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Google Places Optimization/Ranking

by localdominator
9 replies
Gp has made a lot of changes recently. Some say they are getting increasing/decreasing traffic. How has it affected you or your clients? Thought on how to combat/adapt to the new developments anyone....?
#google #optimization or ranking #places
  • Profile picture of the author adriver38
    I have definitely noticed a decrease in the amount of impressions one client was getting but its actually moved up a place and is now in the B position. Its also a merged listing now, meaning his organic and places site have merged into one search result. I think more people are just clicking on his website as opposed to his places listing and that its just not counting as an actual impression when they do this. Im not 100% sure though.
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  • Profile picture of the author Voasi
    Originally Posted by adriver38

    I think more people are just clicking on his website as opposed to his places listing and that its just not counting as an actual impression when they do this. Im not 100% sure though.
    This is exactly what is happening. Since it merged, it kinda looks like just a regular organic result, so people are clicking and going to the website, rather then clicking the little "Place Page" text link on the right.

    Originally Posted by localdominator

    Thought on how to combat/adapt to the new developments anyone....?
    I don't think anything has changed as far as click-thru's. I do think, as with all rankings, this move is going to give more business with higher rankings more clicks.

    As for rankings, optimizing the website AND places page (citations and reviews, along with complete listing) is what is bring sites to the top.
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    • Profile picture of the author Diane S
      Originally Posted by Voasi View Post

      This is exactly what is happening. Since it merged, it kinda looks like just a regular organic result, so people are clicking and going to the website, rather then clicking the little "Place Page" text link on the right.


      I don't think anything has changed as far as click-thru's. I do think, as with all rankings, this move is going to give more business with higher rankings more clicks.

      As for rankings, optimizing the website AND places page (citations and reviews, along with complete listing) is what is bring sites to the top.
      I added a photo to my client's Places listing and it jumped temporarily from E to A. A few hours later his Places listing returned to its E spot, but the same search showed me results of Places A through D, so the E spot was now on page 2. His new website, which he paid me to create on Monday, went from page 5 to page 1 position 7 today as well. So his website entry is on page one, but as yet has not been merged with the Places listing. I will be watching for that. I see that G is not permitting a company to have both a Places listing and a website listing on the first page. That is what I saw for one search. Looks like you can have one or the other, but not both. I think the merging is a great idea.
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      • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
        Personally I love the new google places ranking method.

        Put simply it moves ranking more towards the classic google ranking factors...high quality targeted content and high quality backlinks.

        The smart marketers who had websites AND claimed a google maps listing are mostly doing pretty well now.

        Also if you think of your google maps listing as a website in itself and focus on the major google ranking factors:

        # 1: High quality targeted content.

        Get images, video, reviews, and as much content as you can onto that google maps listing.


        # 2: Backlinks.

        Backlinks are a little different for google maps because a huge part of that ranking is rewarding location.

        So you're looking to get the business name and physical address listed on as many related sites that google respects as possible.


        If you're doing that AND you've got a website with high quality content targeting local terms and good backlinks you should be doing very well.

        What's interesting is that the fundamental principles haven't really changed in years.

        It's still high quality targeted content and high quality backlinks.

        Kindest regards,
        Andrew Cavanagh
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  • Profile picture of the author localdominator
    Thanks for the thoughts. Stupid move on my part not to think that the decrease I have seen in traffic in some listings could be due to more clicks on their website. I have checked the analytics and confirmed this nearly across the board.

    Interestingly, for those who don't have a website they have been still have been displaying front page with very little difference. It seems as though only the ones that did have a website changed a bit until I checked that little note above.

    On a different note, I have also noticed that where citations are placed is greatly impacting results. Meaning, G is weighting them differently from one site to another. I did a test in creating the same reviews on multiple sites for a test biz to see how it would rank and I got some interesting results. It seems that G first wants big name sites or national/state level citations, then looks for niche sites, then looks for social sites, then review sites, then everything else. Can anyone else confirm this?
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    • Profile picture of the author localdominator
      Another thought. Is anyone familiar with any video spinner programs that you highly recommend?
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  • Profile picture of the author deus ex
    Here are all google local / places factors -- mess around with the factors and optimize listings -- fake addresses work sometimes if they are at the city center on the google map --- Local Search Ranking Factors | Local SEO Best Practices for Google, Bing, Yahoo
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  • Profile picture of the author localdominator
    Thanks deus ex. I have seen an older version of that report in the past. Thanks for including the link. It does more or less confirm what I have seen regarding citation sourcing and review placement.
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  • Profile picture of the author deus ex
    Thank you, I hope it all helps -- citations are KEY
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