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Google Places Page 1 vs. Page 2...Question

by jordan08
7 replies
Hey All,

If all of the businesses listed on Google Places Page 1 have not claimed their listing, and I start working with the businesses on Page 2, is it a safe bet that the business on Page 2 will start to rank on Page 1 just because none of the other businesses on Page 1 have claimed their listing?

What has been your experience?


Ayesha
#2question #google #page #places
  • Profile picture of the author SiteSmarty
    Yes, you will rank on page one if you complete the listing properly. A listing that is completed properly will out rank a listing that has not been claimed.
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  • Profile picture of the author KabanaSoft
    agree with SiteSmarty, but also make sure that you consider the distance away from the center point of the location you are trying to rank the page in. If its far away, then that will affect the rankings as well...

    I'd suggest looking at David Mihm's Local Search Ranking Factors here: Local Search Ranking Factors | Local SEO Best Practices for Ranking in Google Places

    You can see (from survey results) that physical address is number 1 factor, then #2 is manually owner verified places page.

    Once you do that, get them a few citations, and shouldn't have any problems outranking the others.
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    • Profile picture of the author rbrShorty
      Originally Posted by SiteSmarty View Post

      Yes, you will rank on page one if you complete the listing properly. A listing that is completed properly will out rank a listing that has not been claimed.
      Originally Posted by KabanaSoft View Post

      agree with SiteSmarty, but also make sure that you consider the distance away from the center point of the location you are trying to rank the page in. If its far away, then that will affect the rankings as well...

      I'd suggest looking at David Mihm's Local Search Ranking Factors here: Local Search Ranking Factors | Local SEO Best Practices for Ranking in Google Places

      You can see (from survey results) that physical address is number 1 factor, then #2 is manually owner verified places page.

      Once you do that, get them a few citations, and shouldn't have any problems outranking the others.
      I would not fully agree with you. Only claiming a listing and filling in all the information will not help you much in the rankings. Especially if the keyword is mid or highly competitive.

      Yes, it is true that in the David Mihm's factors the verification of the Place page is ranked very highly, but I am positive this is a major mistake and is caused by the specifics of the survey. You could see a couple of articles that speak about how simply verifying a Place page does not have any effect on the rankings:

      Local Search Ranking Factors 2011 – A Few Notes | OptiLocal

      One Local Search Ranking Factor I Disagree With

      You could also check the comments in both articles, and you will see that many of the actual contributors to the Mihm's survey supported the ideas.

      Greetings,
      Nyagoslav
      OptiLocal
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      Local Search Marketing by NGS Marketing

      Citation Building Service by NGS Marketing

      Phone (US): 347-535-4535 | Skype: NGS.Marketing
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      • Profile picture of the author SiteSmarty
        rbrShorty: If you just "fill in the Information" you maybe right but I can guarantee you that if you "complete your listing properly" as I mentioned, you will out rank any non claimed Google Places page.

        "Properly" Means:
        - follow the rules
        - no spam
        - use the features as described by Google in their instructions
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      • Profile picture of the author KabanaSoft
        Originally Posted by rbrShorty View Post

        I would not fully agree with you. Only claiming a listing and filling in all the information will not help you much in the rankings. Especially if the keyword is mid or highly competitive.

        Yes, it is true that in the David Mihm's factors the verification of the Place page is ranked very highly, but I am positive this is a major mistake and is caused by the specifics of the survey. You could see a couple of articles that speak about how simply verifying a Place page does not have any effect on the rankings:

        Local Search Ranking Factors 2011 - A Few Notes | OptiLocal

        One Local Search Ranking Factor I Disagree With

        You could also check the comments in both articles, and you will see that many of the actual contributors to the Mihm's survey supported the ideas.

        Greetings,
        Nyagoslav
        OptiLocal
        Nyagoslav,

        Thanks for the links to these articles...i wasn't previously aware that there was some controversy over whether or not claiming the page is a big factor...

        My guess is that claiming your page probably does have some effect on your ranking...to what extent remains unknown...

        I have seen many many times listings with unclaimed google places pages outranking claimed pages...i'm sure in these cases other factors come into play, but i don't 100% agree that claiming your page has no effect whatsoever on rankings.

        Your probably right though that the more competitive the keyword, the less claiming the page will have an effect on ranking

        -Mark
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        • Profile picture of the author rbrShorty
          Originally Posted by SiteSmarty View Post

          rbrShorty: If you just "fill in the Information" you maybe right but I can guarantee you that if you "complete your listing properly" as I mentioned, you will out rank any non claimed Google Places page.

          "Properly" Means:
          - follow the rules
          - no spam
          - use the features as described by Google in their instructions
          And I can guarantee you that if you "complete your listing properly" you will not outrank any non-claimed Google Places page, especially for a mid-, highly competitive keyword. I've seen and tested this literally hundreds of times.

          Originally Posted by KabanaSoft View Post

          Nyagoslav,

          Thanks for the links to these articles...i wasn't previously aware that there was some controversy over whether or not claiming the page is a big factor...

          My guess is that claiming your page probably does have some effect on your ranking...to what extent remains unknown...

          I have seen many many times listings with unclaimed google places pages outranking claimed pages...i'm sure in these cases other factors come into play, but i don't 100% agree that claiming your page has no effect whatsoever on rankings.

          Your probably right though that the more competitive the keyword, the less claiming the page will have an effect on ranking

          -Mark
          It is actually not a controversy. According to the majority of the best recognized local SEO experts, claiming a Place page does not bring any value to the rankings. Any whatsoever. However, if you fill in the information, choose the right categories, and associate the website with the listing, that WOULD help, as much as Google would simply faster pick that information. Nothing more, nothing less.

          Greetings,
          Nyagoslav
          OptiLocal
          Signature
          Local Search Marketing by NGS Marketing

          Citation Building Service by NGS Marketing

          Phone (US): 347-535-4535 | Skype: NGS.Marketing
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          • Profile picture of the author jordan08
            SiteSmarty, KabanaSoft, and rbrShorty,

            Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.

            Back to more research!

            Ayesha
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