June 16, 2011 by Mary Killelea

Even though it’s been awhile I think it’s good to cover this again.. Google informed merchants using the service was shut down on April 29. Tags was an experiment which led to a similar local advertising product called Boost which appears do be doing much better, judging by how much it is now appearing in search results.

Boost ads are all of those blue-colored pushpins on Google Maps and in paid search results. Rather than linking to a website, an offer, or a menu, Boost highlights some listings information from Google Places such as an address or phone number. Boost is a “set it and forget it” service targets local businesses that have stopped using AdWords due to its relative complexity and the time required to manage ad campaigns, essentially re-creating a subscription-based model. A business just has to add Boost to their listing in Google Places, set up a monthly budget, and select relevant categories. Boost does the rest, advertising on Google and Google Maps. (You may have seen the blue pin at the top of a Google Map search? That’s a Boost ad.)

As of today’s post I have not experimented with YEXT tags yet but plan to soon so it’s a uncharted territory for me and up to you. For local businesses that like tags, they can still buy them across a dozen competing non-Google sites through Yext Tags.  A tag and customized message can be added to any local business listing on sites like Citysearch, Local.com, and SuperPages, Incidentally, Yext is planning on changing the name of this product to PowerListings.

Local Search is very hard to control but this is one thing you can do .. remember it is super important that your business listing (address and contact inf) be consistent when ever put out there on the web.