Google wants to be a local search engine for local people with local business and local clients…and why wouldn’t they when “more than 20% of searches on Google are related to local”. So many people searching are looking for something in their local area. Recently they have, thanks to the influence of Marissa Mayer, Google’s former search user experience guru turned local search champion, been testing and seem to finally be making some changes. Changes which will have the SEO community going…oooh that’s interesting…maybe.
Places Search Changes
There is currently a large shift underway with Google’s local search results. The new format is called ‘Place Search’ and has changed the way your local searches display results. Basically you know how when you search for a place you would get the interactive map slap bang in the middle of the screen, well now that is off to the right and moves with you as you scroll, shunting some PPC ads down a bit.
Also, if you find yourself getting too many non-places style results (e.g. Wikipedia) you can now select to just see Places results via the menu on the left.
These new features are not available yet in the UK so if you want to see some screen shots or to read a more in depth review go see Search Engine Land’s nice round up here.
Let Google Boost Your Business
Another aspect of Google’s local search drive is Google Boost. This allows local businesses to easily create a search ad right from their Places account. Again this is not available in the UK yet so you can’t quite check it out or sign up yet. But basically these ads will appear in the ‘sponsored links’ section of the SERPs and will require businesses to provide a description of the business, a website or Places listing, a business category and a monthly budget. Google then takes over and picks your keywords so you start paying when someone clicks your ad.
This system is basically AdWords for Dummies, which should make it much easier for web novices especially to get their business up and running online. Proper AdWords can be a bit daunting for newcomers so this should be a welcomed addition for many small businesses. However, when people become more accustom to the nature of AdWords I would recommend switching to this from Boost. Find out more here.
Google Wants to Take Photos of Your Business
- Click to Enlarge
Finally in this bevy of Google local places boosting session is the news that Google’s Street Cars, in a direct response to the abuse they have suffered from all corners of the earth for breaching privacy, have started driving into buildings. A rumour from a few months back has now come to fruition as it is announced on Lat Long Blog that Google will now be answering requests from businesses to attend their premises and take high quality images to use on their Places listing. These images will help sell your business and make Google’s search results look extra pretty at the same time.
Do you have a small business? Will you be signing up for any of this when it comes to the UK? Why would you not?
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