Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Place Pages: Google Gives Everyone A Page On Google Maps
Google announced the launch of "Place Pages" on Google Maps. What this means is that instead of Google showing you a large bubble when you click on "more info" on a business listing in Google Maps, it takes you to a new landing page, with more information. For example, here is a clean link to my company's listing page: http://maps.google.com/places/us/suffern/executive-blvd/2/-rustybrick-inc This is not a major change to how it impacts the normal user, but it - Block Google Sidewiki Users From Commenting On Your Site
Yesterday, we reported on Google Sidewiki which allows anyone to basically comment on your site, on your site, with the Google Toolbar. Some webmasters are not into this idea and they want to know if there is a way to opt out of this feature. The answer is no, not an official way to opt out, but you can block these users completely. One Webmaster in Google Webmaster Help explained that you can use a - Fragments (Pound Signs #) In URLs Are Not Duplicate URLs
A Google Webmaster Help thread asked if he should include fragments (i.e. the # signs found in some URLs) in the new parameter handling feature in Google Webmaster Tools. Again, parameter handling in Google Webmaster Tools gives you a way to tell Google to ignore certain URL parameters, to help them with removing duplicate URLs (duplicate content). The thing with URL fragments, they are not seen as duplicate because Google simply strips out the stuff - Google Reader Help Group Moves to New Forum Finally
Just about a year ago, most Google help forums moved from the old Google Groups platform to a new platform. But not all have moved. The Google Reader group finally moved to the new platform a day or two ago. I asked in a Google Reader Help thread, "what took so long?" The response from Roger from Google was "We liked our old group so much we had a hard time letting go! :)" Cute. - Google Confirms AdSense Arrows Changes
Earlier this month, we reported that AdSense was testing new arrow formats in their ad units. I personally didn't see it, but it seemed like others were seeing various tests. Google has finally confirmed the tests in a blog post that says we should notice new types of arrows that are more visible. The blog post said: We've been testing slight updates to the look of these arrows, and our experiments have shown improvements in
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- 10 Gmail Sidebar Gadgets for Search & Social Marketers, Sphinn
- Asked a question, got solicited, Google Webmaster Central Help
- Twitter Closes in On $100 Million New Funding, WebmasterWorld
- why does google treat [ _escaped_fragment_ ] as [ #@: ] ?, Google Webmaster Help
- Google Sidewiki: I See Danger, Sphinn
- How to Confidently Build Links That Pass SEO Value – And Ignore the Ones That Don’t, Sphinn
