Okay, so I felt this post was very necessary and hopefully I am not the first to write about this.  Recently, I was adding Liberty Interactive Marketing to the local business listings on all the major search engines.  The process for adding your listing to Google is fairly simple.  Although I did make a small user error while inputting my listing due to ambiguity in their process by accidentally associating my company with another local company here in Phoenix I was able to complete the submission successfully. Then, verified my listing quickly with an automated phone call from Google (one type of verification process they offer).

I did the same on MSNLive Local, however, I got a little irritated when they said they would send me a letter to verify my business listing.  My irritation was more due to the lack of immediacy that I had experienced on Google.

BUT…Logic prevailed.

ROUND 1 TO MSN: The appropriate way is MSN’s way as they are verifying the location by actually sending a piece of mail to this address in which I gratefully appreciate.

ROUND 2 TO MSN: If Google had done this, I would not still be trying to remedy my mistake upon submission with them as the company I mistakenly associated myself with would not have verified my location.  Which by the way, I am receiving terrific organic traffic from, not to mention resumes and my company is completely unrelated. Missed the goal on relevant results for this one Google.

ROUND 3 TO MSN: Google’s inappropriate business listing submission seriously lacks security. Who is to say that one couldn’t just create a local business listing using one of their competitors names and simply create another listing that directed them to their phone number? Since all that Google verifies is the phone number. A simple mistake if phone calls ever came in or is it? A savvy and slightly devious business development professional could easily turn these mistaken phone calls into a leads, thus creating a new lead generation tool for themselves.

And while I realize that this same savvy and devious business professional could also have MSN Local letters sent to their own address, there is a bit more work involved than just merely a 5 second verification phone call from Google.

Am I missing something? I welcome all comments on this topic.

The tipping point of local search has been rumored to be around for a while, but with the advent of the google 10-pack, some say it might be right around the corner. Soon, the world wide web may be come a lot more regionalized.

David Mihm, a local search specialist, took a look at what has become important with local search along with twenty other SEO specialists. You can see his results here: Local Search Ranking Factors

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… C: wait… SD: wait…

Well, Phoenix Internet Marketing company, Liberty Interactive Marketing is off to SMX Advanced in Seattle, June 3-4. We’re very excited. The conference offers three tracks: 1) Paid Search, 2) SEO, and 3) How to run and SEM business.

We’ll be taking it all in and reporting back during the conference. Stay tuned for tips and techniques. If you’re going, drop us a line…we’d love to meet up.