Google has just launched a new version of the structured data testing tool for rich results. The company will be calling the old rich cards, rich snippets or enriched results “Rich results” from now on and will group them all together. The team of 411 Locals is excited about the new tool, and here’s what you need to know about it.
We know that the SEO in 2018 will drastically change the way we optimize for mobile searches for sure. We are positive about this, and we are looking forward to trying out new strategies. Will it be worth it though? This is the second article of 411 Locals about voice searching and we have never been more certain that it is much important for all those who want to stay in the SEO game in 2018.
We, at 411 Locals, have seen and tested many kinds of SEO practices. Some of them work really well, some of them don’t, and some of them are… violating Google’s guidelines. We would like to point out the real bad ones on this page and hope this will keep your listing healthier.
You should know about Google Home Services one way or another. The program launched in beta in 2015 and now Google rebranding it for good with the new name – Local Services by Google. The advertising and verification for local service providers have expanded to 17 US cities, and Google announced that the number will raise up to 30 cities by the end of the year. Being in the SEO game for a long time, we at 411 Locals, keep a closer eye on announcements like this and will tell you more about the new program, below on this page.
We all know how fast Google changes algorithms and deciphering it might feel like an exercise in futility. This is why, we at 411 Locals, keep track of the algorithm changes and try to synthesize it for every SEO enthusiast. It is a well-known fact how many changes Google has made over the years, and on this page you will show you the brief history of those changes starting with the year of 2005.
2005: Google Maps and Local Business Center Merged
We all remember when Google released the Local Business Center in March 2005. The next logical step was to merge this free tool helping business to easily add or update their business listing that appear in google Local with Google Maps. The users could now easily condense relevant search results into a single location that included store hours, contact information, and driving directions.
Do you remember the short-form SEO video Q&As Google used to produce but does not anymore? We at, 411Locals, sure do, and this is why we are excited to announce that Google is back on it again!
Google announced its plans via Twitter. They will produce a series of webmaster and Q&A videos on their Google Webmaster Central Youtube channel. The only *required field in the webform is the question you want to ask. Filling in your name, location, and comments is optional. The form to submit your questions is available over here.
To be honest, Google has not really stopped producing videos entirely. There are several webmaster-related hangouts on their YouTube channel. The hangouts are usually an hour long and available in different languages, where webmasters can ask their questions live. While the hangouts are just great and we, at 411Locals, highly recommend them, we cannot hide the fact the old short-form videos are the better convenient option! Especially if you do not have any particular questions in mind and just want to stay updated, watching an hourly long hangout might seem like boiling the ocean.
