SEO
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LATEST ON THE MOVE FROM LOCAL 7 PACK TO 3 PACK IN GOOGLE
Google's new 3 pack curtailed look may have surprised some local businesses as such, but it isn't surprising that the
initiative is an indirect Advertisement to promote Google's own premium Advertising service “AdWords”. The move
serves a further notice to local businesses to get prominently listed on Google My Business (for better local rankings) or
else perish (won't even feature in the local search results).
This further means that the new local search display may show up some surprising results. Here are some mismatching
results for some local search queries.
A search query for local businesses, which earlier showed up for “auto repair” may less likely show up for
“transmission repair”.
A local dentist search, which earlier showed up for “dentist” may less likely show up for an “emergency
dentist” or “pediatric dentist”.
And the local landscaper that topped the ranking for “landscaping” may less likely to top the “patios” search
query, to list a few.
All these search facts clearly explain Google's monogamous attitude to rake in some moolah by serving indirect
notification to the local businesses to sign up with its premium advertising service.
Further, Brian Barwig has pointed out and confirmed the mismatched search results pertaining to some search results.
In short, you need to be an online specialist to hold on to your previous local search rankings but that certainly isn't a
surety that you will rank for every relevant term.
Here are a few points to think through –
1. Few consumers searched for niche terms, which generally attract quality traffic and lead generation. But
those, who didn’t were clueless
2. Those who previously ranked in top 7, currently, missed out in the top 3
3. Less competition means easy to rank
4. Specific term ranking is easier than for many
5. Optimizing your given web page is easier for some special category ( one or two) than many
6. Focusing towards one Specialized re-branding is easier than for many
7. Renaming your business will ensure more clicks, which is further confirmed by Darren Shaw that it can
influence rankings
8. Businesses with keywords in their business name ranked well by Google. Hasn’t Google followed through as it
did over 8 months ago by scrapping descriptors from business names? This is due to the fact that the name
probably helps Google segment better. Which is why search related to “ABC Transmission Repair” may show
up for “transmission” related terms, than for “auto repair”
9. You show up in more cities or even in statewide search terms, but few local competitors mean Google will fill
up the 3 pack with only relevant entries
10. Ranking ahead is getting quicker but that doesn't mean that your local SEO can pull it off at one go or wait to
probably rank for some specialized category such as doctor, banker or even a stock broker
11. It's easier now to create concentrated and better “city pages”
12. SEO will have a great time ahead
13. You can later extend your target audience
14. In case, you missed out on the 3 pack keyword ranking than don't worry organic rankings and AdWords can
be of great help
15. The way things have been going and if you don't rank well in 3 pack rankings then just pay up to get in
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