Once again Google's results are showing up differently. The google local listings are now displaying throughout the traditional search result page with reviews, images, videos. The google map that used to be in the center area at the top is now on the right hand side. When you scroll down looking at results, the map follows you down the page and overlays over top of sponsored listings. Review sites have been receiving tremendous weight in the engines and have also helped local listings rank in the map area. The results are changed once again.
If you haven't claimed your local listing yet or become a Google place, its time to do so. Results are favoring local small businesses. (click here to learn how to add your business on Google Local Maps)
We have noticed a change in how Google is displaying the search results for certain cityname+keyword searches. For those of you who often search for something that includes a location (or a city name) along with a keyword, you might be interested in how Google is changing the search results.
Here is a screen shot of the search results change:
From time to time, Google does experiment with the search results pages at their search engine. The fact that the search results are now featuring the Google Map image on the right side, where we would normally see Google AdWords ads, is a major change for Google. Furthermore, we typically have not seen Google actually “hide” the Google paid ads like they are doing here. The Google Map image actually stays in view and hides the Google AdWords ads when you scroll down the page.
Here is a screen shot of the Ads hidden by the map:
Google now displays your current location on the left side of the search results and you can actually change it, so this is getting more and more interesting.
Results are favoring local small businesses and organic searches instead of the Ads so this is a great change. Get your local listing and promote your business thru Search Engine Optimization to increase your Organic visibility, Google Adwords keeps loosing importance.
