Blog - Local Splash

Google results have seen major renovation over the last few months, from the introduction of the sidebar, automatic geo-location to instant search. This week the search goliath unveiled a richer integration of business listings that completely occupy the search result page.

The experimental enhancement fully integrates Google Places as the focus of search result. These “hybrid results” showcase the critical importance of local search engine optimization. Listings in the search results are equivalent to that of Google Maps search; so local SEO efforts, such as those we perform for local businesses, are the key factor in ranking. The new format, however, introduces potential opportunities for more exposure.

To see an example of this feature in action, use this experimental search result page.

This change and increased focus on local comes just weeks after long time Googler, Marissa Mayer embraced a new role as VP of Location, Local Services, who has a long standing history of keeping Google’s user interface extremely user-friendly.

Also announced this week was Google Boost, a new local advertising program. (Official Post.)

These changes are likely the first of many more to come as the internet plays a growing role in our lives; it also emphasize the importance of Local in everyday search and reinforces our vital role in keeping local businesses in the forefront of the changing landscape.

Let me know what you like and don’t like about the new layout.

Local Business can now Get A Boost in Google Maps. Google announced a new method of sponsored advertising: Google Boost enables local businesses to place pay-per-click ads in Google Maps.

The Google Map blue-marker ads have been tested for years (as far back as 2006), however the previous ad units were charged a fixed monthly fee.

Google Boost is available exclusively to Verified Places already listed in Google Maps. Businesses can participate in the program with a click budget of $50 or more per month. Ranking of sponsored listings is competitive, so Boost likely follows an auction-style placement similar to Google Ads. Unlike Google Ads, the keywords are predefined. This is likely based on business classification as the Boost Ads do not appear when searching for the business by name. It is important to note that sponsored advertising does not affect organic ranking and traditional local SEO efforts are still necessary.

Google Boost Ads show above the organic Map listings (i.e., red-marker A, B, C…). These ads may eventually appear in standard Google results when Google determines the search to be local, though the program is rolling out gradually.

For more information, visit the Google support page on Boost Ads. Of interest, an example screen shot on the support page shows a modified Google search result page that exclusively displays businesses, places and a map.

The program is currently limited to San Francisco, Houston and Chicago. If and when more widely available, Boost will have a notable shift local ad spending.

Background:

We recently redesigned our corporate websites here at localsplash.com and over at relevantads.com. The problem we encountered was that we had tested our new designs at a different URL then at localsplash.com. Therefore we needed to change the URL from test.localsplash -> localsplash.com.

After quite a long time of searching for a WORKING example we finally were able to piece the process together from various blogs. Hopefully this will help other people who might have been as stumped as we were with this process.

Disclaimer: These steps imply you know how to use very basic ftp and command line skills and have access to modify via database, ftp and ssh.

Configuration:

We have a LiquidWeb server with cPanel running Apache and WordPress. We decided to switch a domain from http://test.domain.com to http://www.domain.com.

Steps:

1) Modify Apache to recognize the URL. The httpd.conf file is located at the following path:
/usr/local/apache/conf/httpd.conf

Do a “ctl+F” and look in the file for “old.domain.com” or “domain.com” (should be in two places) and modify the URLs- ServerName “newdomain.com” ServerAlias “www.newdomain.com” to your new URLS. We used subdomain but the process is the same whether you are changing from a subdomain or not.

2) Save and restart Apache. This process involves connecting via a telnet/ssh client such a Putty
a)Connect via client by typing username and password
b)Find correct directory below and restarting Apache
/usr/local/apache/bin/apachectl restart

3) Modify wp-config.php
File is located in /home/[first eight characters of existing domain name]/public_html/
Hard code the variable $table_prefix to be equal to the old site value; i.e.:
$table_prefix = ‘testdomaincom_’;
HINT: Place this new line under this line “$table_prefix = $table_prefix . ‘_’;” in the wp-config file

4) Modify WP Database; set the value of site & home to the new domain name.
a) Find your database and search in your “domain_options” table for the 2 rows named “Site” and “Home” and change them from “http://olddomain.com”->”http://newdomian.com”

If you have any questions please ask them in the comment section below and we will be more than happy to help. Thanks

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