Google Keyword Tool = Google Places

[mangoman68]

Has anyone seen a drop in local searches?

I mean seach any city and add plumber, surgeon, whatever and it will come back like 1% of what it was showing a few months back.

Also on google places some of the search terms have the google places looking like part of the regular seo sites. it doesnt look like the 7 box that we all know. is anyone else getting this?

 

[chambras1281]

indeed, my friend. G00gle made changes and it will leave the "7 box" as organics listings.

 

[nvcowboy]

I hate Google sometimes ... mostly all the time.

So I did a search with instant on and I get the Google Places with a map on the right for a local search phrase. My client who used to be above the fold on Search has now been pushed down below the places that are showing up as SEO.

When I turned off instant same thing ... one caveat, when I did a "KW" then the former "regular" SEO results popped up.

I guess this may mean more business for me since I do offline but I certainly don't like Google shoving their idea of what my experience should be down my throat!

the cowboy

 

[teeniegenie]

Has anyone seen a drop in local searches?

I mean seach any city and add plumber, surgeon, whatever and it will come back like 1% of what it was showing a few months back.

Also on google places some of the search terms have the google places looking like part of the regular seo sites. it doesnt look like the 7 box that we all know. is anyone else getting this?

When the new KY tool came out local searches were dramatically lower, almost across the board. The new numbers are probably more realistic from my experience.

The disappearance of the 7 box is the result of beta testing G is doing with their local search right now. We had it here in Vegas a few days back but now its gone back to the way it used to be. Eventually I think they'll make the local listings all look like organic results. This will make it more competitive (= more adsense revenue for G) to get on the first page for local search terms.