11
Nov

Place Search, Brings Local Search to the Forefront

Have you preformed any Google searches lately? If so, you may have noticed a big difference in the overall appearance of the SERP (search engine results page). Last week, Google rolled out Place Search which Google deems as “a new kind of local search result that organizes the world’s information around places”.

Here are what the new SERP layouts look like when you are searching for local businesses and places:

This all revolves around Google Places (formally known as Google Local). Google Places is a free area on Google where you can list your local business, supply important information about it e.g. phone number, hours of operation, services, and be listed in Google Maps while you’re at it. Did you notice how the Google Places section is now full size, has thumbnail photos, and red pins? They’ve moved the map way over to the right hand side too. How could we ever miss one of those listings?!?

Did I mention that Google Places now totally dominates the first half or more of the page? GP allows a maximum of seven listings on the first page. This makes local search more important than ever before.

With more and more people using their Smartphones to search, Google really had to step up and cater to this important segment of the population. I have written in previous blogs, the importance of mobile marketing/geo-location marketing, it all ties in together and is the future of marketing in general. If you don’t believe me, then believe Google – they’ve just changed the entire layout of their page to appease local search. That’s a very loud statement folks!

What does this mean for you? Well your main goal as a business would be to make sure that not only is your website ranking high in organic search, but that your business is listed in Google Places and is correctly optimized so GP sees it as more important/relevant than the other 50+ local businesses you are competing with.

Your website is optimized..what about your Google Places listing? If you’re not sure or would like one of our Local Search Specialists to take a look at it, you can contact .Com Marketing at 1.866.266.6584.