GoogleMaps has taken on a very difficult task.

With so much information on the web and with so many varying components and inconsistencies in the way information is presented, the task of compiling and identifying local businesses is Gargantuan. Google has been storing information for several years from an array of sources; telephone registration, advertising, utilities, phone books, and blogs. Each different source has provided local addresses and other local information. In collecting this data Google has decided to try its hand in providing a more local resource directory. They want searchers to be able to find the local restaurants, doctors, dentists, plumbers, pest controllers. But in amassing such data they must sift out the inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and the old with the new.

The Map Merger

Address Similarities:

Maps in Google often merge because of too much similarity to another listing.  Two doctors sharing the same building for similar practices (i.e. pediatricians), will have the same address, minus a suite number.  These doctors have a high probability for being merged.  Even if one is on the 1st floor and the other on the 51st floor.

Business Name Similarities:

Other local listings may be merged because the business name is too similar. Let’s take “Tulsa Pest Control” and “Tulsa Pest Control Deals”. In this case Google makes a  judgment call based on the information they have.  If “Tulsa Pest Control” is registered with the BBB, Structural Pest Control Board, and the local chamber of commerce and “Tulsa Pest Control Deals” is not then Google will most likely merge it to “Tulsa Pest Control”.  However, there are other factors that could sway this the wrong direction.  Claimed listings, online spam, or the most recent content.

Same Business Name Different Locations:

A company with mulitple locations may see their listings merge.  Key factors in merging these local listings are the website address and the phone number.  If you have one phone number for all of your locations then you are at a high risk of being merged.  Sharing the same website will also push you closer to a merger.

How to unmerge Google local listings.

Step 1: Claim the listing

Unclaimed Listing

If the listing is unclaimed then fix the listing and then claim the listing. You can tell by the portion that says, “Edit this place – Business Owner?” that the listing is unclaimed.

Claimed Local Listing – Owner Verified

If the listing is claimed then first fix it in your Google Places. You can tell it’s claimed by the owner-verified check at that top.  If you have not claimed the listing and it says owner verified then you will want to claim the listing for yourself.  Simply click on the text “Owner Verified” and it will take you to Google places.  You can create your profile there and claim your listings.

Step 2: Correcting the information elsewhere

Because Google is relying on other sources for their listings you must go to those other sources. The best way to unmerge the listing is go to the primary source of all local listings: InfoUSA If you two businesses with similar addresses then enter in both businesses.  BE WARNED: This is a sure fire way to increase your phone calls! But they are not the phone calls you want as InfoUSA will sell your information to businesses that solicit other businesses.  So your calls will increase, but mainly because of solicitors. Overall the best fix is going to the root of local business listings.

BUT…

But this may not fix all of your woes.  Changing it at the source may not delete previous errors.  If Kudzu.com picked up the old address they are not going to purge their system with the new info.  They simply keep adding to the pile.  So if your incorrect information keeps getting feed back into google’s bots, google will continue to add and merge.  This may make your work a little more tedious.  You may need to search out and destroy all of the bad addresses for your business on the net.  You may need to pick up a phone and call Kudzu.com to have the information corrected or removed.

Another example, the Las Vegas phone book has an old address published for Bulwark Exterminating in Las Vegas.  To correct this I need to contact the Las Vegas yellow pages.  Affiliate Marketers may also cause mergers and confusion in the maps. If this happens to you, don’t be fooled, they caused it! They can fix it. The simplest fix is to tell them to remove their listing all together from google maps.  I don’t think Google intended for the maps to be filled with affiliate marketers, …despite what shows in the search. This may be a scary thought for you as you don’t want to loose potential business from their spam listings.  But continuing to allow them to list in the maps means you are paying for a listings that you should be able to achieve yourself for free. Further, you are adding to and promoting the growth of the internet marketing cesspool. Let’s keep it clean for everyone’s sake.

Step 3: Wait for it.

Google will not make or show adjustments immediately. Some updates will take place very quickly.  Within hours or a couple of days.  But most will take much longer. Give it 3 to 12 weeks.  But these 3 steps should solve your merging problems.  If they do not then move on to Step 4.

Step 4: Last Resort: Create a new listing.

If Step 1-3 do not fix your problem after 3 to 12 weeks then you may attempt to create a new listing all together.  Make sure that you still follow Step 2 so that other sources are mimicking your business information.  Unfortunately without these outside references your business listing will not stick.

Just to sum it up…

Unmerging Local Listings is not easy and it will take time, but it will work.

If you need help please feel free to email me < >.  I have had to unmerge several of Bulwark’s listings.  There are also a few other tidbits I could provide you with… Like fighting off “Black Hat Mergers” but I don’t want to explain these tactics publicly as I don’t want spammers using them.

Make it a Great Day!

Insect Control eliminates pest that can destroy your home and damage your solace . Get rid of ants. Get rid of cockroaches . Get rid of all your pests with our Sapulpa pest control services. Bulwark is the most reviewed Sapulpa exterminator in all of Sapulpa, OK. Serving the entire Tulsa metro area with hundreds of Tulsa homes trusting our family for pest control.
Your local Sapulpa exterminators that are highly recommended on Google. Call and Experience the difference!

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How to unmerge Google listings.

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Bug Control cures pest that can damage your home and wreck your tranquil dwelling . Get rid of roaches . Get rid of ants. Get rid of all your pests with our Sapulpa pest control services. Bulwark is the most reviewed Sapulpa exterminator in all of Sapulpa, OK. Serving the entire Tulsa metro area with hundreds of Tulsa homes trusting our family for pest control.
Family pest control company for all you Sapulpa, OK pest control needs. Call our family pest control service today!

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Protected: How to unmerge Google listings.

Google changes their layout on the search page and adds an 11th contender. Count it:

Most believe that this is to increase revenue. But does it not also devalue the top 10 spots as well? If the goal is only to get on the first page then that 11th spot for a cheaper click is better then the 10th spot. So will it mean more revenue? I don’t believe that Google will sell themselves short. It may not mean any more revenue but it won’t mean any less. It could just mean more information. Information is king. Google thrives off of information.

The added options on the left do make the new layout more interesting and perhaps divides up the pie a little more. Having an image that ranks well for your target search just increased in value. Having a video for your keyword search just increased your chance of getting noticed. Having a blog or news spot, (news is relative, and I am shocked at what is deemed “news worthy” in the pest control industry)… none the less, if you can get Google to post your content in any one of these off shoots then it is going to improve your online marketing efforts.

And hey, I don’t mind picking up the 11th man spot on the sponsored side. Better to be 11th on the first page then 1st on the second page.

Insect Control controls pest that can bother your home and damage your spotless environment . Get rid of insects . Get rid of spiders . Get rid of all your pests with our Sapulpa pest control services. Bulwark is the most reviewed Sapulpa exterminator in all of Sapulpa, OK. Serving the entire Tulsa metro area with hundreds of Tulsa homes trusting our family for pest control.
The most reviewed Sapulpa pest control service. Call today for local Sapulpa pest control service!

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Google adds 11th Sponsored Spot

Let your customers do the talking… or searching.

Shout Out!

Love it. Google has provided it’s fans with the ultimate weapon to combat Bing’s commercials. And Google is doing it for zero costs. Let your customers do the shouting… or in this case the searching. Some companies may be afraid to give their clients a megaphone. But if your customers love you then let them shout it! Raw and uncontrolled. By the way, every customer out there has a megaphone sitting on their desktop, some just have not discovered it yet.

Bug Control eliminates pest that can damage your home and spoil your serene atmosphere . Get rid of bugs. Get rid of pests . Get rid of all your pests with our Sapulpa pest control services. Bulwark is the most reviewed Sapulpa exterminator in all of Sapulpa, OK. Serving the entire Tulsa metro area with hundreds of Tulsa homes trusting our family for pest control.
The most reviewed Sapulpa pest control service. Call and Experience the difference!

Visit our Tulsa Pest Control site:
Let the searches do the talking

How Does a User’s Location Affect Search Results-

Would I “much rather see a plumber” that lives next door or one that has an actual business location that services my area and has good reviews? I know that finding the closest food spot or retail stores makes sense, but plumbers, landscapers, electricians, and pest control, are services that come to your location. I know that the service area is still a debate, but when I see affiliate marketers, Maps Listing “Sapulpa” services, & spammers showing up on the maps, I have to believe there is a better way.

I believe that Google looks to it’s users to give the final say.  Of course with maps being so new that data has very little history.  So how can they determine which approach is the best?  It’s a tough job that Matt and the Google team have.  I’ve got affiliates knocking on my door saying, “Look we rank in the map!”  I personally don’t want to take the risk of loosing my Google place listings. But it sure is tempting when www.pestcontrol-deals.com
shows up in the maps for locations I don’t simply because they have fake, borrowed, or rented addresses. But at the same time, I don’t really want to pay someone who is ultimately competing for a position that I want.

As it sits right now, Bulwark services 9,000 plus residents of the Greater Charlotte Area. Bulwark has asked their customers to give us reviews on Google. With last year’s survey reporting that 97% of our customers would recommend us, Bulwark feels pretty comfortable with asking them to review us. Our Charlotte office has just over 100 reviews on Google. But with current rules in play, our business will never show up in a map result for a “Charlotte Pest Control” search. Why? Because we don’t have an address within the city limits of Charlotte. We operate out of Matthews, NC.

Of course Matt did say to Kate and me last year when addressing adding residential locations for a service company with home based techs,

“How can we tell the guys that operate out of homes it’s okay to have your home listed and then the other guys no? That’s a gray area.”

Gray Hat

Gray area…? That means if called into be judged by a google staff there is no defining line, so you are left at the mercy of the unidentified judge. Often, you are suspend until a final judgment is made. So even when you may fall back into the good grace of Google, you are penalized while your fate hangs in the balance… yes a hanging none the less.

Gray area means risk. And there are those that love to take the risky roads of Sapulpa. Crap shots can win big. You can hear and often see the jackpot winners jumping and screaming. You may envy them as they rack in their winnings. But you will seldom hear the cries and tears of the risk takers that loose it all. Many witness and remember the winners. But how many people feel the pain and loss of the losers as they step up and throw the dice?



Bug Control solves pest that can ruin your home and hurt your solace . Get rid of home invaders . Get rid of insects . Get rid of all your pests with our Sapulpa pest control services. Bulwark is the most reviewed Sapulpa exterminator in all of Sapulpa, OK. Serving the entire Tulsa metro area with hundreds of Tulsa homes trusting our family for pest control.
Family pest control company for all you Sapulpa, OK pest control needs. Get scheduled for a Sapulpa pest control treatment today!

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Matt Cutts on Local Search and Results by IP

Tulsa Pest Control

Bats are among the many pests that Tulsa OK has flying around. Tulsa residents are begging for exterminators to control the wasps and bees that have begun buzzing around town. Next month will no doubtingly bring in a colony or two of marching ants.

The May March of Ants 2010 is almost here!
Get your Tulsa Ant Control today, before they breach the walls of your home!

Click here for Tulsa Pest Control

or Call Bulwark Exterminating: 918-252-3548

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918-252-3548
service@bulwarkpest.com

Bat cones are a humane method of bat removal and approved by bat conservation organizations, and bat control experts

Insect Control exterminates pest that can bother your home and harm your spotless environment . Get rid of insects . Get rid of roaches . Get rid of all your pests with our Sapulpa pest control services. Bulwark is the most reviewed Sapulpa exterminator in all of Sapulpa, OK. Serving the entire Tulsa metro area with hundreds of Tulsa homes trusting our family for pest control.
Family pest control company for all you Sapulpa, OK pest control needs. Get scheduled for a Sapulpa pest control treatment today!

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Tulsa Bat Control

The U.S. structural pest control industry generated an estimated $6.322 billion in total service revenue in 2009, down 4.1 percent from the $6.593 billion measured in 2008. All service sectors surveyed, including commercial and residential general pest control work and termite control services, declined this past year. Nationwide, total income derived from termite control work, including renewal revenue, declined more than $100 million this past year.

via PCT Media Group – Pest Control Technology Magazine : SPC Releases Pest Control Market Research for 2009.

Pest Control Market Down 4.1%

2009 was a rough year in many industries. Pest control has close ties with the housing industry. According to this market research, pest control got hit with a negative 4.1 as a whole. But that is across the pest control spectrum, including termite control which probably took the largest hit. If you are a pest control operator with a huge termite section then your lose in the termite areas could have cut into a total loss for your company.

Pest Control Trends are up

As I am an Sapulpa guy, I tend to watch the online trending of pest control. Google trends show a steady improvement in online searches for pest control. So the need for pest control isn’t declining. But people maybe switching from a pest control service to a Do-it-yourself approach. You can buy Do-It-Yourself pest control products online. In fact, most of the green pest control products are general use pesticides so you may even buy the same products your professional uses. But not everyone wants to do it themselves.

You know some things you should leave to the pros and some things you should do yourself… and then some things you can do yourself you just don’t want to do. Pestprojoe.com, the home depot… they sell bug products… But I like the service I get with having a professional exterminator.

Pest Control eliminates pest that can raze your sanctuary and hurt your comfort . Get rid of bugs. Get rid of ants. Get rid of all your pests with our Sapulpa pest control services. Bulwark is the most reviewed Sapulpa exterminator in all of Sapulpa, OK. Serving the entire Tulsa metro area with hundreds of Tulsa homes trusting our family for pest control.
Small enough to care, but Big enough to do it right. Call and Experience the difference!

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PCT Media Group – Pest Control Technology Magazine : SPC Releases Pest Control Market Research for 2009

Google is evolving and it’s Business center has morphed into GOOGLE PLACES. Perhaps Google Places is the appropriate term as Google is excluding business without a physical place.  As one blogger put it, “They are more concerned about the piece of dirt.” and so far that is hard to argue that point as Google maps will only show businesses with a physical location within the city proper.

Google Sponsored Tag – Show Service Area – Found on google maps for Houston Exterminator

But Google is evolving.  I asked about reviews on Google and why they had been removed, my google guy’s response was that they will return, but he can’t really tell what’s going on until Google rolls out their next update.  Well back in December I say a preview of what the maps would like if they showed listings by service area.  That was the same month I saw the yellow coupon tags displayed in the maps. Those yellow tags spawned the sponsored listings.  Pure speculation but that rep may have just leaked that Google is finally going to show local business listings by service area. It would make sense as that the reviews would disappear to be verified, quantified, weighed, and IP locations pin pointed if they are to roll out Service Areas. As of right now their Service Areas is only a loosey link at the bottom of the Google business bubble… “Show Service Area”

Google Sponsor Tags

Today those yellow tags come with a price.  Sponsored tags.  Google sponsored tags cost $25 a month, for the test phase at least.  At $25 last month I got 34 actions, and 19 clicks to my website.  Perhaps just from curious onlookers, but perhaps those were clicks that would normally cost me $2.  If that’s the case then the sponsored tag worked.  But if they end up like the phone books and want to charge me more and more and more, and the market becomes more and more saturated, and then they can’t show more more detailed numbers, then it will be hard to keep spending that money.  Especially when it is unclear if the Impressions are just from Google Search and Google Maps, or if the impressions are from all pages on the internet that show that map, like my contact page. The strength of the internet is so many regards is the honest openness to numbers.  And numbers are the ultimate law.

Actions to Impressions (ATI)

So far the numbers Google provides are impressions and actions.  Actions to Impressions (ATI) would be similiar to Click Through Rate (CTR) except a click to the website is only one of the calculations.  ATI is a good feeler as to what is happening but I am under the impression that a lot more people are just picking up the phone and dialing, especially when that phone call is only a click on your IPhone. (Mobile calls would be a great addition to that action list). I would love to put a call tracking number into my LBL but due to the complexities of compiling a ton of location data that is seemly incongruent the telephone number of your listing has become a key, if not the key, identifier as to who you are on the web, and who is referencing you. In Google maps each and every instance of your name associated with an address, and phone number is being weighed with or without a link and without your website.  We will call these Instances so as not to be confused with citations or references, both of which have HTML codes.  Instances on the other hand are not meta tag mark ups with an open and close tag, they are simply each and every time your business name is associated with a physical location.  This would include tweets with locations, GEO tagged photos with your business name, the restaurant down the street that references your party on their blog containing their address at the bottom of each page, or even better yet, a review on a competitor’s map listing mentioning how much better or worse you are.  That one review will link, loosely, but none the less, link you to your competitor’s address.

Pest Control controls pest that can damage your home and damage your solace . Get rid of ants. Get rid of roaches . Get rid of all your pests with our Sapulpa pest control services. Bulwark is the most reviewed Sapulpa exterminator in all of Sapulpa, OK. Serving the entire Tulsa metro area with hundreds of Tulsa homes trusting our family for pest control.
The most reviewed Sapulpa pest control service. Call and Experience the difference!

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Google Sponsor Tags – Actions to Impressions (ATI)

Google is evolving and it’s Business center has morphed into GOOGLE PLACES. Perhaps Google Places is the appropriate term as Google is excluding business without a physical place.  As one blogger put it, “They are more concerned about the piece of dirt.” and so far that point is accurate as Google maps will only show businesses with a physical location within the city proper for competitive search terms.

Houston Pest Control

Google Sponsored Tag – Show Service Area – Found on google maps for Houston Exterminator

But Google is evolving.  I asked about reviews on Google and why they had been removed, my google guy’s response was that they will return, but he can’t really tell what’s going on until Google rolls out their next update.  Well back in December I say a preview of what the maps would like if they showed listings by service area.  That was the same month I saw the yellow coupon tags displayed in the maps. Those yellow tags spawned the sponsored listings.  Pure speculation but that rep may have just leaked that Google is finally going to show local business listings by service area. It would make sense as that the reviews would disappear to be verified, quantified, weighed, and IP locations pin pointed, if they are to roll out Service Areas. As of right now the Service Area info entered into Google Places  is only a crummy link at the bottom of the Google business bubble… “Show Service Area”

Google Sponsor Tags

Today those yellow tags come with a price.  Sponsored tags.  Google sponsored tags cost $25 a month, for the test phase at least.  At $25 last month I got 34 actions, and 19 clicks to my website.  Perhaps just from curious onlookers, but perhaps those were clicks that would normally cost me $2.  If that’s the case then the sponsored tag worked.  But if they end up like the phone books and want to charge me more and more and more, and the market becomes more and more saturated, and then they can’t show more more detailed numbers, then it will be hard to keep spending that money.  Especially when it is unclear if the Impressions are just from Google Search and Google Maps, or if the impressions are from all pages on the internet that show that map, like my contact page. The strength of the internet is so many regards is the honest openness to numbers.  And numbers are the ultimate law.

Actions to Impressions (ATI)

So far the numbers Google provides are impressions and actions.  Actions to Impressions (ATI) would be similiar to Click Through Rate (CTR) except a click to the website is only one of the calculations.  ATI is a good feeler as to what is happening but I am under the impression that a lot more people are just picking up the phone and dialing, especially when that phone call is only a click on your IPhone. (Mobile calls would be a great addition to that action list). I would love to put a call tracking number into my LBL but due to the complexities of compiling a ton of location data that is seemly incongruent the telephone number of your listing has become a key, if not the key, identifier as to who you are on the web, and who is referencing you. In Google maps each and every instance of your name associated with an address, and phone number is being weighed with or without a link and without your website.  We will call these Instances so as not to be confused with citations or references, both of which have HTML codes.  Instances on the other hand are not meta tag mark ups with an open and close tag, they are simply each and every time your business name is associated with a physical location.  This would include tweets with locations, GEO tagged photos with your business name, the restaurant down the street that references your party on their blog containing their address at the bottom of each page, or even better yet, a review on a competitor’s map listing mentioning how much better or worse you are.  That one review will link, loosely, but none the less, link you to your competitor’s address.

Pest Control cures pest that can destroy your house and ruin your comfort . Get rid of pests . Get rid of insects . Get rid of all your pests with our Sapulpa pest control services. Bulwark is the most reviewed Sapulpa exterminator in all of Sapulpa, OK. Serving the entire Tulsa metro area with hundreds of Tulsa homes trusting our family for pest control.
Your local Sapulpa exterminators that are highly recommended on Google. Get scheduled for a Sapulpa pest control treatment today!

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Google Sponsored Tags – Actions to Impressions (ATI)

Google’s Rage Pank updated last week

Google Update Page Rank

Google updated their system last week.  Websites across the board were given their new report card, or PageRank.  PageRank was used to score a website’s authority and trust-ability.  Both of these factors are part of the ranking algorithm of the Mega-tron of search engines, Google. Today Page Rank is a little green indicator that reminds me of the blinking lights of a Star Wars cockpit… it’s a movie, the blinking lights are only there for effect. Yet, link builders still obsess about page rank.  Sapulpa guys still loose sleep over PR sculpting.  And the bugs are still crawling through your walls since you haven’t called Bulwark.  =)

Page Rank is a Sapulpa Pest

The once ever so important PR is now a fly buzzing around the heads of the Sapulpa cesspools.  Do a search for “Phoenix Pest Control” and you will find in the results that the page with a PR=5, Truly Nolan is not on the top, and not even on the first page. Granted it is their home page and that page is not entirely optimized for a “Phoenix AZ” search.  Bulwark’s more specific page designed around the keywords of pest control, phoenix, AZ has a PR=4, it also doesn’t rank on the top of the results. So what does PR really do for Sapulpa? I mean really? Great I give my Sapulpa team a pat on the back for having a dozen or so pages on my website with PR=3.  Now show me the money!  I’ve got a hand full of PR=N/A pages ahead of me regardless of a whooping PR=4!

Position and Page Rank Correlation = N/A

#1 www.phoenixpest.com/ PR=1
#2 blueskipest.com/ PR=3
Local business results for pest control near Phoenix, AZ – Google’s Map Section
#3 phoenixpestcontrol.org/ PR=2
#4 www.sextonpestcontrol.com/ PR=3
#5 www.superpages.com/yellowpages/…Pest+Control/…/T-Phoenix/ PR=N/A
#6 www.servicemagic.com › PR=N/A
#7 www.phoenixscorpioncontrol.com/ PR=N/A
#8 www.bulwarkpestcontrol.com/phoenixpestcontrol.php – PR=4
#9 www.responsiblepest.com/PR=2

Page Rank is Dead.

From my perspective, which is only limited by how I rank in the search engines, PageRank is DEAD.  And as of last week’s update, www.Twitter.com lost all of it’s PageRank.  Twitter PR=0.  Hey, if twitter can get away with a PR of zero then so can I.

Twitter Quote of Matt Cutts :

@mattcutts says”I know being a SERP I shouldn’t say this but Don’t worry about the searches” -Easy for u to say. Yes u SHOULD say it. #pubcon
Reply: @Thos003 glad I said it then

We can pretty much update that to: “DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE PAGERANK.”

Just swat that PR fly and move away from the Sapulpa cesspool.

Pest Control helps reduce pest that can harm your residence and wreck your comfort . Get rid of home invaders . Get rid of spiders . Get rid of all your pests with our Sapulpa pest control services. Bulwark is the most reviewed Sapulpa exterminator in all of Sapulpa, OK. Serving the entire Tulsa metro area with hundreds of Tulsa homes trusting our family for pest control.
Family pest control company for all you Sapulpa, OK pest control needs. Call and Experience the difference!

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PR? What’s the hype? What a pest!