Thomas Ballantyne, Author at Search Engine People https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/author/thomasballantyne Canada's Search and Social Media Authority Sat, 28 Jan 2017 01:55:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/search-engine-people-favicon-2026-66x66.png Thomas Ballantyne, Author at Search Engine People https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/author/thomasballantyne 32 32 Yelp Consumer Alert for Fake Reviews https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/yelp-consumer-alert-for-fake-reviews.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/yelp-consumer-alert-for-fake-reviews.html#comments Tue, 25 Jun 2013 17:25:16 +0000 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/?p=40493 Yelp has rolled out a new review filter in the form of "Consumer Alert: Something's Fishy Here..." This upside-down fishy image is there to "out" companies that Yelp believes are spamming their reviews. The Warning reads as follows: "A number of positive reviews for this business originated from the same IP address, which may mean [...]

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]]> https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/yelp-consumer-alert-for-fake-reviews.html/feed 8 The Exact Match Domain Update Hardly Hurts https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/emd-update-minor.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/emd-update-minor.html#comments Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:25:52 +0000 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/?p=30761 Yes, you read that correctly. Despite all the fancy charts above and the dips in the exact match signal, Rob Woods is saying that it hasn't had much of an impact. Let's rework those charts.

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]]> https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/emd-update-minor.html/feed 7 Google Plus In Google’s Image Search https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/google-plus-in-googles-image-search.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:25:36 +0000 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/?p=24277 Google announces "Search Plus Your World" informing the masses of their intent to include Google Plus in their universal search results. But have you considered how Google Plus may affect some of Google's vertical searches? The Case of Steve Bitter What you have above is a google image search for "Steve [...]

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]]> Google Places Adds Best Ever Badge and Upload Photos https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/google-places-adds-best-ever-badge-and-upload-photos.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/google-places-adds-best-ever-badge-and-upload-photos.html#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:35:36 +0000 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/?p=18049 The following is a screen shot of Bulwark Exterminating's Google Places in Phoenix, AZ. Recent updates: A- the new call to action button for "Write a Review" (previously just a click on the stars to review) B - Upload a photo C - Best Ever Award What does Upload a Photo mean for local search? [...]

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]]> https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/google-places-adds-best-ever-badge-and-upload-photos.html/feed 8 Google Plus The New Social Hangout https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/google-plus-social-hangout.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:33:50 +0000 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/?p=17392 Video hangouts make Google+ the new player in town

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]]> Google uses Landing Page Optimization https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/google-uses-landing-page-optimization.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/google-uses-landing-page-optimization.html#comments Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:01:58 +0000 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/?p=11479 Google is always testing. They are as much of an internet marketing company as the next website. They are for-profit. So they like to tweak their pages for better optimization... and tweak their pages they do. At this point in the game Google's tweaks are usually very minor and will often go unnoticed by most. So what is Google testing now? How are they increasing their landing page conversions? What's their CRO strategy?

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]]> https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/google-uses-landing-page-optimization.html/feed 2 Building a Community – Recap from BlueGlassFL https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/building-community.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/building-community.html#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:32:28 +0000 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/?p=8737 BlueGlass Panel Session on Online Communities. Moderated by Chris Winfield. Panel consisted of Drew Curtis, CEO at Fark.com, Tamar Weinberg, Author of 'The New Community Rules', and Cameron Olthuis, Director of Audience Development at Clicker.com. Narrated by me, Thos Ballantyne, pest control guy.

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]]> https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/building-community.html/feed 2 Twitter Update: “Also followed by” & “You Both Follow” https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/twitter-update-also-followed-by-you-both-follow.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:03:06 +0000 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/?p=6583 Twitter Update: "Also followed by" & "You Both Follow"

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]]> Why Google Local Listings Merge and How to Unmerge Listings. https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/why-google-local-listings-merge-and-how-to-unmerge-listings.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/why-google-local-listings-merge-and-how-to-unmerge-listings.html#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 10:25:27 +0000 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/?p=6139 Why Google Local Listings Merge and How to Unmerge Google Local Listings - Google maps struggles to compile data and in the process merges listings that perhaps should not be merged. It's your responsibility as a business owner to make sure the information is correct.

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]]> https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/why-google-local-listings-merge-and-how-to-unmerge-listings.html/feed 10 Google Sponsor Tag Dashboard https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/google-sponsor-tag-dashboard.html?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed https://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/google-sponsor-tag-dashboard.html#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 13:10:15 +0000 https://www.searchenginepeople.com/?p=6081 Inside look at the Google Places Dashboard and Sponsored Tags

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