Local Business Results - Local Business Results is a feature that
Google
has added to their regular Web searches since 2007 that seems to detract from search quality. It is part of the
Google Onebox universal search concept.
Any local business can
register for free at a Google Data Center and place themselves on the local Google Map. This results in a local
business results listing, which Google displays for appropriate keyword queries. It bypasses the entire mechanism of
page ranking and page positioning and arbitrarily puts whatever businesses are listed in the map at the top of the
Search Engine Results.
This is what it looks like:
Within the listing, the sites are ranked, evidently, according to their proximity to the center of the town, and
according to relevance (appearance of the keyword in the URL and in text) and according to reviews of the business or
product and links to the page. The listing continues with a "More Results" link. Originally, Google only showed 3
results. Not surprisingly, they found nobody was clicking on the "More Results." They naively thought, or claimed to
have thought, that if they add additional results it would make it more likely that people would click on the "more
results" link, because they would understand that it was a list. The result is that legitimate listings that
were built the "old fashioned way" way are pushed down and the coveted number 1 spot is no longer so important.
If you have a business, and your keyword displays with a local business search box, you had better be in that
listing. Click here: https://www.google.com/local/add/
to be directed to your local business center.
Ami Isseroff
October 1, 2008
Note - Definitions of Search Engine
Optimization terms are based on inferences from common usage and definitions given by other sources. Conclusions about
search engine behavior are based on understanding of the behavior of the most popular search engines. Both are subject
to error or may change. Search engine company management may define or use a term or set or change any policy in any way
they see fit, and may make these definitions and specifications public or not. These decisions and definitions are
beyond our control. Notice: Copyright
All materials are copyright 2008 by Ami Isseroff. All rights reserved. These pages may not be reproduced in any
form in electronic or printed media without express written permission from the author.
SEO Glossary
