Deconstructing Pigeon Panel: HIGHLIGHTS from SMX East #smx

[Linda Buquet]

I'm covering all the Local Search news I can find coming out of SMX in New York.

The Pigeon Panel is on and I'm just starting to pick up the news.

CHECK BACK AS I WILL BE ADDING MORE SOON

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Big winners post-Pigeon according to experts: domain authority, proximity to searcher, inbound links. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517369960012996609">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Fake address + exact match domain + Yext power listing = wayyyyy too much Pigeon spam. <a href="https://twitter.com/localseoguide">@localseoguide</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517374053188108289">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Spammers are winning right now. <a href="https://twitter.com/davidmihm">@davidmihm</a> calls it "Pigeon poo" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517371088578560000">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/davidmihm">@davidmihm</a>'s take: Pigeon is an amplification of Hummingbird. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517370350552625152">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>From <a href="https://twitter.com/davidmihm">@davidmihm</a> Gains for packs, one boxes came from branded terms. Loss of Map packs in real estate (and law) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Mike Ramsey (@MikeRamsey) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeRamsey/status/517368826758172672">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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More in just a few minutes including at least one set of Pigeon Presentation slides...

 

[Linda Buquet]

More great stuff!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>RT <a href="https://twitter.com/susant179">@susant179</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pigeonupdate?src=hash">#pigeonupdate</a> with Moz, Google using keywords and brand signals in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yelpreviews?src=hash">#yelpreviews</a> to help influence rankings!</p>— Seth Goldstein (@sethgoldstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/sethgoldstein/status/517377141521285120">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Don't underestimate how powerful on-page optimization is for local and local-organic results. <a href="https://twitter.com/phixed">@phixed</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517377084256432131">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>If you have no external links Pigeon hit you really hard. New biz? Get some links right away. <a href="https://twitter.com/phixed">@phixed</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517376631091257344">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Distance from city center is more important in suburban areas bc of the narrowing of the local search radius <a href="https://twitter.com/phixed">@phixed</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517376232510742528">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Businesses in small locations were most affected by Pigeon: more single-packs, fewer 7-packs. <a href="https://twitter.com/phixed">@phixed</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517376025890914304">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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More soon including the slide deck I promised.

 

[Linda Buquet]

<a href="http://www.slideshare.net/simpartners/adam-dorfman-pigeon-presentation-smx-east-2014">Deconstructing Pigeon, Google?s New Local Search Algorithm - SMX East?</a>

Taking a sample set of 5,000 location pages, we dove deep into our data set to determine what factors actually mattered in Google's Pigeon algorithm update that occurred in June of 2014. Business data, offsite metrics like linkbuilding and onpage factors were all looked at.

<iframe src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/39717409" width="427" height="356" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" style="border:1px solid #CCC; border-width:1px; margin-bottom:5px; max-width: 100%;" allowfullscreen> </iframe> <div style="margin-bottom:5px"> <strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/simpartners/adam-dorfman-pigeon-presentation-smx-east-2014" title="Deconstructing Pigeon, Google?s New Local Search Algorithm - SMX East 2014 - Adam Dorfman" target="_blank">Deconstructing Pigeon, Google?s New Local Search Algorithm - SMX East 2014
Adam Dorfman</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/simpartners" target="_blank">SIM Partners</a></strong> </div>​

 

[Linda Buquet]

OK so this one stands alone.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Local search results are worse since Pigeon hit - agrees all the panelists. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smxeast?src=hash">#smxeast</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/23c?src=hash">#23c</a></p>— Jennifer Slegg (@jenstar) <a href="https://twitter.com/jenstar/status/517379038961500161">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Google are you listening???

More coming...

 

[Linda Buquet]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>RT <a href="https://twitter.com/susant179">@susant179</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pigeonupdate?src=hash">#pigeonupdate</a> with Moz, Google using keywords and brand signals in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yelpreviews?src=hash">#yelpreviews</a> to help influence rankings!</p>— Seth Goldstein (@sethgoldstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/sethgoldstein/status/517377141521285120">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Don't underestimate how powerful on-page optimization is for local and local-organic results. <a href="https://twitter.com/phixed">@phixed</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517377084256432131">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Focus on the directories that rank for the keywords you want to rank for - get listings there. <a href="https://twitter.com/davidmihm">@davidmihm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517381390229594113">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>If you have unique, regularly-updated service area pages those can do Testimonials are a good source of that content. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smx?src=hash">#smx</a></p>— Ruth Burr Reedy (@ruthburr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruthburr/status/517380037788852224">October 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Linda Buquet]

And here is Barry's list of all the coverage and live blogs from yesterday's event.
Yesterday I don't think there was a local track so it was more general SEO.

<a href="http://searchengineland.com/smx-east-2014-day-one-live-blog-coverage-204639">SMX East 2014 Day One Live Blog Coverage</a>

 

[Linda Buquet]

Next up at 3:30 EST - The Grand daddy of Local sessions.

My spidey senses tell me a big announcement will be made.

Let’s Talk Local Search: Super Therapy Session For Advanced Local Marketers

Local search is like a problem child. One day all’s well. The next you’re facing a new crisis that threatens to complicate your relationship with clients or management. Need to talk? Join our panel of all-star local search pros for this group therapy session. No PowerPoints or couches. Just the smartest local search experts ready to share advanced strategies and tactics that are working today.

Moderator: Matt McGee, Editor In Chief, Search Engine Land & Marketing Land (@mattmcgee)

Q&A Coordinator: Dennis Hart, President, Analytics SEO (@click2dennis)

Speakers:

Mary Bowling, SEO, IgnitorDigital.com (@MaryBowling) (Q&A Speaker)
Mike Ramsey, President, Nifty Marketing (@niftymarketing) (Q&A Speaker)
Phil Rozek, Owner, Local Visibility System, LLC (@philrozek)
Will Scott, President, Search Influence (@w2scott) (Q&A Speaker)

This session also kicks off with a Solution Spotlight by Yext who is a sponsor here at our forum.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Andrew Shotland's preso. Sure to be a treat!

<a href="https://www.slideshare.net/andrewsho/dont-let-the-pigeon-drive-you-crazy-smx-east-10114" title="Don't let the pigeon drive you crazy! smx east 10.1.14" target="_blank">Don't let the pigeon drive you crazy!</a>

<iframe src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/39758412" width="427" height="356" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" style="border:1px solid #CCC; border-width:1px; margin-bottom:5px; max-width: 100%;" allowfullscreen> </iframe> <div style="margin-bottom:5px"> <strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/andrewsho/dont-let-the-pigeon-drive-you-crazy-smx-east-10114" title="Don't let the pigeon drive you crazy! smx east 10.1.14" target="_blank">Don't let the pigeon drive you crazy! smx east 10.1.14</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/andrewsho" target="_blank">Andrew Shotland</a></strong> </div>​

I have not watched yet - am covering the Local Search therapy session right now.

Check out all the gold nuggets coming up here:
<a href="http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/local-search/23262-local-search-super-therapy-session-advanced-local.html">Local Search: Super Therapy Session For Advanced Local Marketers</a>

 

[Amber Robinson]

Thanks so much for sharing all those highlights. Twitter is hard for me to sort through so I really appreciate you adding those tweets in the thread as well.

 

[Linda Buquet]

You are very welcome Amber!

Hey Guys - this is a live blog about the same session but it's so jam packed with info had to do a new post.

<a href="http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-local/23330-sneak-peek-local-search-ranking-factors-2014-a.html">Sneak Peek at Local Search Ranking Factors 2014 from Deconstructing Pigeon #SMX</a>

 

[Laustin1878]

Just curious with regards to inbound links... Are they talking local links such as citations or conventional back links say from local directories or other authoritative sites?