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Google Places vs. Organic Search Results

by InternetJon
5 replies
I've tried searching around but haven't really found anything pertaining to my question. What I'm wondering is how do local places results conflict with site's organic search?

What I mean is say I am trying to rank a client for "city limo services". I see place results for these limousine services rather than organic websites. However in some cases I end up seeing a website ranking ahead of these place results. Is this due to heavy SEO? Or is there a way (other than optimizing the places page) to rank higher?

I feel like it's the only thing holding me back from landing some clients that have these places pages popping up. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
#google #organic #places #results #search
  • Profile picture of the author dtaylor
    From the sites I have seen, heavily-optimiized LOCAL directories get placed above the Google Places listings most often. Other local sites that have been very well optimized also get positioned above Google Places.

    It can be done.

    If you have an offline client your time would be better at the beginning getting them good placement in Google Places then worry about getting their website above Places. If your client has a Places listing, their website on page 1 and a video on page 1 they will pretty well dominate the page.

    Go for it.

    DTaylor
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    • Profile picture of the author InternetJon
      Originally Posted by dtaylor View Post

      From the sites I have seen, heavily-optimiized LOCAL directories get placed above the Google Places listings most often. Other local sites that have been very well optimized also get positioned above Google Places.

      It can be done.

      If you have an offline client your time would be better at the beginning getting them good placement in Google Places then worry about getting their website above Places. If your client has a Places listing, their website on page 1 and a video on page 1 they will pretty well dominate the page.

      Go for it.

      DTaylor
      Thanks for the response. As far as I understand that there's only so much you can do to optimize a Places page aside from waiting for reviews and ratings to come in, no?
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      • Profile picture of the author jez111
        Hi

        First of all great post and something i have been looking at in great detail, my view on this differs day by day as gp is constanly changing from 7 box to merged merged to 7 box.

        When they are merged most of the time on gp there are 3 seo positions above places (not always) and in that situation the no 1 seo position is best even more so if the traffic levels are not amazing, sometimes they show 7 box above seo, sometimes they are showing merged at the top, i just spent the best part of 4 months getting to the top of merged which was above all positions for google to change it around and put a 7 box above again.

        On the other hand i have had a another client where they changed it the other way and removed 7 box and put merged in with 3 seo positions above merged in this situation you really dont want to be in gp as the best result you can get is seo 4. OK so my veiw if they change it that there is a 7 box you can still rank seo no1 underneath the 7 box and rank in the 7 box, if it is merged and merged is no 1 position then seo will get you there places anyway, if it is merged and 3 seo positions above i dont go for places at that time and go for no 1 seo, hope this makes sence.

        Jez
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        • Profile picture of the author InternetJon
          Thanks for the response, Jez. I've been looking into this and cannot figure out why some results have the seo results and other the 7. Your post has definitely raised some interesting points, I guess I should read more about that.

          Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author options
    Originally Posted by InternetJon View Post

    I've tried searching around but haven't really found anything pertaining to my question. What I'm wondering is how do local places results conflict with site's organic search?

    What I mean is say I am trying to rank a client for "city limo services". I see place results for these limousine services rather than organic websites. However in some cases I end up seeing a website ranking ahead of these place results. Is this due to heavy SEO? Or is there a way (other than optimizing the places page) to rank higher?

    I feel like it's the only thing holding me back from landing some clients that have these places pages popping up. Any help is greatly appreciated.

    Thanks.
    Ranking above google places can sometimes be harder, have you looked to see if the sites are listed in dmoz or yahoo directory? if there not and have a low page rank it is possible to beat them. If your client is offering a local service then they would benfit from a google place listing.
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