Google MAPS allows you the opportunity to state your business service area by indicating zip codes or perhaps radius from the business' primary location. Many businesses will extend this range in an attempt to show up in searches that they would like to do business but really don't actually do a lot of business. Does the tactic of telling Google that your service area is bigger than it actually is in practice work?

Last September Google implemented an algorithm that tended to favor proximity over quality. In other words, how close the search was to the business had a huge impact on the result. Consequently, any sort of local SEO effort was met with very little improvement - if any. We saw results diminish no matter what we did as the results simply accumulated around the general vicinity of the searcher. That has changed!

This is NOT black-hat SEO. You may see some results, but your SEO company may not be doing you any favors. Some SEO practices are designed to keep you on-the-hook. When you stop using their services, your results go right out the window! What?

You know, it's kind of scary. And Dad, that plant looks awesome! I'm not sure how much we really want Google in our personal lives. Checking out Google MAPS for my parents and there's my Dad! It makes you wonder...

If you've spent any amount of time focusing on SEO in the last 3 years or so, you've seen a number of changes that have completely changed the landscape. Your SEO company may be giving you results today but are those results going to last? Here are some things local SEO companies are doing that could ruin your ranking results down the road.

I probably get 3-4 calls a week and I know my clients get these calls as well. The gist of it is that the caller either works for Google or is a Google agency and your business listing is unclaimed. Well, first of all, I can tell you that Google is not calling millions of businesses to help them claim their listing - BIG RED FLAG. BUT you can have Google call you if you need help claiming your business. Here's some advice on checking your own listing so you don't get scammed.

Link exchanges have been common practice among website owners. For obvious reason, Google likes links. Google also likes reviews and this is just one way to improve your ranking in Google MAPS and help your fellow businesses.

I was excited to see that Google offers phone support now for Google MAPS...that is until I called them.

Over the last year or so, a new wave of web design strategies has hit the market with the specific intent to afford the rising mobile browser / smart phone accessibility to the website. Unless your business has taken advantage of this technology, the tiny screen on a smart phone will render your website the functional equivalent of an unreadable thumbnail version of your site. You can pinch and poke to read the site, but most people will find that to be too cumbersome.