Google Local Search Gold Mine: When Does Google Cash In?
Did you know that Google’s top three “organic” search results are perhaps the Web’s most valuable real estate? Of course you did!A new comScore-TMP local search marketing agency study concurs:
60% of searchers online looking for local businesses think that the top results are most relevant. 25% don’t want to have to scroll down.
Why, then, does Google continue to give the house away, the SERP local house, in particular?
Most Google searches for local businesses are initiated at the general search box at Google.com, despite Google’s repeated best efforts to drive users to start their local searches at Google Maps. To capitalize more on local searches performed at Google.com, Google has been inserting more of the Google Maps local search experience directly in Google.com SERPS.
Earlier in the year, Google said:
Many people come to Google.com to navigate the web, but are you aware that you can use it to navigate the real world as well? Over the past few months, we’ve been hard at work making it easier to find and compare local businesses and services right from the standard web results page.
What Google doesn’t say, however, is how it determines which three local businesses to feature as listings number one, two and three results in the Google One Box which lead its SERPs in local searches.
Not only do the Google featured local listings come before the standard PageRank algorithm derived results, they are more prominent and are likely to be perceived by searchers as guide book type Google recommendations for the local businesses.
Top placement combined with enhanced presentation means the super duper Google SERP local listings slots are highly prized by local businesses.
WHEN WILL GOOGLE CASH IN ON ITS LOCAL SEARCH GOLD MINE BY PUTTING THE LOCAL ONE BOX UP FOR AUCTION?
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