Say Hello To Google's Local Search Crocodile!

[Andrew Shotland]

You've probably heard of Google's AI Overview "Crocodile Effect, but did you know there is a Local Search Crocodile Effect?It looks like this:

A pattern of divergence between AI Overviews and Local Packs in Google SERPs for local keywords, aka "The Local Search Crocodile Effect" may be emerging...

More detail at https://www.localseoguide.com/the-local-search-ai-crocodile-effect-emerges/

 

[keyserholiday]

GBP data started to go missing on June 25th. I doubt it had anything to do with the release of AI Overviews.

 

[Andrew Shotland]

GBP data started to go missing on June 25th. I doubt it had anything to do with the release of AI Overviews.

Not sure what missing GBP data has to do with the post? I am seeing the presence of AI overviews in their SERPs increasing for several different types of local businesses while the presence of Local Packs is decreasing. For all the sites shown in the post, the trend started well before June 25th.

 

[JoyHawkins]

Any insight into what types of queries they went missing for? I'm wondering if maybe they were queries that had local packs way lower on the page (which probably didn't result in a loss of clicks)?

Are you seeing a decline in actions for GBPs at the same time as the packs decreasing?

 

[Andrew Shotland]

Sorry for missing this Joy. I haven't done a super in-depth analysis, but for one domain, out of 264 keywords that show Local Packs and/or AI overviews:

• 70 keywords showed both local packs and AIOs.
• 30 only show AIOs
• 164 show local packs
  
  I'd have to do the trend analysis to see if AIOs are replacing Local Packs or just adding to them. I'll update this when I do the math.