Algorithm Change – Google Place Search Will Affect Business Owners in Local Listings
November 1, 2010 in Lawyer Marketing Tips, Search Engine Updates, Technology|Security Updates, The Basics of SEO
2010 has been a big year for algorithm changes made by Google. In April, there was Google Caffeine, followed immediately by Google Mayday in May. Then, another round of of algorithm changes in September Google kicked off Google Instant sending many webmasters into a panic. And now, in late October 2010, Google has launched yet another huge change in its Place Search product.
First, the way Google displays business listings has changed. In the past, business listings taken from the Google Places directory (which used to be called “Google Business”) would appear at, or very close to the top of search query results next to a small Google map. Up to seven businesses were shown when a local listing could be matched with a search query. Business owners that did not have websites could still have a business listing on Google and show up in search results.
But that has changed.
Three great places to get information about the changes are:
- Showing Up in Local Searches on Google – Google Place Search Algorithm Change
- Google Blog Post About Place Search; and
- Expand2Web – a great video explanation as well as tips on how to deal with the new changes.
Thanks for the post, do you have any other similar related posts?
Which is the most important to focus on, on page optimization or creating links to the website.
Thanks for asking a really great question.
Hands down the most important thing you can do to build a successful website is to offer your site visitors something of value. This includes keeping your site updated and offering information beyond just marketing materials. Page optimization is the most important – all search engines respond to the faster than inbound links. Although many SEO companies would disagree (and push to sell you link programs) think of it this way: If Google only valued sites with lots of inbound links new — and at the same time penalize websites for artificially building links — then all new sites (with few organic) link would be doomed from the start.
Links are important but they should be developed like the tortoise and the hare … steady and slow … and willy nilly.