Local Search – 2010 Winner

Let’s skip the corny, canned jokes and the awkward moments at the podium and just open the envelope, shall we? Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the 2010 SEMMY Award in the Local Search category is … drum-roll, please …

Google Maps’ New Rules – Thoughts on Assumed Names and DBAs
Scott Clark, BuzzMaven | 11/4/09

Congratulations to our winner! Here’s a choice bit from the winning post:

So, does Google consider a DBA “Assumed Name” to be your “full legal name”? It’s going to have to, in my opinion. Google doesn’t want a local Chinese Restaurant such as “Hunan Restaurant” to have to change it’s Google Map Listing to “Wai Chong Enterprises,” for example. So…if you owned a fly-fishing store, but your legal name is “Jones and Associates” Restaurant Assumed Name Localyou would want to head out and file for an “assumed name” such as “Memphis Fly Fishing Supplies, Inc.” – as long as you complete the required filings, you have probably met Google’s new requirements for “full legal name” and can claim your listing.

Runners-Up

The top two runners-up in public voting were:

1. The Local Search Ranking Factors: Ranking High in Google Maps and Yahoo Local
   David Mihm, Mihmorandum | 5/26/09
2. Leveraging Small Business Customer Reviews and Testimonials Online
   Steven Brier, Search Engine Journal | 3/24/09

The winner and runners-up are welcome to grab the appropriate badge — we have a badge for both winners and runners-up.

How the Voting Ended

Here’s a look at how each finalist fared in the public voting:

Thanks to all who voted, and congrats again to the winner, runners-up, finalists, and all nominees. We look forward to reading your acceptance speech soon!