Google "Tags"

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StonehengeBNB

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I was surprised to learn just now that having a "tag" (pointer) on Google maps when "local businesses" show up on their search results costs a flat fee of $25 per month. All we get is a nondescript little circle on the map. I looked for other's opinions on this tagging fee of Google's...but did not find any here on innspiring.com. Anyone have an opinion? Is this Google's way of forcing us to pony up? Does it make a difference in online traffic? etc., etc.
 
I've never paid for the pointer. But anything is possible.
 
I've never paid for the pointer. But anything is possible..
I am not sure what you are referring to. I have never paid for a pointer for me or any of my clients. If you register with Local Business, you show up. Can you tell us what they say the $25 is for??? Or more specifically what it is other than the normal one?
 
I've never paid for the pointer. But anything is possible..
I am not sure what you are referring to. I have never paid for a pointer for me or any of my clients. If you register with Local Business, you show up. Can you tell us what they say the $25 is for??? Or more specifically what it is other than the normal one?
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I think the 'tags' are additional pointers that show up on YOUR specific link when the local map is pulled up. Look up my town and you will see one. It then puts an additional pointer on the map. And you get an additional highlighted pointer under your inn/biz name.
The 'vanilla' version that every biz gets is still free.
 
I too joined for free. You must be looking at something else.
RIki
 
I too joined for free. You must be looking at something else.
RIki.
This is the ad program they're tryig to push: http://www.google.com/support/places/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=171905&rd=1
When someone searches for Richmond VA Bed & Breakfast, and goes to the map showing the possible results:
http://maps.google.com/maps?expIds=17259,17311,25221,25651,25752,25854,25900,26152,26208,26217,26243,26340&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&cp=17&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=richmond+va+bed+%26+breakfast&fb=1&gl=us&hq=bed+%26+breakfast&hnear=Richmond,+VA&view=text&ei=5D5-TNi8BY36sAOLjMGhCw&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDcQtQMwAA
We show up as a lowly "dot" southwest of downtown Richmond. According to the help site, I have to pay to be tagged with a letter and show up in the listings to the left of the map. :-(
 
I too joined for free. You must be looking at something else.
RIki.
This is the ad program they're tryig to push: http://www.google.com/support/places/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=171905&rd=1
When someone searches for Richmond VA Bed & Breakfast, and goes to the map showing the possible results:
http://maps.google.com/maps?expIds=17259,17311,25221,25651,25752,25854,25900,26152,26208,26217,26243,26340&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&cp=17&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=richmond+va+bed+%26+breakfast&fb=1&gl=us&hq=bed+%26+breakfast&hnear=Richmond,+VA&view=text&ei=5D5-TNi8BY36sAOLjMGhCw&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDcQtQMwAA
We show up as a lowly "dot" southwest of downtown Richmond. According to the help site, I have to pay to be tagged with a letter and show up in the listings to the left of the map. :-(
.
That must be something new or they are pulling this because there are so many in your area?
RIki
 
I too joined for free. You must be looking at something else.
RIki.
This is the ad program they're tryig to push: http://www.google.com/support/places/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=171905&rd=1
When someone searches for Richmond VA Bed & Breakfast, and goes to the map showing the possible results:
http://maps.google.com/maps?expIds=17259,17311,25221,25651,25752,25854,25900,26152,26208,26217,26243,26340&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&cp=17&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=richmond+va+bed+%26+breakfast&fb=1&gl=us&hq=bed+%26+breakfast&hnear=Richmond,+VA&view=text&ei=5D5-TNi8BY36sAOLjMGhCw&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDcQtQMwAA
We show up as a lowly "dot" southwest of downtown Richmond. According to the help site, I have to pay to be tagged with a letter and show up in the listings to the left of the map. :-(
.
In the past (and currently, in most areas) the "dot" (as distinguished from the pointer) indicates either that the listing may be unclaimed (not the case for you) or that you need to re-center the map and/or zoom in to get a pointer (again, not the case here). That said, Google is constantly making changes and testing new approaches in different parts of the world, so this could be (a) a new program, (b) a test, or (c) some type of error.
Tags, on the other hand, are the paid yellow flags that allow you to feature something (photos, your web site, etc.). Different program.
 
I too joined for free. You must be looking at something else.
RIki.
This is the ad program they're tryig to push: http://www.google.com/support/places/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=171905&rd=1
When someone searches for Richmond VA Bed & Breakfast, and goes to the map showing the possible results:
http://maps.google.com/maps?expIds=17259,17311,25221,25651,25752,25854,25900,26152,26208,26217,26243,26340&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&cp=17&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=richmond+va+bed+%26+breakfast&fb=1&gl=us&hq=bed+%26+breakfast&hnear=Richmond,+VA&view=text&ei=5D5-TNi8BY36sAOLjMGhCw&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDcQtQMwAA
We show up as a lowly "dot" southwest of downtown Richmond. According to the help site, I have to pay to be tagged with a letter and show up in the listings to the left of the map. :-(
.
In the past (and currently, in most areas) the "dot" (as distinguished from the pointer) indicates either that the listing may be unclaimed (not the case for you) or that you need to re-center the map and/or zoom in to get a pointer (again, not the case here). That said, Google is constantly making changes and testing new approaches in different parts of the world, so this could be (a) a new program, (b) a test, or (c) some type of error.
Tags, on the other hand, are the paid yellow flags that allow you to feature something (photos, your web site, etc.). Different program.
.
I think that the dot as opposed to the pointer will give you the level of popularity/importance of a special search. If you google me ( and free free to do so) bed and breakfast Amherstburg I am a pointer about 5 down. But if you google accommodations amherstburg, McKinnon's Lakeside Bed and Breakfast is a dot. Just an observation.
BBBob
 
I too joined for free. You must be looking at something else.
RIki.
This is the ad program they're tryig to push: http://www.google.com/support/places/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=171905&rd=1
When someone searches for Richmond VA Bed & Breakfast, and goes to the map showing the possible results:
http://maps.google.com/maps?expIds=17259,17311,25221,25651,25752,25854,25900,26152,26208,26217,26243,26340&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&cp=17&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=richmond+va+bed+%26+breakfast&fb=1&gl=us&hq=bed+%26+breakfast&hnear=Richmond,+VA&view=text&ei=5D5-TNi8BY36sAOLjMGhCw&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDcQtQMwAA
We show up as a lowly "dot" southwest of downtown Richmond. According to the help site, I have to pay to be tagged with a letter and show up in the listings to the left of the map. :-(
.
StonehengeBNB said:
We show up as a lowly "dot" southwest of downtown Richmond. According to the help site, I have to pay to be tagged with a letter and show up in the listings to the left of the map. :-(
OK, here's what I found by doing the same search on my town...yes, there are B&B's that only show as a dot and not as a lettered pointer. The ones that show up like that are because they are not in the top 7 B&B's for the town. However, if you click over to 'page 2' on the map, those places show up with the dot AND a lettered pointer. And then MY place shows up as a dot.
It's possibly because your place is too new. And there are so many other places. But, if $25 is all it takes to get in the top 7 and have your lettered marker, pay it.
 
Google also collects reviews, if you don't have reviews from diff sources that might impact your "eligibility."
 
Read the last line of Scott's post. Google tags are about getting a link to your website to show up in the "Places" (maps/local/business) listings. It has no effect on your marker on the map nor does it have an effect on your placement within the places results. Just adds another color with a bit of an icon to get a link to your website for $25 per month.
 
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