Google Places ranking discussion

I thought it would be a good idea to open up a general thread for the discussion of ranking and Google Places. In recent months it seems that for some keywords Google is shoving Places (and by extension G+) down everybody's throat. This trend doesn't look to be relenting, as Google rarely likes to "give up" once they start something. Rather or not it will expand is another question... but keep an eye on it's growth and how it effects us in SEO is surely in everybody's benefit.

I'll begin with one interesting side note I've run into. I had a keyword ranked at #2 overall for a term that apparently is localized. After Google Places insertion the term dropped all the way to #25, but then additionally appeared as #1 in the Places insertion inside the rankings right after the #1 "normal" ranking spot. It seems that with Places it is possible to double rank. That is to say you can rank organically in the traditional slots AND in the 1st page's insertion of Google Places "local" listings.

Thophayt,

Excellent point you make here about ranking twice in Google SERP's with an organic listing and a Place's listing. It would be interesting to see if this same phenomenon happens for users who are not logged in or not served results based on geolocation. It would seem that Google tries to deliver results (for example those of local businesses) based on both a user's query and their geographic location. For instance searching for pizza might return local pizza business's place pages along with local results that have been optimized. In contrast, businesses that are listed as not having a storefront but that are located in the same geographic location may not get the places listing (like a manufacturer).

Check out this post talking about duplicate listings (which is similar to what you are referring to),

http://www.searchenginepeople.com/blog/fix-duplicate-listings-google-places.html

Also check out this comment from an SEOMoz contributor claiming that the algorithm for organic and for local is different,

http://www.seomoz.org/q/google-places-and-organic-listings-blended-results

Great discussion you have started,

Shawn

That is very interesting. I do believe that the method for local IS indeed very different. I feel it is not NEARLY as effected by backlinks, and while correlated in so much as those doing SEO are increasing visibility I think that WHO is clicking on your results is important.

btt . . .

about backlinking google places... I find social signals to effect places quite a bit with my customers.
We have had only a few cases where double listings occurred. But never with the same exact url

Google is giving preference to local listing top of the 1st page after it's latest Algorithm.

does a good ranking in google places help the website overall in the non-local areas? ie have an office location for local service but provide national service will site rank better in other areas?

Okay, it's pretty simple in my opinion. (I've ranked quite a few businesses in large cities). Create manual citations on 20-30 local listing sites. There are many lists of those around BHW. Then send web 2.0 blasts to those citations. Wiki links to the web 2.0s. Lindex (Lindexed is an indexing service and works best for me) all links after your create them and select it for a 10 day drip period for the web 2.0s and a 14 day drip period for the wikis. This has always given me results. 1st page results to be exact.

thanks for the quick and thorough reply

With citations it depends which country you are in.

i have found it easier to rank for places results in the usa than in Australia and canada, i assume even if a citation is indexed in Google, the places algorithm will only pick up certain websites and not all citations.

thomsanmatt said:

thanks for the quick and thorough reply

Click to expand...

No problem.

Google places is the nuttiest most unexpected local marketing outlet there is, from personal experience I can tell you that there are some categories out there that are harder to rank for then others. Also, I've noticed that keywords in reviews do tend to affect the ranking quite a bit still.

SmileAtmyWins said:

Then send web 2.0 blasts to those citations. Wiki links to the web 2.0s. Lindex (Lindexed is an indexing service and works best for me) all links after your create them and select it for a 10 day drip period for the web 2.0s and a 14 day drip period for the wikis.

Click to expand...

How big are these web 2.0 and wiki blasts? I'm sure it varies, but let's say average, for a medium-competitive local term.
Thanks for the info regardless,
Art