New Google Local Site Preview Highlights Competition

[Linda Buquet]

Noticed a fairly minor cosmetic update in the local SERPs I wanted to share.

At least I think it's new, because I have not seen anyone blog it yet and I never noticed it til a couple days ago. (Maybe I was sleeping and just never noticed til now?)

Wanted to bring it up briefly for a couple reasons. 1st of all it's yet another way Google is highlighting your competitors on your page. (But this time it's on your listing preview.) Secondly it highlights once again how important it is to have a great leading image on your Google+ Local page.

Now when you mouse over the arrow on the local listings to view a preview, there is a new section called "People Searched For" that shows your competitors. Searched: Santa Barbara Dentist

Local Listing Preview

<img src="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PreviewSantaBarbDentist.jpg" alt="" title="PreviewSantaBarbDentist" width="731" height="565" border=2 class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6786" />

<hr style="background-color: #6699cc; color: #6699cc; text-align: center; height: 3px; width: 90%;" />​

I searched to try to find a good example of thumbnails and picked this one because it has a good cross section. 2 unclaimed or at least not optimized listings with no images and just maps. 1 staff pic and one office pic. Only 1 Dentist out of the 5 had a nice Dental image of attractive people smiling.

I've scanned lots of these previews to see what's showing up in that new section and let's just say often the pictures are either missing or NOT pretty. Put your best foot (err... smile) forward!

So just one more little way to make your clients stand out from the crowd if they show up on one of their competitor's previews.

Side note: Check out the keyword stuffing on Carey's listing. Amazing he's getting away with it!

Have you guys seen this before? Is it new?
What do you think?

 

[Chase Billow]

If I have seen it, I haven't noticed it. No surprise, though. Google wins as the competition gets tougher between everyone. Also seems to be another indication of Google's trend to become a Knowledge Engine:

Google's Knowledge Graph: Implications for Search & SEO - Search Engine Watch (#SEW)

 

[Linda Buquet]

True Chase! I read that article earlier. VERY interesting! Thanks for linking!

 

[dboi941]

I seen this on tuesday because i have a client that in the am will be #1 and around 6pm he would drop three spots like everyday, and I found it was because in the am he would have the "reviews from around the web" and at night they would go way odd. Anyways back on topic everytime I did a search for him I would use the little arrow on the side of the listing to see if he had the "reviews from around the web"
And I seen that as well.

 

[Linda Buquet]

I seen this on tuesday because i have a client that in the am will be #1 and around 6pm he would drop three spots like everyday, and I found it was because in the am he would have the "reviews from around the web" and at night they would go way odd.

REALLY? That's a very interesting story I'd love more detail on. Care to do some screenshots and post about it?

1) I know # of reviews is tied in part to rankings BUT if it's blended didn't think it would have that much of a direct effect.

2) Wasn't sure exactly how much 3rd party reviews counted these days.

3) The fact they come and go is just weird. Would love to figure it out or see the listing and track it or something.

 

[Mike Wilton]

Interesting find Linda. I noticed by searching your same example that different listings get different results for "People also search for" and it makes me wonder how those are selected or what influences them. I also noticed in your example, the preview for the first listing doesn't display this at all.

I'd be curious to know what powers these. Another thing that stood out, that again I don't remember seeing is the list of related searches under the "more Results near" link. Is this new, or was I somehow just oblivious to this?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Hi Mike,

Yes I noticed some listings don't show the competitors on preview too. Seems like the other day when I was researching this, at least 1, sometimes 2 out of the 7 pack were missing the feature. Not sure why. (Could be just testing or still rolling out?)

Plus forgot to mention, it's not always competitors either. A few times on Dentist searches I saw a Chiropractor or Bank or something. But most of the time it's all related searches I.E. your competitors.

"Another thing that stood out, that again I don't remember seeing is the list of related searches under the "more Results near" link. Is this new, or was I somehow just oblivious to this?"

No that's been around for a long time, but it's easy to overlook as many things in Google's subtle UI often are. Seems to me like at least a year. (But I often suffer from Google time warp)

 

[m_j_gregory]

Hey Linda,

Thanks for sharing!

Yes, this is definitely new! We've been getting a large influx of the "Why are my competitors showing on my listing!?" questions from clients.

So now we're just trying to tactfully remind them that 'Looking at the bigger picture, Google's job is to serve the most relevant and convenient results for their users. Ultimately, they own the listing and this is the direction they've decided to move for now'. As you and everybody else know, this conversation isn't easy but that's fine too.

Hope you're having a great week so far!

Thanks again,
Matt

 

[Linda Buquet]

Thanks Matt, great reply.

You can also tell them that what goes around, comes around and they are likely showing up on their competitors previews as well.

 

[Travis Van Slooten]

Thanks for pointing this out, Linda. One question...what image does Google pull for each business that "others have also searched for?" You can upload 10 photos so does Google just randomly grab one?

Travis Van Slooten

 

[Linda Buquet]

I'm assuming it's the 1st image, which is also the image that used to show up at the top of the old Place pages.

But in one case I just checked, it shows an image for an unclaimed G+L page. So I think that image was either a Google or user added image. So if there's an image, even if not in dash, Google will show it, instead of just the map I guess.

 

[Travis Van Slooten]

O.K. cool. I figured as much but was curious if you noticed that wasn't the case.

Travis

I'm assuming it's the 1st image, which is also the image that used to show up at the top of the old Place pages.

But in one case I just checked, it shows an image for an unclaimed G+L page. So I think that image was either a Google or user added image. So if there's an image, even if not in dash, Google will show it, instead of just the map I guess.

 

[matthew hunt]

I saw this last week and few times this week. It doesn't seem to be on all listings. It looks a like Google's knowledge graph. Could they be building a local knowledge graph....?

Official Google Blog: Introducing the Knowledge Graph: things, not strings

Knowledge ? Inside Search ? Google

 

[Linda Buquet]

Hmmm, interesting thought Matt. Didn't think of that.

You brought up Local Knowledge Graph back in Auguest when I posted about the "Things to do in San Diego" bar, before I realized what it was. Google Launches NEW Things To Do In... Tourist Attraction Image Bar in SERPS

So who knows, you may be right. Maybe that's where this is heading. So many changes, who knows what's coming next, eh?

 

[matthew hunt]

I'd mentioned this in another thread, but it kinda looks like a local knowledge graph. I could see them using the google knowledge graph in local.... would make sense.

I wish they'd like you select your main image instead of it being the first one that shows up. Has anyone determined which image is getting pulled on this new feature popping up?

 

[Linda Buquet]

From what I've seen on that original SERPs example, after looking at about 10 of them, they've all been the main profile pic - the large image, which I believe is also still the 1st image.