Thanks to Clint from ThinkSEM for pointing this out to me - Google is showing (at least today) up to ten local listings within their natural results. I'll use the standard "pizza" local search query, but this applies across many industries.
It should be noted that I'm not affiliated with them at all other than liking their pizza and annual summer block party, but there's a reason that Pizza Luce is circled. Here they are again in the sponsored listings (same page):
And in the natural results - once for their own site and once by piggy-backing off their CitySearch listing (same page):
They're certainly doing something right as all of this is on one Google page. They own a lot of real estate. I don't know if Google is testing the above "ten local" results in the natural listings or making it permanent, but it's certainly a good enough reason and opportunity for local businesses to get listed at the Google Local Business Center.
This kills businesses like mine (a local business directory of sorts). Ultimately, my content will be better than Google's (because I'm on the ground building relationships), but if they control search results presentation (read: manipulate), then I'll lose--or I'll fight harder to do off-line marketing.
Could this be a possible outcome from Google Local Symposium?
While I noticed similar results earlier today, others whom I asked to test it from different cities got the standard A, B, C...not the A-J results.
A definite victory for local business if this Google Maps/Local presentation continues. Don't you think?
BringBuyers.com
Local Business Search Marketing
That is a ton of real estate. Looks like they really know what they're doing (assuming their ppc bidding is low enough to support their prices / the lifetime crv for folks that had not previously tried them).
Thanks for sharing, Paul. I've seen up to 5 local listings included before, but I don't think ever that many.
Chris, one thing that came to me... while doing the screenshot, I narrowed the window to accommodate image specs, so the local results on a full screen would take up much less space than the image shown above.
There's still plenty of room for the natural results. ;)
Mmmmm, pizza. I love pizza, oh yeah you were talking about local results. Works for me, having that more than just a few results at the top with local numbers. What's with Leaning Tower of Pizza? url shows maps.google.com, no website of their own?
Good question David. From what I can tell they don't have a site.
That's one thing that has been fluctuating too. Sometimes they'll show the maps.google.com link even if a company has a site, sometimes they'll have a link to the site. I guessing they're experimenting around.
Our business has taken a nose dive since Google Local kicked it up to 10 listings that come before our's in the Chicago market. Our company covers all of the Chicagoland area, but our main office is located in a suburb. After years of link building and payments to an SEO specialist, we just dropped ten slots.
This is a win win win relationship for the consumer, local business owner, as well as for Google.
CONSUMER - The integrated map allows the consumer to pick a pizza restaurant that will service their location, therefore saving clicks & browsing time.
This applies to many local industries such as lawn service, pool service, transmision repair, all restaurants, etc.
LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER - The local business owner is more likely to convert a lead into a sale increasing ROI.
As a local advertiser, the thought of "paying per click" to drive clients to your site who will never hire you because of your location is the same as "throwing money out the window".
GOOGLE - Displaying the Map and Bold Face Listings in the search results really drives the popularity of this marketing stream.
Local business owners are now more likely to set up an account in the Local Business Center for Google Maps in addition to their Adwords account increasing Google's Revenue.
I LIKE IT! WIN WIN WIN!
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Paul Jahn is the owner of Localmn Interactive Marketing, a Minnesota-based Internet marketing company. Localmn focuses on helping local companies large and small leverage the most out of their search marketing campaigns depending on their respective needs, including SEO, PPC, local search, and social media campaigns. Paul also runs and contributes to the Localmn local search blog.
In addition to running Localmn, Paul also works with BuyOnlineNow - online office supply superstore along with one of their niche sites focusing on paper shredders, OrderPaperShredders.com. BuyOnlineNow provides close to 30,000 office products across the US from paper shredders, the infamous "Milton" red Swingline staplers to full office furniture solutions. For the increasing demand to serve Canadian customers, BuyOnlineNow.net was also launched in March 2007. With over ten years of Internet marketing experience, Paul has particular expertise in search marketing, with extensive knowledge of local search. |
Sage not only personally invites you to come hear him speak at Search Engine Guide's upcoming Small Business Marketing Unleashed Conference, but he also reviews some of the show's best features. He highlights the top of the industry speakers, the wide array of in-depth topics to be covered and the appropriate, yet really fun conference location.
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