236:", or "earned" results. In general, the higher ranked on the search results page and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine's users; these visitors can then be converted into customers. Local SEO, however, differs in that it is focused on optimizing a business's online presence so that its web pages will be displayed by search engines when users enter
398:(GMB) is a free tool that allows businesses to create and manage their Google Business listing. These listings must represent a physical location that a customer can visit. A Google Business listing appears when customers search for businesses either on Google Maps or in Google SERPs. The accuracy of these listings is a local ranking factor.
560:
As previously explained (see above), the Possum update led similar listings, within the same building, or even located on the same street, to get filtered. As a result, only one listing "with greater organic ranking and stronger relevance to the keyword" would be shown. After the Hawk update on 22
530:
shows very significant increases in "near me" queries. The same authors also report that the factors correlating the most with Local Pack ranking for "near me" queries include the presence of the "searched city and state in backlinks' anchor text" as well as the use of the " 'near me' in internal
414:
Major search engines have algorithms that determine which local businesses rank in local search. Primary factors that impact a local business's chance of appearing in local search include proper categorization in business directories, a business's name, address, and phone number (NAP) being
422:
In 2016, a study using statistical analysis assessed how and why businesses ranked in the Local Packs and identified positive correlations between local rankings and 100+ ranking factors. Although the study cannot replicate Google's algorithm, it did deliver several interesting findings:
458:
such as a low number of duplicates, consistency and also a fair number of citations, mattered for a business to show in Local Packs. However, within the pack, citations did not influence their ranking: "citations appear to be foundational but not a competitive
476:
Schema structured data is a ranking factor. The addition of the 'LocalBusiness' markup will enable you to display relevant information about your business to Google. This includes opening hours, address, founder, parent company information and much
550:
and using the same phone number. After the update, listings get filtered if they have the same address and same categories though they belong to different businesses. So, if several dentists share the same address, Google will only show one of
584:
Current Google algorithms do not identify unnatural review patterns. Abnormal review patterns often do not need human gauging and should be easily identified by algorithms. As a result, both fake listings and rogue reviewer profiles should be
497:
Prominence reflects how well-known is a place in the offline world. An important museum or store, for example, will be given more prominence. Google also uses information obtained on the web to assess prominence such as review counts, links,
508:
Distance refers to Google's attempt to return those listings that are the closest the location terms used in a user's query. If no location term is used then "Google will calculate distance based on what's known about their
573:
Lack of an appropriate process for business owners to report fake reviews on competitors' sites. GMB support will not consider requests about businesses other than if they come from the business owners themselves. So if a
291:
The origin of local SEO can be traced back to 2003-2005 when search engines tried to provide people with results in their vicinity as well as additional information such as opening times of a store, listings in maps, etc.
581:
Unlike Yelp, Google does not show a label warning users of abnormal review behavior for those businesses that buy reviews or that receive unnatural numbers of negative reviews because of media attention.
466:
elements (city & state) in the title of the GMB landing page did not have any impact on GMB rankings. Hence the authors suggest using such elements only if it makes sense for usability reasons.
569:
As previously explained (see above), reviews are deemed to be an important ranking factor. Joy
Hawkins, a Google Top Contributor and local SEO expert, highlights the problems due to fake reviews:
561:
August 2017, this filtering seems to apply only to listings located within the same building or close by (e.g. 50 feet), but not to listings located further away (e.g.325 feet away).
243:
For example, local SEO is all about 'optimizing' your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches. The majority of these searches take place on
240:
for its products or services. Ranking for local search involves a similar process to general SEO but includes some specific elements to rank a business for local search.
196:
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allowing users to submit questions to owners and allowing these to respond. This Q&A feature is tied to the associated Google My
Business account.
407:
539:
An important update to Google's local algorithm, rolled out on the 1st of
September 2016. Summary of the update on local search results:
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approach that allows local businesses to appear based on a range of local search signals, providing a distinct difference from broader
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According to a group of local SEO experts who took part in a survey, links and reviews are more important than ever to rank locally.
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The presence of a keyword in the business name was found to be one of the most important factors (explaining the high incidence of
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315:: local organic results and the 'Local Pack'. The local organic results include web pages related to the search query with local
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nearby has been collecting fake reviews, the only way to bring this to the attention of GMB is via the Google My
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on the website, and citations (mentions of the local business on other relevant websites like a chamber of commerce website).
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As a result of both Google as well as Apple offering "near me" as an option to users, some authors report on how
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Businesses based outside city physical limits showed a significant increase in ranking in the Google Local Pack
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The number of reviews and overall star rating correlates with higher rankings in the Google map pack results.
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Other GMB factors, like the presence of photos and having a verified GMB page with opening hours, showed a
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The information displayed in the GMB listing and hence in the Local Pack can come from different sources:
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434:, suggesting that older links are an advantage because the Toolbar has not been updated in a long time).
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A more restrictive filter is in place. Before the update, Google filtered listings linking to the same
448:
252:
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703:
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Relevance refers to Google's algorithms attempt to surface the listings that best match the user's
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644:. Journal of the American Society for Information Sciences and Technology. 63(7), 1426 – 1441.
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1004:"Dear Google: 4 suggestions for fixing your massive problem with fake reviews"
979:"August 22, 2017: The day the 'Hawk' Google local algorithm update swooped in"
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490:
362:. Data from these sources is part of the information that appears in Google's
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but for better optimization in your local area you should also use sites like
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Local searches trigger search engines to display two types of results on the
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778:"6 things you need to know about Google's Q&A feature on Google Maps"
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455:
431:
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828:"Results from the Local SEO Ranking Factors Study presented at SMX East"
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951:"Everything you need to know about Google's 'Possum' algorithm update"
686:"The Importance Of Local SEO Statistics You Should Know "Infographic""
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Depending on the searches, Google can show relevant local results in
328:
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327:, etc. The Local Pack displays businesses that have signed up with
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which prioritises relevance of search over a distance of searcher.
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901:"Just released: 2017 Local Search Ranking Factors survey results"
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showed the most important correlation (and also Google's
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877:"Improve your local ranking on Google - Google My Business Help"
729:"Improve your local ranking on Google - Google My Business Help"
320:
268:
803:"Citation Inconsistency Is No.1 Issue Affecting Local Ranking"
660:"SEO 101: Getting Started in Local SEO (From Scratch) | SEJ"
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or Search. This is true on both mobile and desktop devices.
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User-provided information such as reviews or uploaded photos
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Information from other sources such as social profiles etc.
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Local SEO has evolved over the years to provide a targeted
220:
in that it is also a process affecting the visibility of a
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493:to show results that best match a user's query.
451:(with ranking) albeit not as important as reviews.
514:Local ranking: 2017 survey from 40 local experts
345:Information is taken from the business's website
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704:"The Evolution Of SEO Trends Over 25 Years"
640:Ortiz-Cordova, A. and Jansen, B. J. (2012)
382:Google has added a new Q&A features to
319:. These often include directories such as
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462:The authors were instead surprised that
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27:Practice of increasing online visibility
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753:"How Google uses business information"
441:) tended to fare better (as expected).
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650:
615:Brian, Harnish (December 26, 2018).
437:Sites with more content (hence more
617:"The Definitive Guide to Local SEO"
25:
485:Local ranking according to Google
210:Local search engine optimization
55:Local search engine optimisation
18:Local search engine optimization
331:and taken ownership of their '
279:, Local business directories,
1:
1037:Google Local Businesses Guide
926:"'Things to do near me' SEO"
853:"LocalBusiness - schema.org"
684:Imel, Seda (June 21, 2019).
596:Local search (optimization)
354:Structured Data taken from
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1052:Search engine optimization
313:Search engine results page
50:Search engine optimization
390:Google Business Profile
89:Search engine marketing
411:
410:Local Online Marketing
366:in the search results.
287:The birth of local SEO
136:Contextual advertising
60:Social media marketing
664:Search Engine Journal
621:Search Engine Journal
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283:channels and others.
449:positive correlation
307:Local search results
141:Behavioral targeting
473:in the Local Pack).
150:Affiliate marketing
122:Display advertising
103:Cost per impression
35:Part of a series on
1008:Search Engine Land
983:Search Engine Land
955:Search Engine Land
930:Search Engine Land
905:Search Engine Land
881:support.google.com
832:Search Engine Land
807:Search Engine Land
782:Search Engine Land
757:support.google.com
733:support.google.com
708:Search Engine Land
531:link anchor text"
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396:Google My Business
333:Google My Business
173:Mobile advertising
80:Native advertising
70:Referral marketing
41:Internet marketing
335:' (GMB) listing.
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809:. 2014-12-22
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710:. 2015-06-24
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565:Fake reviews
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556:Hawk update
459:advantage."
384:Google Maps
378:Google Maps
372:Google Maps
301:organic SEO
131:Ad blocking
1014:2017-07-16
989:2017-10-02
961:2017-05-18
936:2017-03-26
911:2017-05-02
886:2017-03-16
862:2018-11-20
857:schema.org
838:2017-05-02
813:2017-03-26
788:2017-10-02
738:2017-03-26
714:2017-03-26
690:SEO MediaX
670:2017-03-26
626:October 1,
602:References
585:suspended.
576:competitor
509:location".
491:algorithms
263:and other
762:March 16,
498:articles.
456:citations
428:Backlinks
417:crawlable
317:relevance
214:local SEO
1046:Category
590:See also
439:keywords
432:PageRank
356:Wikidata
325:Facebook
277:LinkedIn
226:web page
548:website
234:organic
222:website
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551:them.
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261:Baidu
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