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!

Link:
How to unmerge Google listings.

Facebook Privacy Issues- See where it says “automatically share my information with identity thieves, criminals offenders, and all of my psycho exes” Yeah you're gonna wanna unlock that box.

And Nice Plug for apple there!

Facebook Privacy Issues

Hearing a lot about Facebook Privacy Issues and wondering what the big deal is.

On CNN Today: Facebook CEO: ‘We’ve made mistakes’ on privacy : http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/24/technology/facebook_ceo_wapo/index.htm

Gizmos and Gadgets: Privacy issues in the Chat function of Facebook cause them to shut down the chat mode.  http://www.gizmos-and-gadgets.net/facebook-responds-to-privacy-issues/

Matt Cutts = No more Facebook profile. http://twitter.com/mattcutts/status/12677133480

“I just deactivated my Facebook account using the guide at http://goo.gl/rhpE Not hard to do & you can still revive it later.” _Matt Cutts via Twitter

So what’s the big deal? Can this flaw in Facebook’s armor really bring them down?  Clearly others that want to devour that market are hoping to see the demise of Facebook.  Facebook receives 20% of all daily page views. Or as I like to refer to it…

Facebook is the Other Internet.

Insect Control eliminates pest that can destroy your house and bother your comfort . Get rid of ants. Get rid of bugs. 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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Is Facebook Really that Bad?

Calif. penal code pertaining to immigration section 834b similar to Ariz.’s SB 1070

With respect to any such person who is arrested, and suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws, every law enforcement agency shall do the following: (1) Attempt to verify the legal status of such person as a citizen of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted as a permanent resident, an alien lawfully admitted for a temporary period of time or as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of immigration laws. The verification process may include, but shall not be limited to, questioning the person regarding his or her date and place of birth, and entry into the United States, and demanding documentation to indicate his or her legal status.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=833-851.90

Sorry I found this funny.  And it’s even funnier that Los Angeles is boycotting Arizona for following suite to California. Better yet, is the fact that everyone is in an uproar over this law when the similar California law has done little to change anything. I don’t believe that the AZ law is going to fix anything. I also don’t think it’s going to make anything worse.  What it has done, from a marketing stand point, is that it’s gotten everyone’s attention.

Don’t mind me, I’m just the bug guy.

Insect Control cures pest that can hurt your residence and damage your serene atmosphere . 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.
Small enough to care, but Big enough to do it right. Call and Experience the difference!

Read more from the original source:
Calif. penal code section 834b similar to Ariz.’s SB 1070

Calif. penal code pertaining to immigration section 834b similar to Ariz.’s SB 1070

With respect to any such person who is arrested, and suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws, every law enforcement agency shall do the following: (1) Attempt to verify the legal status of such person as a citizen of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted as a permanent resident, an alien lawfully admitted for a temporary period of time or as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of immigration laws. The verification process may include, but shall not be limited to, questioning the person regarding his or her date and place of birth, and entry into the United States, and demanding documentation to indicate his or her legal status.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=833-851.90

Sorry I found this funny.  And it’s even funnier that Los Angeles is boycotting Arizona for following suite to California. Better yet, is the fact that everyone is in an uproar over this law when the similar California law has done little to change anything. I don’t believe that the AZ law is going to fix anything. I also don’t think it’s going to make anything worse.  What it has done, from a marketing stand point, is attract everyone’s attention.

Don’t mind me, I’m just the bug guy.

Pest Control helps reduce pest that can destroy your house and raze your solace . Get rid of spiders . 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 owned. Family Values. Call our family pest control service today!

Read the original here:
CA Immigration Law 834b similar to AZ SB 1070

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

San Diego Pest Control that is all Heart.

So marketing often has a very fine line between being cheesy and being TOTALLY AWESOME! Of course, everyone likes a different flavor of ice-cream. And no matter how you try you won’t be able to please everyone. But back to why I am writing this post. Heart’s Pest Control out of San Diego has a cheesy name, and a cheesy logo… BUT…. Heart’s is a perfect fit.

So today is my Friday Tribute to Pest Control professionals that I admire.

Gerry is the epitome of a business owner that is all heart. He truly cares about his employees.  Caring for his employees spreads the love to his customers.  In in my opinion service is about caring. And Hearts pest control cares from the top down.  To Learn more about Heart’s read his article posted earlier this week: Take Back My Paycheck

Bug Control helps reduce pest that can damage your residence and destroy your comfort . Get rid of ants. 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 services for all you Sapulpa, OK exterminating needs. Call and Experience the difference!

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A Service with Heart

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!

More here:
Matt Cutts on Local Search and Results by IP

So take a second and look at this image….

Is it just me or is Yahoo missing something here???  This is not an April Fools Joke!  I really wish it were. If you didn’t catch what was so funny, here is the hightlighted version:

I see a very short term win and a huge long term loss on this one. 

Isn’t this like calling Bulwark pest control for exterminating services and then getting redirected to Porkin Bug Control? Sure Porkin might pay me for the advertising, but don’t I want the business?

Thanks for the laugh Yahoo!

Pest Control helps reduce pest that can hurt your property and harm your tranquil dwelling . Get rid of pests . 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.
Family pest control company for all you Sapulpa, OK pest control needs. Call our family pest control service today!

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Not an April Fools Joke!

http://www.verticalmeasures.com/expert-interviews/content-strategy-interview-with-expert-lawrence-coburn-2010/

I like some of what it said here. It seems that Lawrence has his game plan worked out and moving well for him. Rateitall.com is a goldmine of an idea. However, I do disagree with a couple of things.

1- Content is for google first. So do I write content to be found or do I write content to convert sales? The problem with mass media is that it is ignored by the masses. If my content is written to get more visitors then great, but I would prefer more sales. I am split on this, as you have to get traffic to get online sales, but you still want to keep the real focus and vision in mind when right content. What’s that about a cart getting a head of a horse? Or a horse pulling an empty cart?

2- Who doesn’t like to win an award? – I could care less if you gave me the noble peace prize at this point. Why? Because of its past winners it has come to mean nothing to me. An award giving out of flattery is meaningless. Of course, I do like awards that carry a real value. And yes, everyone wants to be appreciated so if the award means something, then great otherwise, handing me a Trojan horse isn’t going to get you very far.

Originally posted as a comment
by thos003
on Vertical Measures using DISQUS.

Insect Control solves pest that can harm your sanctuary and ruin your comfort . Get rid of spiders . 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. Get scheduled for a Sapulpa pest control treatment today!

The rest is here:
Commented on “Vertical Measures”

It's hard to see but the cut is on the middle finger just above the last joint.

I am pretty sure that this puts me in a very rare and obscure group.  I’m guessing the percentage of people in the entire world that cut themselves on a shoelace aglet to be less than 1%.  Total guess.  But to break it down… the percentage of people in the world that wear shoes is … Sorry, not really going to get that technical.

How can you cut your finger on a shoelace?

Well I was tying my hiking boots and I was yanking the shoelace tight, when the string slipped between my fingers. As my finger slid down the shoe lace it caught the edge of a torn aglet.  So the cut was similar to that of a paper cut, but done with piece of plastic. Making the cut a little bit wider than your average paper cut.

Some accomplishment I know

While this new badge and new classification that I just ranked for may not be a very esteemed group to fall into, it does make for a great marketing lesson.

Good marketing is communicating your unique value.

It must be of value, and it must be unique.  Why? Because separating yourself from the competition is the only way to attract your audience. Further, many things that are unique hold a higher value because they are unique.  So the first job of a great marketer’s is to recognize, find, create, and build those unique values.  The second job is to communicate those unique values.  Advertising and marketing are different.  Advertising is a communication arm of marketing.  I have found that a good story is a great way to communicate ideas and thoughts and make them memorable.

So back to the shoelace cutting my finger.  While this classification that I now fall under may not be the ideal badge of honor, it is unique…. very unique.  And the value of the story is that it’s funny, entertaining, unique, and now has a lesson attached to it. (I know that value is defined differently by everyone.) And for those that read this story, or hear this story, or search the internet for the shoelace cutting a finger story, ….I will forever hold a place in their memory as “the guy that cut his finger on a shoelace.”

Man I love Fridays!

What’s an aglet?

It’s the plastic piece at the end of a shoelace.  So if you’ve ever wondered what the end of a shoelace is called; it’s an aglet.  How did I learn that? Playing Balderdash.

Bug Control controls pest that can damage your home and bother your spotless environment . Get rid of ants. 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.
The most reviewed Sapulpa pest control service. Call and Experience the difference!

See original here:
I cut my finger on a Shoelace!