Tag Archives: search engine news

Now You Can Write Your Own Search Queries

Local SEO, Search Engine News, , , , ,

There’s a new way to search on Google; writing your search query via Google Handwrite. Now when using a touch-screen mobile device, you can handwrite your search query rather than typing it. Google explains that when you’re standing on a busy street corner, in a bumpy taxi ride or just sitting on the couch with a friend, Handwrite lets you search by just writing letters with your finger anywhere on the touch screen. You no longer have to deal with a keyboard covering half the screen or “hunt-and-peck typing.”

Handwrite is the newest addition to the many ways to perform a Google search. Now you can speak your queries, get results before you even finish typing, search by image and handwrite your queries!

For more information, check out the full announcement on the Official Google Blog.

The Yahoo! User Interface has Changed

Last Updated On August 13th, 2014Local SEO, , , , , , , , , ,

The Yahoo! Local Account Dashboard now has a new layout (see Figure 1). Here are the changes we noticed with the new Yahoo! User Interface:

  • Users now must verify their Yahoo! Local Listing. Verification can be done by phone, text, email message to the promoted email or a letter sent to the business address (see Figure 2)
  • The “Sign Up” button and “Edit” button on the Yahoo! Dashboard account now serve the same function
  • Facebook and Twitter can be linked on Yahoo! Local Listings
  • Users can now upload a logo when re-submitting rather than only when submitting listings for the first time
  • There is a new option that allows users to preview what the listing looks like in the search results as well as the option that allows you to preview your listing before its published
Local Splash will keep you current with the latest updates on the Yahoo! Local changes as progress continues to be made. 

Yahoo new

Figure 1

Yahoo verification

Figure 2

Breaking News: Yahoo! Announces New CEO

Last Updated On August 13th, 2014Local SEO, Search Engine News, , , , , ,

MarissamayerYahoo! just announced Marissa Mayer has been named the company’s new CEO. Mayer’s previous experience includes 13 years at Google, where she was the VP of Search Product and most recently responsible for Local, Maps and location services.

According to Business Insider, Mayer was Google’s first female engineer. She helped launch over 100 new products and features including toolbar, iGoogle, Google Instant, Gmail, Google News and image, book and product search. She was also responsible for integrating Google Local into Google Everything search results.

Mayer, the fifth Yahoo! CEO in five years, follows Scott Thompson who resigned from his position after a scandal involving false credentials on his resume. According to LA Times, Yahoo! made the announcement after the markets closed. During the trading hours, shares fell $.09. However, in after hours trading, after the announcement was made, shares were up over 2%.