Jason+: A Blog about WordThink

Google+ Local , formerly called Google Local or Google My Business (Who really knows what the official name of Google's local service is?)... launched a service in February called " Google Local Guides ."  Unlike Yelp, Google has never successfully built a community around its local service, and the fact that Google+ is pretty much a flop hasn't help. That said, it looks like a major shake-up is in motion at Google with respect to both Google+ and local. And - today - I actually received some spam from Google asking me to join and be a guide. So they're maybe kinda sortta trying to promote Google+ Local and build it into a viable social media, competitor to Yelp. One can hope. Here's the spam they sent me: The idea is like Yelp Elites to motivate and reward a bunch of do-it-yourself, passionate local reviewers.  Resources on Google Local Guides Google Takes On Yelp Elites With Its New “Local Guides” Program - TechCrunch, February 6, 2015...

I am going to the dark side: blocking ads. I've been in business since 1994 on the Internet, making my first money off of an advertising-supported site, eg3.com. Generally speaking, I recognize that ads support the "free" content on the Internet, and I am decidely NOT against ads. I am Not Against Ads. I am Against Slowness But... we're reaching the tipping point. My Web browsing is getting slower and slower and slower. I was recently at Content Marketing World in Cleveland, and at one of the presentations (on advertising), the jolly presenter talked about ad-serving software, and all the wonderful data it gave advertisers (on me and my habits). I'm not opposed to that: I recognize that "personally non-identifiable" information isn't bad - I'd like to get relevant ads. I don't mind ads. Ads Slow Down Your Browsing What I DO mind is slowness. As I watched the presenter, I realized that it was the ad serving - the remarketing, t...