| Feature | Citysearch | Google Places | Yelp | Yellow Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Listing | ||||
| Login | go directly to login page from 'Merchant MyAccount' link in footer (link also found in footer on citygridmedia.com) |
can only access through "Owner-verified listing" link on places page (BPP), takes you directly to login page or if already logged into that account (standard google account, they make no disctinction as other providers do that have specific merchant accounts that are distinct for personal profiles) then you will go directly to the listings/dashboard page alternatively... you can login directly from 'Google Home' to your 'Google Account Settings' then to 'Google Places' (see Account Info below for entire flow) |
"Go to Yelp for Business Owners" link in header takes you directly to login page or 2 step process from "Business Owners" link in footer |
2 step process starting with "Add or edit this business information" on BPP |
| if logged into site, clicking on merchant link takes you directly to listing page | no, takes you to login page (but site user profile and merchant profile share the same profile data) | yes, all one account | two disctinct accounts, merchant account login does not work on site as personal profile | two disctinct accounts, merchant account login does not work on site as personal profile |
| Navigation | Top tabs
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really doesn't have a navigation, acces to majority of features through the dashbiard detail page Top tabs
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Left side accordian
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this is such a disaster I'm not going to bother trying to describe it, essentially there is none and what does exist goes away when you drill down into the first level. ??? |
| Listings page label | Management > Business Locations | Dashboard (link back from dashboard detail is labeled 'locations') | NA | My Account > Listing Manager |
| default landing page | login takes you to the dashboard, not the listings page | login takes you to listing page that has a dashboard summary - nice composite view (shares a tab labeled 'Dashboard' with dashboard detail page) | default view has the top listing open to dashboard view | There are essentially two listing pages, the main 'My Acccount' page includes a few other functions like acount information, the 'Listing Manager' page has additional listing details |
| Dashboard label | Home | Dashboard (tab shared for both listing/dashboard overview page and dashboard detail page) | Recent Activity | X |
| dashboard | just a teaser - rather confusing because it shows a lot of stuff and allow user to interact but doesn't actually do anything | this is pretty much the root of the entire application from which you get to everything else (links throughout the page, mostly right rail)
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X |
| Biz profile label | Management > Business Locations > Profile | edit link on listing page and dashboard detail page 'Your business info' | Your Businesses > Business Information | Listing Details > More Info (this is the edit 'more info' link) |
| biz profile | every component edited on a separate page, but no way back to Profile page - only a 'Return to Business Summary' link which takes you back to listings page - labeled 'Business Locations' | everything visible on a single scrollable page - all editing is inline | every comxonent on a separate page, but easily accessed through left nav | main page is a high level summary of location and phone, categories, listing type, more info, each having their own edit screen - no common nav, the only way to return to listing summary is the back button - similarly the only way to return to the main account listing page in an inline 'return' button at bottom of page |
| basic biz information | labeled 'Listing Information' | labeled 'Basic Information' | labeled 'Basic Business Information' | labeled 'Your Business' |
| business description | labeled 'Business Message' | labeled 'Business Description' | labeled 'Specialties' | labeled 'General Information' |
| additional details | X |
|
(secondary pages from 'Business Info' page) |
|
| offers | one offer for CYB customers, unlimited for paying merchants | offers integrated with mobile experience | saves all previous offers for reference | X |
| check-in offers | X | No, but integrated with mobile experience | Yes | X |
| website badges | X | X | Yes | X |
| special postings | labeled 'events' | labeled 'posts' | labeled 'announcements' | X |
| tags | X | tags display on google maps rollover - $25 per month, first month free | X | X |
| QR code | X | Yes | X | X |
| respond to reviews | X | labeled 'Messaging | X | |
| social media | Facebook |
X | X | Facebook (has url test link inline) |
| photos | Yes | Yes | Yes | X |
| owners photo | can edit this in citysearch account, but no access in MyAccount | X | Yes | X |
| videos | allows links of up to 5 YouTube videos | X | X | |
| hours | X | hours comp | hours comp | hours comp |
| payment methods | X | payment comp | X | payment comp |
| languages spoken | X | X | X | Yes |
| price range | X | X | X | Yes |
| year established | X | X | Yes | Yes |
| owner can edit categories? | No | Yes | Yes, but on BPP because public can edit categories | Yes |
| Account info label | Admin
|
'My Account' -> 'Dashboard' -> 'Edit Personal Information' |
Account Information
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Account Information Notification Preferences |
| account information | basic contact information and password reset on single page display only, need to cloick to get to edit mode | 'Settings' is the only link inside the Google Places app and it only has settings for email preferences. To get to the actual account settings you need to go back out to 'Google Home' and sign in again and follow the flow: 'Google Home' -> 'Google Account Settings' (also referred to as 'My Account' and 'Google Account' ) -> 'Dashboard' -> 'Edit Personal Information' directly to edit mode after several screens, but fields are blank -- you don't know what you are editing |
does not allow for separate contact phone and address from business has drop doown field for position (Owner, Manager, Employee, Customer Service) can upload owner photo really annoying to have to go back and forth between sections, why not just have 1 screen for editing? |
each a seperate screen from main 'My Account' |
| email notifications |
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| Tips/Tutorials | Help
main nav item |
"Improve your listing" Links found on dashboard details page right rail (takes you to specific locations in google help docs) |
"Business Owners Guide"
main nav item on left accordian (links provided here go to public facing 'Business Owner's Guide', there is a slightly different version on business owners page) |
Need Help? Call 1-800-479-2977 |
| add another listing | ||||
| Self Enroll | ||||
| Upgrade link | 'Upgrade Today' button posted through out the application where features are turned off for CYB customers: Dashboard, Events, Reviews, Business Message, Offers, Reports, Notifications |
link at bottom of page for:
or can also access through your general account page (same flow as above)
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In the main nav 'Yelp Ads', also a link on the 'Recent Activity' dashboard: 'Grow your business. Advertise on Yelp' |
'Advertise with Us' link in header and footer on yellowpages.com takes you to 'Advertising Solutions' page or there is a link in the footer for 'Small Business Advertising' that contains video testimonials for all of their products across media and a general advertising video intro |
| self enroll | Self Enroll Flow | Adwords | Do it Yourself | Only available for 'Internet Listing' products, all other products require a sales rep. This flow is currently broken. Have a call into customer service to see what's involved to get set up. |
| customer service | live chat, email and phone available | extensive online documentation (each app has its own)
|
no direct contact available, must fill out general contact us form that doesn't even have and option to advertising. ?? | 'Contact Us' link in header and button on top left of 'Advertising Solutions' page, provides phone numer and email according to zip code telephone and email contact information, zip code is required - separate contact for sales, customer service, national advertisers |
| pay per click rate | $1.65 | $4.94 default $2.14 average |
$3.50 | |
| minimum budget | $300/month plus $19.95 listing fee | no minimum, cost per click auction, can set max bid and max budget per day | budget is determined by how many clicks a day you are willing to pay for, runs for length of your special offer or until you cancel it | $86/month - $270/month for self enroll 'Internet Listing' products only |
| what you get |
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see paid products below. Although having an understanding of the entire Google lanscape would be useful, I think it makes the most sense to focus on Adwords as a 1 to 1 comparison to MyAccount as a starting point. |
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Internet Listings |
| additional products available | AdWords Adsense Analytics Google Places Merchant Center Google Base Webmaster Tools Website Optimizer Ad Planner Double Click Display Network |
X |
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