This week Google launched the new interface for their Google Local Business Results. The Google Maps in-viewer feature now only lists seven local businesses instead of the previous ten. This has allowed the icons to be larger and more defined; spread over two lines instead of one. The positive impact of the larger font and map from a user perspective is immediately obvious as it provides a clearer and more readable search results.
From an SEO perspective the benefits of this change will only become apparent over time but the de-cluttered interface is certain to encourage a greater click through rate (CTR). With fewer result slots available on these localised searches SEO agencies and Web Developers will have to work harder to remain relevant in their area.
In true Google form this refined local search will be pushing relevancy to offer users the best matches. Figure ii highlights the prioritisation of relevancy over location with regards to the Google Map local search as the seven successful results are geographically interspersed with what Google has deemed to be less relevant. The difference between the two Google results also reinforces this theory as it varies for the same search term.
Below you can see the different examples from the previous interface to the new one:
In true Google style they are focusing on user experience and in true 4Ps Marketing style we have taken the changes onboard and embraced.
Figure i
Figure ii
Tags: Google Maps, organic SEO
About the author: Stephanie Villegas
SEO Executive - Stephanie Villegas-RossStephanie is an SEO Executive at 4Ps Marketing. She graduated from the University of Sussex with an English Literature degree. After leaving university Stephanie worked in offline Marketing, but soon sought out a position at 4Ps Marketing after craving the fast pace of online Marketing and the constant evolution of Social Media Optimisation.