Category Archives: Google

Anything and Everything to do with the almighty Google. Such is the power of this single Search Engine that its every feature is analysed to the 10th degree and here I try and maintain a close eye on all things Google.

Google Local Business Center Analytics Reporting

Posted on by
7

Seems Google local business center is offering two new options on your personal business listing admin panel.

The first obvious change is the inclusion of local business analytics reporting showing impressions and actions taken on your local listing and a list of the words used to reach it.  The second is the addition of a “coupon” system that can be used as an advertising incentive offering on your products or services. Its also a distinct possibility that I just haven’t logged into the business enter for so long that I never noticed the stats, but regardless I thought it was worth mentioning.^^

Check out the screenies below.  At the moment I’m still trying to figure out how this relates to Google Analytics.

Google Local Business Center Analytic and Reporting

Google Local Business Center Analytics Reporting

Google Local Business Center Coupons

Google Local Business Center Analytics Reporting

If you have a google profile you can login and set up your local business listing, it wont take long, add its location and details to google maps and your off.

Google Wave-Surfs up?

Posted on by
11

I stopped what I was doing and watched this video about Google Wave. Not sure what to say, its just insanely good and as an open source project I reckon this will explode (then again I have been known to be seriously wrong).  At least among the internet based community.

But in terms of business, Im wondering how they will recieve it as just another tool to learn rather than understanding the advantages of the application.

Then again maybe we are giving Google to much, we see what happens when Gmail goes down, what would happen if Google wave went down…never mind all the other information they will have access to.

Google sidewiki worries me a little

Posted on by
5

Google launched a new toolbar addon today called SideWiki for Firefox which integrates to your Google toolbar.

Basically it adds in a panel to the side of the browser and allows you to do some pretty cool features regarding commenting on a post, article or even a specific piece of text or information.

All of the comments are aligned with your gmail account so its all “networked” back to your google profile, so thats a nice feature as well, but Im beginning to wonder if the good will be out weighed by the bad at some point.

Heres what has occured to me as being somewhat negative and is worrying me a little, though it is early days:

1. The sideWiki allows comments to be made on any page in the site on any piece of information but it DOES not notify the site owner that a comment has been made, so it will prove to be impossible to reply to sidewiki comments on larger sites.

2. Community is diluted in the site itself as the option to comment directly on the post has basically been liquidated.  I can effectively comment on any page anywhere.

3. I cannot moderate the comments, so spam is already a worry, but also, the opportunites for untrue or even slanderous comments is wide open and must be a serious worry for businesses. (I dont worry about arguements, love them actually but its difficult to enjoy one if I dont know it exists –> see point 1).

4. SEO wise, I really cant see what effect this will or would have on a site directly and how open the whole thing is to manipulation.  Will play a little more on the weekend with it and see what conclusions I can draw.

Anyone else got anything to add?

(I wonder how many of you smart alec’s will add your comments to the sidewiki instead of the comments on this post…  :P)