely areas that need fixing?
[Andrew Mendel]
A: Great Q - too much to answer here: For questions we can’t get to during the event, please post at Webinar Q & A thread here: >>> State of Local Search in 2015 Webinar w/ Blumenthal, Ramsey & Dorfman
Audience Question:
Q: Maybe off topic, but does anyone see a solution for call tracking for local thot doesnt damage NAP, etc. anytime soon?[Lee Hardin]
A: Mike Blumenthal did a recent post
Audience Question:
Q: Can we get a link to that post as well?[Patricia Ptacek]
A: Which?
Q: dont damage the results to prove services. [Ryan DeVaul]
Audience Question:
Q: Maybe off topic, but does anyone see a solution for call tracking for local thot doesnt damage NAP, etc. anytime soon?[Lee Hardin]
A: Don't have time to find but it's recent Understanding Google Places & Local Search
Audience Question:
Q: Adam's post about Local content creation?[Patricia Ptacek]
A: Oh sorry don't know which post that is
Q: I really dont like seeing listings with RCF's. It takes so much cleanup.[Ryan DeVaul]
Q: He mentioned it in his last comment. Looked on his blog, but don't see it[Patricia Ptacek]
Audience Question:
Q: Adam's post about Local content creation?[Patricia Ptacek]
A: Ask here and I'll try to get answer State of Local Search in 2015 Webinar w/ Blumenthal, Ramsey & Dorfman
Q: Thank you![Patricia Ptacek]
HERE IT IS: How To Leverage The Best Local Content Source For Multi-Location Brands
Q: Hi Linda[Josh Konigsberg]
Audience Question:
Q: Will there be a Q & A?[Josh Konigsberg]
A:
Here is the short link for the QA for tomorrow's webinar: State of Local Search in 2015 Webinar w/ Blumenthal, Ramsey & Dorfman
Q: TY[Josh Konigsberg]
Audience Question:
Q: I meant at the end of this one?[Josh Konigsberg]
A: I don't think so..
Audience Question:
Q: I meant at the end of this one?[Josh Konigsberg]
A: Yes you can ask Qs in that thread plus Linda will be posting this entire QA there too.
Q: Always informative thank you to all the speakers, Miles Linda and Colin![Cathy Millet]
Q: Thank you all. Fantastic![Martin Lloyd]
Audience Question:
Q: Thank you alll! Great info here! Have a great day! :)[Kari Eilrich]
A: Thanks to all! Bye for now from Linda
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WHEW! I missed the entire webinar, because as you can see Colan and I were buried with tons of great questions! So I'm as excited as you are for the video, which should be posted by Friday at the link below.
If your question did not get answered or you want us to elaborate, please ask in the main Webinar thread here.
I need to close this thread to replies because it's so long it keeps making the forum time out.