Google Places, Old Way, New Way, Why?

6 replies
Ok, so we had changes in October and for many universal results we had a shift from the "push-pin" look of the "old" Places listed to a "merged" look where you could break up the Places listing with good organic rankings.

We though Google was in transition to this "merged" look and people have posted here that, in fact, both looks are here to stay (for now, in any case).

I hope this topic hasn't been beaten to death and I've missed it, but I have been browsing a lot of sectors in different market sizes and it appears to me that the difference in the "look" (algorithm) is actually the optimization of that market in itself.

Search in any reasonable-size market (300K+) for "dui lawyer" and you get the new look.

Search in a smallish market for an industry without a lot of web presence (e.g. hair salon) and you get the old push-pin look. In the push-pin look I'm finding the majority of businesses without their own sites and with no verified listings. In these cases, the old Google Places optimization businesses can still thrive. In the bigger markets, a larger SEO package is more appropriate.

Do you guys see the same pattern? Thoughts?

Amanda
#google #places
  • Profile picture of the author localdominator
    I have seen generally the same, although it may just be that Google is slowly transitioning different industries over to the new look on a priority basis. I would assume that the new layout will be the dominant one in the future.
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    • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
      What you're really seeing in the less competitive markets is google being unable to find websites with relevant local content so it's just listing the businesses it has with addresses in the local area.

      If you're working with a business and you cover the basics:

      # Making sure they have a website with high quality local content.

      # Getting high quality backlinks to that website.

      # Claiming their google places listing and putting plenty of high quality content on there...photos, descriptions, embed videos etc...getting customers to put on reviews.

      # Getting the name and physical address of the business listed on as many local and related sites as you can.


      If you're doing those things then your client's website AND his google places listings should dominate those top rankings.

      On top of that if you're using other strategies like online video sites, social networking sites, article submission etc etc then you might have multiple listings for a business in the first couple of pages of google.

      Covering the basics can be very powerful especially when no one else is doing it.

      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
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      • Profile picture of the author WildGale
        Thanks guys.

        That's just it -- the old style results represent a wide open market. Not only do those Places listings typically not even have any businesses verified, it's dead-simple to rank SEO-wise. In any case, I have a guy selling for me and we have a lot of communities with the old-style Places listing. I think he's just going to sell a Places service as a starting point in these communities. I don't see many of them with budgets for more than that, but I expect we can get some scale and keep the salesman busy. With bigger clients, he's just lead-generating anyway--I've got to sell them.

        I do agree with you, Andrew, and some clients even have the budget for that.

        Amanda
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        • Profile picture of the author WildGale
          I'm just reflecting a little more here but those little markets without a lot of money could be profitable (even without up-sells) if you have a good salesman who knows the area.

          I think my salesman could probably sell Places optimization like hotcakes to these businesses. I just made a video for him and we'll see if he wants to run with it.
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          • Profile picture of the author srtyker
            Originally Posted by WildGale View Post

            I'm just reflecting a little more here but those little markets without a lot of money could be profitable (even without up-sells) if you have a good salesman who knows the area.

            I think my salesman could probably sell Places optimization like hotcakes to these businesses. I just made a video for him and we'll see if he wants to run with it.
            This is they key folks. If you have a good salesman, you have cracked half of this. I hate the cold calls - anyone willing to be a salesman for me in Australia?

            http://www.warriorforum.com/warriors...arch-work.html
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  • Profile picture of the author rafterman
    "boston salon" returns merged results
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