Will linking to my citation sources help google recognize them / credit my places account?
-
Or will those sources be discounted by google then similar to how google discounts link exchanges?
I have noticed some pages, like mapquest, don't really have a directory, so google might not be aware of their content unless it is linked too???
In this type of a case, would it help to link to mapquest's search results? then the citation will get picked up by google?
-
Hi Storwell,
Thanks for being a good sport, and it definitely sounds to me as if you are experiencing heavy lag time between citations being created and being imported into your Place Page. It can take months for this to happen. Given the vagaries of Google's Local product, your other citations could show up tomorrow, next month or never. I know how frustrating this is. I wonder, have you started a thread about this at the Google Places Help Forum to see if you can trigger a response from a Google rep? It doesn't always work, but sometimes it does and you may either get A) a response or B) a spine tingling mysterious edit. I've seen both happen.
If you do decide to create a thread there, make it as simple but thorough as possible. Obviously, give your business info and link to your Place Page. Then, I would suggest that you cite the 5 biggest citations sources where you are cited but which aren't being shown on your Place Page. I would put them in a simple list, with links to the citations.
My bet is that you will get other forum members chiming in over there with, "it takes patience, just wait it out." But, if you could ask a rep for a general idea of when you might expect to see these appearing on your Place Page, you just might get a response.
Good luck!
-
Thanks Miriam,
I have been trying to get a definitive answer on that question for several months now, which is probably why i came off a little bit aggressive towards Tyler. For that i appologize.
Back on topic though:
I have already gotten our business information listed in 95% of the recomended sites on whitespark and getlisted. But i find that google still only lists our business as having 4 or 5 citations, most of them are not from any of those recognized sites, but from other random extraneous places.
My idea was not so much about pushing google to recognize other websites citations, but to make it pick up citations on the big directories where we are already cited but not yet credited in google places.
I know most people say it takes time, but we are about 5 months in from submitting our info to all those directories and still nothing has showed up on our google places account. So i was looking for ways to encourage google to pick up those citations that are already out there.
-
Hi Storwell,
Google's decision as to what qualifies as a citation source is not in your hands and Google has not given a definitive public explanation as to how a website becomes deemed appropriate as a citation source. It's an interesting suggestion that if enough people linked back to a certain source, Google might eventually come to recognize that source as a trusted citation provider. This might be a factor in their determination process (i.e. if enough links are indicating that a source is of importance, some type of consideration might be triggered at Google). Interesting idea, as I've said, but I have never read or heard anything to indicate that this is true or correct.
Your best bet is likely to devote your time to getting your business cited by those entities that Google already considers to be appropriate for your industry and region. Using Whitesparks' Local Citation Finder tool will get you off to a very strong start with this process:
http://www.whitespark.ca/blog/post/2-using-the-local-citation-finder
My feeling is that your results will be most effective if you focus on what Google feels are the best citation sources, rather than trying to find a way to convince them that some other source should be included. Hope this suggestion is helpful to you.
Per your response, to Tyler Fraser, let's keep the conversation positive and friendly here in Q&A. Everyone is here to learn and help and we appreciate everyone's participation.
-
If you don't know what a citation is (from previous question you answered) then why are you answering this one? you obviously don't know what you are talking about!
-
I have had this same issue and recommend that you not link back. But I also think it's a simple enough situation for google to understand what is happening and not dock your links in any way.
I would not link to mapquests search results though. This is very minor.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Seeing different Google 3-Pack results on Android mobile browsers vs. IOS mobile browsers. Why is this?
I am researching new SEO recommendations in lieu of Google's controversial "3-Pack" update. I am noticing very different results in the Google 3-Pack on a android mobile browser when I do a local search query versus a query in apple mobile browser. For example if I do a Google search for "Seattle Sporting Goods" I am able to see direction links and full address numbers for businesses in the 3-Pack. However the same query on a Android phone provides only "teaser" street name results, no direction links but still shows business reviews. Is it possible that the 3-Pack update is still in flux? Shouldn't the Google 3-Pack show uniform results across all different mobile browsers? This could impact my SEO recommendations.
Image & Video Optimization | | RosemaryB0 -
Google Product Feed Results
Hi all, I am pondering whether or not to try the new model of paying for the shopping results. I was just wondering what results people had seen and your ideas/thoughts on it.
Image & Video Optimization | | KarlBantleman0 -
Unstructured citations
We all now how important citations are, structured and unstructured for local results. Oftentimes, as David Mihm said, they are the factor that could tilt the balance.
Image & Video Optimization | | echo1
It is also true that the higher the authority of a website the more weight Google puts on a citation. My question is, how far should you go after those unstructured citations, would you get them from everywhere you can if the number and not the quality would be the difference between number 1 and number 2 spot in Google local?1 -
Taking control over Google Places and Google+ Pages?
Hi we have a client who has about 40 different stores around the country. Most of the stores have their own Google+ Pages or Google Places. We want to take control of all 40 stores from a centralized location. So we can control their Google+ Pages/Google Places to improve them, and keep them uniformed with each other.How/Can can we do this? Does Google provide any way to do this? Thanks, Mark
Image & Video Optimization | | MBASydney0 -
If my keyword have Keyword Difficulty Score 50 to 60 , then what kind of link build for get rank?
hello, i have 21 sites , if my keyword have Keyword Difficulty Score 50 to 60 , then what kind of link build for get rank?
Image & Video Optimization | | Brayvez0 -
Google local places
I got pin via phone and verified my sites four weeks ago , after logged in google place account there is no data, status is active .can anyone help me to show data and getting result for local search.
Image & Video Optimization | | Alick3000 -
Local Search Citations
Hi Is there a checker where it will show what local citation sites a Google Places listing has? My listing has been claimed on the likes of Yelp, Qype etc but I doubt if the others above me have as they have not even claimed their places account The reason being is that it can only be the local citations that is causing the following listing - or if there is anything else I would be interested to learn what it is? http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?hl=en&safe=active&prmd=imvns&resnum=5&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=828&wrapid=tlif132205140339110&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=chartered+accountants+swansea&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=chartered+accountants&hnear=0x486e45555a4e97b1:0x3d77128e2fe7cb74,Swansea,+Neath+Port+Talbot&cid=7535215611406218142&ei=T-fMTvTbC4zA8QOpwLz6Dw&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=placepage-link&resnum=2&ved=0CEIQ4gkwAQ to appear above http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=chartered%20accountants%20swansea&source=web&cd=7&ved=0CG8QFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.harrisbassett.co.uk%2Fcontact-harris-bassett.htm&ei=BufMToaLEtTY8QPQ9JjXDw&usg=AFQjCNHH86xx6pmUJ2BBODG_LGHeSL7RYg on a search for chartered accountants swansea
Image & Video Optimization | | idv0 -
Google Places Local Submission
Hello We're going to upload a bulklisting to Google Places for multiple locations. However, there are existing Google places listings for these locations. The bulklisting is being used to undertake a refresh of all the existing data. How do we go about updating the existing data i.e. do we have to delete the existing information prior to submitting the bulkload, or does a new submission over write the existing data. In addition, how does Google Places verify a bulkload submission i.e. do they make contact with the designated business owner. How long does such a process actually take (roughly!). I know some of this is touched on in the Goolge Places help section, but it is not clear and I don't want to get this wrong for obvious reasons. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Rgds Neil
Image & Video Optimization | | mccormackmorrison0