Finally, Google has launched the ultimate application in South Africa which allows you to not only navigate your way to a “final destination” but to get an idea of what the destination looks like.

Just in time for the Soccer World Cup as promised!

If you have heard of Google’s new “Social Search” and you are wondering what it is all about, you would do well to read the post on Search Engine Land by Danny Sullivan.

There is no doubt in my mind of the potential this holds for Local Search and Business, Google is really “bringing it all together”

Information used to be scarce, now the most valuable commodity is our time and our attention. Online marketers are prepared to bribe you to take a second look at their offering with the promise of a “give away” or a free gift.

Google is doing everything they can to sort through the vast amount of “useless” regurgitated information to deliver the information that is most relevant  to your search, what better way than to include links from your trusted friends or Social Network!

Here is the article

Oct 26, 2009 at 3:38pm ET by Danny Sullivan

I attended the Cape Town Google Maps Developer Codelab last week, presented by Jarda Bengi, Google Maps product manager for Europe & Africa.

Jarda announced that Google is currently mapping our major cities and surrounding suburbs. They hope to launch Google Street View in time for the Soccer World Cup which is being hosted by South Africa in 2010

South Africa is being given preference by Google ahead of some other countries due to the major World sporting event being hosted here.

Local business will benefit as consumers start to make use of Google Maps, Google Mobile and Local Search. Again it is important to claim and edit your local business listing in the Google Local Business Center!

by Don Campbell www.expand2web.com on October 26, 2009

According to a new study by TMP and Comscore, almost 40% of people who conducted an Internet search for a local business ended up visiting the store in person.

via eMarketer

The most likely action they take after getting the search result is to call on the phone, followed by getting a map and directions.

Some other interesting data points:

• 5% more people are conducting these types of local searches this year over last year.
• For most business categories, local searchers used general search engines (like Google Maps or Yahoo Local) rather than more specialized local search sites or online yellow pages.
• Searchers were significantly more likely to access mobile content in 2009 compared with the prior year, up 40% due to more sophisticated mobile devices like the iPhone, Android and Blackberry.
• Make sure you are listed in the local directories for Google, Yahoo and Bing at the very least
• You’d better have a website with a clear call to action on the home page
• Your website had better be optimized for local search results in Google, Yahoo and Bing
• Your website should look good on a mobile device

Here is part an interesting post on Googles Face book Page:

An improved interface for local information in web search We changed our interface for local business information when it occurs in search results. It’s now much more readable (larger fonts) and friendlier to use (easier to click on just what you want). Example search: [pizza palo alto] Here are before and after shots for the search.

Click on either image for a larger version  Facebook | Google: This week in search 10/9/09.

Place Pages Raise SEO, Reputation and Click Concerns

Google has people riled up with its latest local search effort Google Place Pages. Place Pages are a Google Maps feature launched last week, which serve the purpose of providing everything you want to know about a place (a city or a business) in one spot. For example, if you search for a specific restaurant, you should get web pages, directions, reviews, images, street view imagery, business hours, etc. Google lets businesses submit specific categories they want to include.

There is concern from some that Google is trying to eliminate the need for users to leave Google and even visit a small business’ web site. WebProNews reader Doug Stewart, who wonders if this is an “assault against the small business website,” commented, “Google wants people to spend more time on Google. Yahoo wants people to spend more time on Yahoo. Facebook wants people to spend more time on Facebook. Several of these large online “media” [companies] are doing everything in their power to keep the eyeballs on their website

Will Google Eliminate the Need for Small Business Websites? | WebProNews.

Sep 24, 2009 at 4:08pm ET by Greg Sterling

This is an Article by Chris Silver Smith writing for Search Engine Land its titled…

Brave new world for yellow pages, Google nabs marketshare -strangles local directories

Earlier, this Spring, a number of local search marketers noticed that Google began displaying their 10-pack of local business listings based on searchers’ geolocation when search queries didn’t include a local search term. Matt McGee suggested that this would likely alter user behavior and reduce referral traffic to online directories. Stats show it may have happened. Read on about this “Brave New World” faced by internet yellow pages.

If you ever doubted that Local Search Marketing was hurting the Yellow Pages then this article from Noseweek is for you!

This should add further impetus to my warning that you must claim your Google Local Business Listing before someone else does!

Local online ad marketing agency Entelligence is to take its battle with international behemoth Google to another level. It has filed an appeal to the Competition Tribunal against last year’s Competition Commission ruling which rejected Entelligence’s charge that Google is abusing its dominance of the South African market.

The Competition Commission did concede that Google was trying to steal one of Entelligence’s major clients, Yellow Pages, but said this did not amount to anti-competitive behaviour. A curious twist to the tale: Yellow Pages wasn’t interested in doing business directly with Google.

Google was in no mood to listen: later, in a conversation with Entelligence CEO Sean Riley, Masie said: “I do not respect this agreement” and “Google intends servicing this customer directly”.

You just gotta love them, read more from Noseweek