Local search results on Google have changed recently as Google reduced the number of map results they show from seven to three. This 3-pack makes it harder for your site to show up in the first organic (or non-paid) listings in a search. According to Search Engine News, “The new Local 3 Packs now sit at the top of the results about 93% of the time according to some studies and there are very few instances of organic results appearing above the packs. So ranking above the pack is no longer an option for most local search terms.” See the example below of a search for an “electrician in Edgewater, MD”. One of our clients, Bausum and Duckett Electric, has made the top of the local 3-pack listings here.
What can you do to get your website into the top three? Although there are no guaranteed ways to get top placement organically, you can pay attention to the quality of content you’re offering on your website. Work on getting meaningful links to your site using a combination of paid directory and free listings. Look at reviews of your product or service and encourage satisfied customers to give you feedback. Consider an AdWords campaign to give you a boost. Read more about the change and what you can do in an article on Website Magazine.
