Perform site:www.competitorname.com queries in Google Images, Video, News, Places. If you're extremely strapped for time, spend 30 seconds and set up a Google Alert for your competitor’s name. You may find that Google is noticing them more than you...
Have a Google Places listing. Have a link directing back to the most relevant site page which features text including the exact name, phone, address info that is found in your Places listing. The keyword theme of the linked page should be relative...
While these sit apart from any XML maps that are uploaded to the site, if you have more than 10 locations, you can create an XML based feed to upload to Google Places for Business. Next, go to your Google Webmaster Tools account and upload your new...
And based on Josh McCoy's findings about sites that got bit by Panda, which he wrote about in "The Slippery Slope of SEO," a small number of higher quality inbound links can prove more valuable than several low value links.
The Slippery Slope of SEO by Josh McCoy Google Places Dashboard: QR Code MIA, Good riddance! Explore the world with updated apps for iPhone: Check in with Latitude and use Places in 30 languages - Google Mobile Blog
SEO Factors for 2011 by Josh McCoy Google Emailing Webmasters For Bad Links, Cloaking Persistent IDs Check-in To Twitter Places by Jonathan Allen Their "Persistent ID" (PID) system has been integrated into Twitter Places alongside other services...
Funneling your Traffic into Conversions by Josh McCoy Google Places SEO: Lessons Learned from Rank Correlation Data - SEOmoz Google Could Face Lawsuit From Chinese Ad Resellers - PCWorld Differences between Google and its Local Competitors - Search...
Diversifying Your SEO by Josh McCoy Research: Google Places Heatmaps - ionadas local Google Places Upgrades Owner Review Response Feature - Understanding Google Maps Duplicate Listing Removal - Understanding Google Maps Smartphone Sales Increased...
Thanks to Josh McCoy for his detailed report on this. The need to stay informed on what is impacting listings in Google Places is essential to every local business or the companies that handle their marketing.
