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As of 2013 Localeze is requiring everyone to pay the $297 to add/update their listing. Phil Rozek documented it. I'd recommend reading his post. http://www.localvisibilitysystem.com/2013/04/17/rip-localeze-free-business-listings/

In the latter half of the year I've noticed some changes with Express Update. When I get to the phone call verification point, everything works fine. The call goes through, I get the code on my screen and input it. However, what I've noticed is that the voice prompt says everything is complete, but on the screen it doesn't go to the dashboard. It loops back to the phone call verification phase.

Every time I've had this issue, which is about 6 - 7 times now, I send an email to Infogroup and they tell me to customer support. Each time they tell me that their system has a bug. Express Update has not worked for almost 6 months now. The person helping me will always ask if I'm an SEO company. If you say yes, they will start pushing a new package.

I'm just checking if anyone else has had this issue. I'm not sure if this is how they are vetting SEO companies. I'd like to make the phone call verification process easier.

Hi Miriam!

Thank you for getting back. I forgot to respond, but I actually reached out to Mike Blumenthal and he offered some good insight. He said that they recently found a bug but Google has been notified and is addressing it.

I added a link to our conversation on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/mblumenthal/status/809859102650335232

Has anyone else noticed this? Does anyone know why the first result has a blue pin as opposed to the normal red pin?

Thanks everyone! I'll check all those resources out.

Are there a lot of overlaps with SEM Rush, Ahrefs and Moz?

Recently, I've launched two websites. I want to make sure I'm doing a good job monitoring our link building efforts. I'm see a lot of tools out there to supplement my use of Open Site Explorer. What I want to know is what tools I should be using to monitor my links? My ultimate goal would be to have the data to track the number of links I'm adding a month so that I can use it for reporting.

There is another layer. Because the sites are new, OSE is actually not reporting any links found. I can only find reported links through Google Search Console. Any advice? Is this something where I will just have to wait for everything to get indexed?

Oh man, thank you so much! I'll go ahead and take a read/look at it all. Thanks again man!

Miriam,

Thorough and as helpful as possible as always. Thank you so much. Right now my strategy is to really work on those reviews. I'm hoping to get that magic 25 reviews because I think that can help us get to the top. All of our competitors don't even come close and are under 10.

So our goal is in that aspect. My client's target base is made up mostly of those over 40 -  50 years of age so their not as prone to review. Our competitors have fitness members of a younger age, so that's where I'm thinking we have a disadvantage. But I'm hoping to work a little more on that end.

Thanks Miriam!

Jason Khoo

Thanks Jordan! I've heard about Screaming Frog but I'm glad to hear from others recommendations.

Deacyde,

Thanks for the response. Would you use this in tandem with SEO for Excel? Or is Screaming Frog pretty stand a lone and easily imported to Excel?

Jason Khoo

The general rule is to evaluate the Domain/url you are linking to. If you trust the site and it creates good content, among other factors of a properly optimized site, then you are free to use a follow link.

If you feel that the site is not of the highest quality and can actually be detrimental because you are associating yourself with a bad site, use the nofollow links.

The best quantifiable method is to check Domain Authority, Page Authority, Spam Score. Another way to check is the good ol' eye test. If it feels like a good site then go ahead. If you just feel like there is something fishy, do a little research.

Hi Miriam,

I saw that our prior conversation was continued here. I went back and did some more researching and after reviewing everyting I think I found the issue, it was a Google industry cluster issue. I relooked at Google Maps and typed in "gym in [city]" and I noticed 7 of the 10 listings were all fairly close to the industry centroid designated by Google (which I found through Google MapMaker).

Now that I maybe have identified that issue, I'm wondering if there are any strategies we can to combat this. I don't like to think that our physical location has left us to have to accept lower listings on Google Local Pack. Let me know if you know anything?

As always, thank you!

Jason Khoo

Glad to be of service! Good luck with everything

Miriam,

Thorough and as helpful as possible as always. Thank you so much. Right now my strategy is to really work on those reviews. I'm hoping to get that magic 25 reviews because I think that can help us get to the top. All of our competitors don't even come close and are under 10.

So our goal is in that aspect. My client's target base is made up mostly of those over 40 -  50 years of age so their not as prone to review. Our competitors have fitness members of a younger age, so that's where I'm thinking we have a disadvantage. But I'm hoping to work a little more on that end.

Thanks Miriam!

Jason Khoo