Google adding a new carousel feature for local search!

Google  in a Google+ post announced that it is adding a new carousel feature for local search results on the top of some search results pages. It looks essentially like the recently redesigned Knowledge Graph carousel, but includes local businesses and their Zagat scores.

Google has revealed that whenever a user will search for restaurants, bars, or other local places from the desktop, he will get horizontal Carousel display of images at the top of the results.

Users can scroll through the images or zoom in on the map to see the results for a particular area. If they happen to click on an image in the Carousel, more location details including the review-based score, photos, and address will appear.

The Carousel results will be rolled out in English in the U.S. and more features & languages will be added with time. 

Google: Stock Images Do Not Impact Search Engine Rankings... Yet!

Google’s head of search spam, Matt Cutts, in his latest  Webmaster Help video said that using stock images from a stock image website has no impact on rankings.

But he doesn’t leave it at that....

Here is the video: 

Q&A session with Google's Matt Cutts at the SMX Advanced conference 2013!

The head of Google's web spam team, Matt Cutts participated in a Q&A session with Danny Sullivan at the SMX Advanced conference. SMX has now made the video available to all.

Cutts discussed a variety of things during the session, so if you couldn’t make the conference, here you go:

 

Google rolling out new administration landing page for Google Analytics!

Google Analytics recently announced a new administration landing page with upgraded settings that is scheduled to launch during the coming weeks. Users can now enjoy faster account configuration and simplified navigation along with easily accessible settings.

The latest round of upgrades will make all admin settings accessible from the new administration page under the admin tab, with account, property, and view settings organized into three columns. (Google is now referring to the ‘profiles’ setting as ‘views’ in an attempt to match the present and future meaning of what it represents: a view of the data Analytics.)

Google Webmaster Tools notification will now come along with example URLs of problem areas!

Google's Matt Cutts announced that Google is now including example links in its messages to webmasters regarding manual penalties. 

The change will make it easier for webmasters to understand the reason behind the penalty imposed by Google. In case you have received a manual penalty for unnatural links, Google will also provide with sample URLs for reference to show where the penalties are or derived from.

Matt Cutts put out a video discussing this:

 

Adwords tips for Father's day from Google!

This Sunday is Father's day. With the view to help the marketers to fully optimize their campaigns, Google's Zee posted a thread offering some AdWords tip for the Father's Day season. Google pointed out that there are plenty of last minute shoppers and you should target them.

Zee, in the Google AdWords Help thread said you should target last minute shoppers with free shipping promised in time for Father's Day or special discounts and promotions for last minute shoppers.

Google preparing several ranking changes!

Google took to its Webmater Central blog to discuss “several ranking changes” it’s preparing for sites not configured for smartphone users.

Google is making it so you have no excuse to treat your mobile content with less regard than your desktop content. 

Some recommendations and configuration suggestions for building mobile-optimized web sites from Google.

Google added new functionality to the Auction insights report in AdWords!

Google recently added some new functionality to the Auction insights report in AdWords. Now, you can run the auction insights report for groups of keywords, individual or multiple ad groups or individual or multiple campaigns in addition to running the report for a single keyword.

AdWords product manager Dan Friedman said in a blog post, “The Auction insights report gives you valuable insight into how your ad performance compares with that of other advertisers,” 

The auction insights reports are located from the “Details” button from the campaign, ad group and keyword tabs.

New dashboard for businesses and Google+ page owners!

Google launched a new dashboard for businesses and Google+ page owners that will provide them with a single dashboard to manage many of their daily activities around Google’s tools. Google pointed out that the idea here is to “make it easier to manage your online presence – all across Google.”

The new dashboard will, for example, allow businesses to update their info, including their website URLs, store hours and phone numbers, across Google Maps, Search and on Google+ right from the tools Overview tab.

Understanding Google+ Dashboard for pages

Google expands Google Business Photos program in Asia and Europe!

Google recently announced the expansion of their  Business Photos program to Asia and Europe. 

Google Business Photos are a great way to store what's inside your restaurant or store on Google Maps. The photos enable merchants to create a 360 degree look and interactive tours of their store, hotel, or any other establishment. The photos are taken by "Trusted Photographers" of Google who later syndicate the shots into the program. 

The seven countries which will support this program include: Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic,Singapore, Germany, Poland, and Russia.