Category: Google Maps

Google is testing a new search user interface treatment for map results called “Lists on Google Maps.” This shows you a carousel of results from Google Maps, Google My Business listings, that you can scroll through and learn more about.

Google is testing a new style for the buttons in the local pack results. I am not sure if this is a bug but Valentin Pletzer spotted this and posted this screen shot, where the buttons look like tiles. There are buttons for details, website, call, dir…

A new “feature” was released earlier this month where Google would automatically take photos that you add to your Google My Business profile and create Google Posts out of them. Not only that, it seems you cannot delete the Google Posts that were autom…

Sergey Alakov posted a screen shot on Twitter of a new icon he spotted in the local pack listings. The icon is a blue comment style image with a blue star in the center. He asked me if this is an ad icon, but I believe this is a top rated icon, an ico…

We keep seeing signs both via Google messaging and Google action that photos and media are becoming more and more important. A few months ago, Google started using photos for local search more often. Now, Sergey Alakov noticed Google has a local pack f…

I saw a funny and somewhat ironic problem posted in the Local Search Forums that I had to share with you all. A business owner wants to know how to removed a “closed down” label in the business name in the business’s local knowledge panel in Google se…

Tom Waddington posted a GIF on Twitter of Google Local Service Ads allowing you to request multiple quotes at the same time from multiple local service providers. He said “‘Request Quotes’ button above 3-pack. Lets users request quotes from multiple b…

I do not know what to call it but it seems Google is testing showing a card or box within the local pack snippets of a specific listing that links you to the business’s web site. Jason Parks shared a screen shot of this with me on Twitter, here, look …

Google can now show how far a specific location is from another nearby landmark. I know I’ve seen this with hotel search results but this is now showing for other local panels in web search. This was spotted by Dave DiGregorio and he shared it with me…

Mike Blumenthal posted on Twitter a screen shot of a new look for reviews listed in the local knowledge panel. It shows a carousel of reviews, and Mike said are “query related phrases.”

We’ve seen Google testing black ad labels on desktop, but now here is what it looks like in the local pack. Note, the mobile black ad label has been around for some time but Google is only testing it on desktop and has been for some time.

Google is now letting Local Guides and maybe other Google users to select a tag to describe why you like the business you are reviewing. So not just leave a star rating and a review and photos but also select a descriptive tag that Google can use in a…

Google launched yesterday, I believe, on Thanksgiving, a new feature in Google My Business for job types for services. This is where services businesses in the US can choose from suggested types of services. This includes things like “repair toilets” …

There is a new theory out about that Google Local update from earlier in this month, nicknamed the Bedlam update. The theory is that most of the time, position one in the local pack is stable but positions two and three are the ones being shuffled out…

I do not follow the Google Hotel user interfaces too closely and it is a space where Google is constantly testing new interfaces. But over the past week or so, I am getting a lot of reports of new features, from map overlay hovers to a massive number o…

Mike Blumenthal posted a screen shot on Twitter showing a possible sign that Google My Business may be experimenting with doing its own booking or reservation system or engine. He showed that under the booking tab, that Google was listed as a provider…

Remember the Google local update we reported about earlier this month, well the local SEO folks are still tracking this update in detail. Joy Hawkins named it the Bedlam update because it is “a scene of uproar and confusion” and she hates the animal n…

If you login to your Google My Business listing area and look at the manage locations tab (which is the default page most go to when they login) – you won’t see any listings. There is a bug hiding them, they are invisible, but Google is aware of it and…

Mike Blumenthal, a local SEO expect, is at the Google PE Summit and he was told by the Google local team that there are bugs with the local Q&A feature where the Q&As are erratically showing and not showing.

Google announced it has removed the toll free customer support numbers from the Google My Business homepage. Now if you do try to call one of the existing numbers, you will be directed to the Google My Business Help Center. You can still request someo…