We recently redesigned our corporate websites here at localsplash.com and over at relevantads.com. The problem we encountered was that we had tested our new designs at a different URL then at localsplash.com. Therefore we needed to change the URL from test.localsplash -> localsplash.com.

After quite a long time of searching for a WORKING example we finally were able to piece the process together from various blogs. Hopefully this will help other people who might have been as stumped as we were with this process.

Disclaimer: These steps imply you know how to use very basic ftp and command line skills and have access to modify via database, ftp and ssh.

Configuration:

We have a LiquidWeb server with cPanel running Apache and WordPress. We decided to switch a domain from http://test.domain.com to http://www.domain.com.

Steps:

1) Modify Apache to recognize the URL. The httpd.conf file is located at the following path:
/usr/local/apache/conf/httpd.conf

Do a “ctl+F” and look in the file for “old.domain.com” or “domain.com” (should be in two places) and modify the URLs- ServerName “newdomain.com” ServerAlias “www.newdomain.com” to your new URLS. We used subdomain but the process is the same whether you are changing from a subdomain or not.

2) Save and restart Apache. This process involves connecting via a telnet/ssh client such a Putty
a)Connect via client by typing username and password
b)Find correct directory below and restarting Apache
/usr/local/apache/bin/apachectl restart

3) Modify wp-config.php
File is located in /home/[first eight characters of existing domain name]/public_html/
Hard code the variable $table_prefix to be equal to the old site value; i.e.:
$table_prefix = ‘testdomaincom_’;
HINT: Place this new line under this line “$table_prefix = $table_prefix . ‘_’;” in the wp-config file

4) Modify WP Database; set the value of site & home to the new domain name.
a) Find your database and search in your “domain_options” table for the 2 rows named “Site” and “Home” and change them from “http://olddomain.com”->”http://newdomian.com”

If you have any questions please ask them in the comment section below and we will be more than happy to help. Thanks

We’re not clear if this secondary verification was required because another account claimed the listing or if Google relied upon other signals that affirm that the businesses is alive and kicking.  Previously, in other situations, we had carte blanch to remove any verified listing from Maps.  In any event, kudos Google for this additional security measure.  This essentially prevents unlawful business listing hijackers to maliciously remove competitors from the Maps.

Anyway, we selected the correct, first option.

In turn, after a few minutes, our content was removed from the record and the listing compressed to the new business owners information.

If you login, and edit your business listing, you will see a link that reads, “Fix incorrect marker location” on the right side of the page.  Then you can click and drag the red marker to the new location and click save. Google Maps will then register that update and in the future note the new location for your business’s listing in Google Maps.

Today, while submitting a test Google Places listing I noticed a new feature just below the categories section.   For a limited time only, if you are showing the world cup at your place of business, Google will give you a special badge that will make your listing stand out.  That badge might look like a small soccer ball icon or it might be something else, who knows.  For more information please visit http://www.google.com/landing/showfootball/info.html Click on the image for a large picture view.

But hurry!  This is a limited time offer from Google.

Five years ago, most business owners did not understand the importance of being found online. The vast majority thought that the Yellow Pages were the best way to advertise their business on a local level and that they would remain the best local advertising medium. Now, those same business owners would give anything to be able to go back and establish an online presence that would have secured great ranking on a local and organic level today. The bad news is that they can’t. The good news is that there is something big around the corner and it is not too late to get on board!

Some important figures:
91% of Americans have a cell phone. [1] If you take out children and the elderly and that’s pretty much everyone!
20% of people with cell phones (45 million) have smart phones (web browser capable). This percentage is growing by about 20% every three months. [2] At this rate, just about every American will own a smartphone by the end of 2012.

Mobile search is quickly becoming a major player in the local advertising space. In a year or two, most business owners are going to be kicking themselves because they waited too long to try to get their foot in the door… just like those who waited too long to establish an online presence for local search. In larger markets, where there is more competition, a lot of small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) are already beginning to create marketing plans that aim to satisfy the future need for good mobile search rankings. Fortunately, it is still early enough in this new trend to make some early moves that will pay off big time in the future!

Three moves that will pay off:

Get listed in local search (that’s the maps section; specifically Google.)
Improve online presence (website, reviews, links, etc)
Start researching and finding ways to include your business in popular industry specific directories.

#1 Get Listed in Local Search; specifically Google.
Right now, a lot of mobile search applications are using local search results to provide the information that they are displaying. This will serve as a great foundation for your company in mobile search down the road.

#2 Improve Online Presence
It is impossible to predict exactly how the majority of mobile search apps will get the information they choose to display in the future… but what is for certain is that the information will come from the Internet. Continuing to increase your online presence should be the #1 priority for all SMBs right now!

#3 Include Your Business in Popular Industry Specific Directories.
Establishing your presence in industry specific directories now will pay off in the future. As more mobile search apps are created, they will surely get more and more specific. Already, we are starting to see apps that allow users to find a great local restaurant or highly rated locksmiths. It is a good bet that in the near future there will be an app that targets just about every service based industry. The best places for these apps to find information to display as search results is by accessing industry specific databases online.

It is understandable that trying to keep up with all of the rapid changes in local advertising can be frustrating. The truth is that there is no end in sight, however. Technology is evolving faster than the average business can adapt to keep up with it. It is important to get your priorities in order and make the commitment to establish your online presence first. Then the rest gets easier. It pays to be a leader in your industry when it comes to your online advertising. Instant gratification is a rarity in online marketing, yet those who wait to try to see what works for their competition are already a year or two behind. By the time they have made a commitment to catch up, something new has already come along. This is why it is smart to hire a company like Local Splash to take that load off your shoulders when it comes to online marketing.

We prepare our customers for the perpetual evolution of local online marketing, including mobile search, and we position them to make a smooth transition into the future!

[1] Arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2010/03/
[2] ComScore.com

Over the years, online marketing has evolved and now offers many options for generating publicity for local businesses. The online image or “reputation” of a business is increasingly influenced by real customers via online reviews and ratings. This transition from promoting your own business to having others promote for you can generate a positive online reputation for your business if you manage it correctly. Today, potential customers will often make their final purchase decisions based on business reviews, as it reflects a better idea of what to expect. With this development, consider three ways in which business reviews can benefit your online marketing strategy. It is important to keep these concepts in mind when using the Internet as an advertising channel.

#1 – Business Reviews are Publicly Listed in Search Results

When strong competition is prevalent, your business should stand out as much as possible. Due to Internet search advancements, your business can now be seen directly linked to your ratings and reviews in search listings. Websites such as Yelp, Rate it All, and CitySearch display star ratings and comments provided by the public about your business. Other online directories, such as Superpages and MerchantCircle, also list your profile information and reviews on their site; allowing anyone to view the comments. Both positive and negative reviews are publicly viewed.

#2 – Business Reviews Improve Online Exposure

Reviews increase exposure and awareness for your business. For instance, a search on Google for Belmont Pets & LaunderPet, Long Beach, CA shows a Yelp listing as the third highest search result, with 42 reviews and a 4 ½ star rating for this business.

To the viewer, this business may seem very appealing. This business listing is more likely to be featured in search results and have improved visibility on search results due to the high activity of reviews and ratings. As more and more people click to the business and read the reviews, the business gains online popularity.

Google and other search engines monitor every search (impression) and click-through rate (CTR). As a result, these search engines interpret the results and provide the rankings for each business available. A lower CTR decreases your business ranking relative to other businesses, while a high CTR improves the chances of being listed near the top of the search results. The higher your search ranking, the more customers will find your business online.

#3 – Encouraging Business Reviews from Customers Will Increase Business

With business reviews, you have the opportunity to further promote your business and increase the amount of links to your website or online profile. Customers who post positive reviews will help develop your customer base. On the other hand, having too many negative reviews can have the opposite effect. Therefore, encouraging customers with positive experiences to post reviews is beneficial to your business.

It is easy to generate business reviews. The simplest way is to staple a business review card to every receipt that is handed out. Visit www.GetBusinessReviews.com, for useful information and free postcards provided by Local Splash. The site includes popular business review websites and free, downloadable business review postcards. On the card, customers will receive instructions to post comments and rate their experiences on specific business review sites. As an extra incentive, you can provide customers with a discount or reward for taking time to write a review. The extra incentive can make a big difference in getting more reviews and growing your business!

Tags will now also appear on mobile searches and a new Tag type, called Posts, will be available. A Post allows a business owner to create a custom message that can be changed as often as owner would like. This new feature could be used to highlight special discounts or a limited-time offer and seems likely to be popular. It would be more useful if it were allowed to also link back to a web page but maybe now coupons will finally get the exposure they deserve.

At a flat rate of $25/mo per business, Google Maps will have a simple to use paid product in place. Google has noted that 2 million businesses have claimed their listings. If there is even only a 10% adoption rate, it will mean income of $60 million/year for Google. I would guess that the uptake will be higher than that and once one 7-Pack entrant adds a Tag, there will be a certain pressure, logic notwithstanding, for others in the 7-pack to do so as well.

Thanks to Mike Blumenthal for this Blog.   http://blumenthals.com/blog/2010/06/10/google-begins-nationwide-rollout-of-tags-and-adds-new-features/comment-page-1/#comment-495239

Below is the reply by a Google Maps team member:

Hi Dave,

Your Google Maps problem report has been reviewed, and you were right! We’ll update the map soon and email you when you can see the change.

Report history
Problem ID: 2882-085A-2530-5884

Your report: 25-1539 E Main St, El Cajon, CA 92021 is not an address. The prefix “25-” is not needed.

–
Thanks for your help,
The Google Maps team

I am in the process of studying and discovering what made Google reject my current listings.  I will update this blog when I find out.  I also noticed that Google changed their dashboard look to include an alert section.

Sourced by Jorge Silva, QA Engineer, RelevantAds – LocalSplash.

Google added the ability for businesses to supply custom links to their Google Places business profile page. Here is an example with the feature in yellow highlight.

Google Maps Places Links

This can be set by supplying attribute in Google Places; the hyperlink text is defined as the attribute name and the reference is set by the attribute value.

Google Maps Places Links

Since “Google Local Business Center” is now renamed to Google Places, we figured a good name for this feature is Google PlaceLinks. The hyperlink is natural, meaning it is does not indicate no-follow, and opens into a new browser window; though we aren’t really expecting to see a PageRank benefit. More likely, we may hope to find a fast track to getting the URL to appear as an additional web reference citation, a local SEO benefit. Though that doesn’t seem to necessarily occur for URLs supplied as the business website.

We are going to start using PlaceLinks to promote specials or coupons and further highlight some of the permalinks on 3rd party destinations; such as Yelp, Facebook and Twitter.