Category Archives: Local SEO

This is a collection of all Local Splash Blog posts that cover Local SEO

Google recently launched its new and improved image search. Prior to the new image search, the user would need to click on the photo’s thumbnail and redirect to the site where the image came from in order to see the larger image. Now instead of clicking on the photo and visiting its website, users can select the image from the thumbnails and it will bring up the larger version of the image automatically without the need to travel to the source.

Google’s new image search makes it easier to quickly search through multiple images, however the change has publishers worried; will this mean fewer website visits? Google announced that it added a new button to visit the page the image is hosted on and the domain name is now clickable. This means there are four clickable links to the source page instead of just two. Google also went on to say that in tests, they have seen an increase in the average click-through rate to the hosting websites.

Check out what the new image search looks like here:

Newimagesearch

According to TorrentFreak.com, Google has removed over 50 million URLs from the search results in 2012. It was expected that the number would rise due to Google’s Pirate update in August 2012, which involves the removal of sites that have a large number of legitimate DMCA takedown requests filed against them. The most “takedown” requests came from the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). Check out the graph below that shows the dramatic increase in takedown requests that starts in August when the Pirate update was introduced.

Google dmca

Numbers are expected to keep rising in 2013. Unfamiliar with the Pirate Policy? Read this article from Search Engine Land that covers the update.

According to an article on Mashable, only hours after the Google Maps app for iPhone was released, it became the most popular free app in the Apple App Store. For many iPhone users, this app is long awaited after Apple’s disappointing attempt at a Maps application (see Apple’s apology to its customers regarding Apple Maps).

http://youtu.be/KEz1sSKCpIc

Check out some screen shots of the new iPhone Google Maps app:

Easily search for local businesses and view their Google local listing. Click to call, save and share the listing, read the reviews and see how far the business is from your current location.

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Choose different routes and view the entire route or use turn-by-turn navigation to get to your destination.

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So far, our first impression of Google Maps is great – it’s easy to use, has a beautiful interface and integrates nicely with Google+ Local, all with the legendary power of Google Maps.

What are your first impressions of the new Google Maps app for iPhone?