Google Maps adds Microformat support to results
I was pleased to see that Google Maps team announced support of the hCard microformat today in map search results. This will make the export of address/contact info easier for users, and pave the way for perhaps greater integration between the map results and other applications. If you have a browser with a Microformat plugin feature, you can easily export listing information for use in Outlook or other applications you may have:
Can we hope that Google’s support of Microformats at the front-end of their application might also indicate that they may eventually support Microformats at the back-end? As you may recall, in local SEO tips I posted last year, I recommended that local business webmasters not just include their business address on their site pages, but to do so in the hCard Microformat. I was probably the first to propose doing this for local search optimization, even though there’s been no overt mention from the search engine representatives that this is necessary or desirable. So, why did I recommend doing that?
Popularity: 3% [?]
Possible Related Posts
Posted by Chris Silver Smith of Netconcepts on 07/31/2007 | Permalink | 
Email
| 
Print
Trackback | Comments (0) | Comments RSS |
Filed under: Google, Local Search, MapsGoogle-Maps, microformats
Plea for a New Open Format: Open Local Profile Format
My most-recent Locals Only column just pubbed at SearchEngineLand.com, titled “A Call To Standardize Local Search Listings“.
Open Local Profile Format
In it, I’m calling for the companies operating in the local search space to come together and agree upon a common data format protocol that would allow businesses and organizations to more easily submit their directory profile information to the great plethora of local info sites where users go to get information. The local search engines, online yellow pages, and various vertical directories should come together to reduce costs/complexity for businesses, and to facilitate improved information for consumers, similar to how the major search engines last year came together to agree on one common submission protocol - Sitemaps - for submitting sites’ page links to them. Read on for more details.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Possible Related Posts
Posted by Chris Silver Smith of Netconcepts on 06/04/2007 | Permalink | Email
| Print
Trackback | Comments (3) | Comments RSS |
Filed under: Local Search, Yellow PagesBusiness-Listings-Data, Google-Maps, hCard, microformats, Open-Formats, Open-Local-Profile, Open-Local-Profile-Format, Sitemaps, Yahoo-Local, Yellow Pages
Tips for Local Search Engine Optimization for Your Site
Increasingly, businesses are becoming aware of Local Search, and how optimizing for this channel is vital those that have local outlets. Each of the main search engines has focussed effort on their local search tools as the best strategy for continuing growth in online advertising, and the subject has become sufficiently important enough to merit a special Search Engine Strategies Conference devoted to the subject tomorrow in Denver. The importance of Local Search is further underscored by stats issued in a press release today by comScore, showing that Local Search continues to gain in marketshare.
So, how exactly could one optimize towards Local Search?
Read on and I’ll outline a few key tips.
 (more…)
Popularity: 12% [?]
Possible Related Posts
Posted by Chris Silver Smith of Netconcepts on 09/28/2006 | Permalink | Email
| Print
Trackback | Comments (8) | Comments RSS |
Filed under: HTML Optimization, Local Search Optimization, SEO, Search Engine OptimizationLocal Search, local-search-engine-optimization, local-SEO, microformats, Online-Yellow-Pages, SEO
