Google Local Business listings are a huge source of traffic for businesses lucky enough to have locations in lots of different towns. Unfortunately over the last few months Google has removed a lot of links from these listings and it’s costing people a lot of traffic.
Previously if there was only one business listed on the map then it used to link directly to the businesses website, now it just links to the “place page” which is of course full of AdWords ads. This is the same for verified and unverified listings.
Add this to the fact that Google is rolling out sponsored listings within the Local Business Listings and it all starts to look like we might be seeing a big decline in the free traffic we are used to from the Local Business Listings.
Patrick Altoft is Director of Search at Leeds based digital & SEO agency Branded3. Patrick also runs Blogstorm.You can get our blog posts delivered for free by email every day - simply add your email address to the box below or alternatively grab the RSS feed.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Good point Patrick.
Unfortunately Google got wise to this free traffic source some 12 months, the amount of "Google partners" who are selling top listings are unbelievable.
I get weekly calls for this "service".
Back to SEO drawing board for some companies and local business search business generation. I personally do not think it will be long before actual location based SERP's are introduced.
I guess this change hasn't yet rolled over in Europe as I cant find any signs of the above in either Google Spain or France… it does look a bit ominous for those getting organic visibility on the 7 pack , but I guess it presents opportunities for those other more PPC-keen marketers
It's all over the place (no pun intended) down here in Plymouth. I have been helping local businesses (free) to get a Google Places listing and verified.
That along with a profile lovely!
David
Great post, I was just about to do this for the business i work for but now that you said it screwed over a lot of people…sad
Seperately, I would recommend as an alternative to google maps listings to advertise organically in the actual search engine listings. This is what I have done with one of my clients and he is already seeing the benefit.
Ignore the fact that they are changing the rules and de-listing businesses, I wrote up a post today that focuses around their big brother style tactics http://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-places-...
Didn't know this! This is terrible….
Bad news
Just as I was starting to see some traffic!
It normal here in Australia. If this happens there would be significant effect who are marketing via Google maps. However, there are yet very good sources to get listed on Google local marketing results.
Google must have looked at this strategically as not all links have been removed. A search in Google for 'number plates Leeds' shows two local business results and both have direct links to websites.
Google maps have been a great source of free optimisation for quite some time, so the fact that they are being edited like this will have a huge knock on effect for businesses. Google have become wise to the fact that this is another opportunity to create revenue, and seem to be taking advantage of this.
Working for a company who regularly use the local business listings in optimisation it looks like we will have to address this in the near future. I will be interested to see the reaction from other SEO companys, and if this is a new area they will start offering SEO for.
Yes it;s sad. But it's business for Google. I just hope the users can still find the most relevant links from these ads.
Oh god! It did not happen well. What will be the situation of some important site and data as well? Thanks for informing.
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