Paid Links, Google PageRank and Google Penalty

From, http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66736

Buying or selling links that pass PageRank is in violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines and can negatively impact a site's ranking in search results.

@mattcutts also posted on “Why did our PageRank go down?”

Here's a video on "How can I identify causes of a PageRank drop?"

Breakfast with Google's Search Team

Google Updates Panda

Google tweets about Panda update

Panda data refresh this past Monday. ~1% of queries noticeably affected. More context: goo.gl/wQRZ0
— A Googler (@google) August 22, 2012

Index status in Google Webmaster Tools

Index Status is a new feature in Google Webmaster Tools.

More,
Index status, https://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2642366

Google Basics, https://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=70897

Verified Business Owner for Your Google+ Page

From the post, Jade Wang, Community Manager for Google+ Local,
http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/business/technical-issue/cLdShAg9xYs 

Hey guys,

For those of you that have created local Google+ pages (with social features) -- good news! Today, you can become the verified business owner for that local Google+ page.

In essence, this will combine the page you created in Google+ with the page in Google+ Local (formerly Places listing). Your business’ presence across Google Search, Google Maps, and Google+ will be unified. You’ll be able to manage this page from Google+ Pages admin. Check out the Meatball Shop for an example of a combined page, with both social features and reviews.

If you’re ready, just click on Verify now on the right side of the page. You’ll need to verify that you’re representing your business by having a postcard sent, even if you’re a verified business owner on Google Places for Business. Also note that verification will only work for pages created in the "Local Business or Place" category in Google+.

The new upgraded pages aren’t yet available for those that just have local Google+ pages with reviews. We’re working on getting the upgraded experience to all business owners. If you’re curious, go ahead and create a Google+ page in the local category. 

Got questions? Reply here -- I’ll update this post with answers.

Thanks,

Jade 

Also,
A helpful post, Step by Step Guide to the Google+ Business/Local Merge Verification Process

Google Map Maker Is Now Available in Australia

From http://support.google.com/mapmaker/bin/static.py?hl=en&page=guide.cs&guide=30028&topic=1094318&answer=157176

Google Map Maker allows you to add and update geographic information for millions of users to see in Google Maps and Google Earth. By sharing information about the places you know, like businesses in your town or places in your school campus, you can ensure the map accurately reflects the world around you. Your updates will be reviewed and once approved, will appear online for people from all over the world to see.

More from http://google-au.blogspot.com/2012/08/calling-all-aussie-mappers-google-map.html