Google’s New Local Results: How We’re Adapting to New Google Local Changes

Google’s New Local Results

October 29, 2010

In the past few days, Google has started to roll out a new format for local search results. You may have been used to seeing local results like this:

This nationwide update (also known as “Place Search”) is dramatically changing the way customers view your online business results and competitor results as well. The new Google results are integrated to combine both organic and local rankings with Google’s goal to make finding businesses easier. Take a look at the new layout:

Originally, Google’s local search results displayed a number of local search listings directly next to a Google map of the area related. This pushed down organic search results that would normally have appeared on the page. This new Google update stresses maintaining a strong web presence in all aspects of the web.

They’ve removed most of the non-Google map results from the first page and

it’s now more important than ever to have a Google Places listing and properly set up and optimized profile.

Business owners have the opportunity to get a Google Places Tag for small fee a month ($25) and we are recommending all clients purchase this to enhance your listing in the search results.

Google Places Tags: Local customers already search Google for the products and services you offer. By creating a free business listing with Google Places, you can help them find your business more easily. Adding a tag to your Google Places listing allows you to highlight info that you want your customers to see.

Tags do not affect search result rankings; they simply add more information to a Google Places listing when it appears in search results.

Google Local Changes: When You Do a Local Search, You’ll Now See These Differences

First and foremost, the Google map is no longer near your search results—it’s located to the right and travels down the page as you scroll down search results.
Each result description is followed by a phone number for easy access to the business.
An image has been added to search results.
When a user clicks to the next page at the bottom of the results, they’re taken to organic results. Organic results no longer appear on the first page.
There can be up to 40 results on the first page—making page #1 even more valuable – and less likely users will go to the 2^nd page of results.
The way to see more than one page of Google Places results is to click the new “Places for …” above the results or to click “More results near” the bottom of the listed local results.
New results show average reviews, along with a link to the business’s Google Places Page.

What does this mean for your business?

If you depend on local customers, this change to Google local will certainly effect you.

With ratings showing up so exposed to searchers, your reputation is more important than ever. Boomtown plans on working with our customers to initiate customer outreach, requesting reviews and feedback. We’ll also be monitoring profiles regularly and following up with any issues that arise. Our goal is to improve our customer’s online reputations or enhance already positive reputations.

We think that the business description showing up in local search results is being pulled from your meta tag description on the “associated business” page. We’ll review this tag and make sure it’s properly optimized to drive traffic. This tag actually has no weight in determining website ranking, so it can be optimized with click-through rate in mind. We will strategically do this for your searchers.

We’ll provide an image for your local result—images play a very big role in determining whether or not a searcher will click on you, and they create an impression for your location. We’ll ensure all images are recent and attractive to drive clicks.

We’re altering our link strategy to include local search rankings. (Links from relevant sites that demonstrate locality have a very positive affect on local search rankings). We’ll submit your site to relevant and local-focused websites and directories as well.

The most important take away from this change is that Google Places is becoming more comprehensive and local search is getting stronger. Your Google Places result isn’t something to be ignored. Boomtown can help you get your listing in order. There is a lot more to learn about this update, but we look forward to working with our clients websites to preserve strong rankings.