Back in September, Sparkfactor learned from RevLocal and Search Engine Land that Google recently updated their local search algorithm, which will affect your website’s search engine optimization. Here’s what we know.
Possum
The nickname for the update is Possum because the new algorithm filters out businesses, not because they don’t exist or aren’t valid, but because other businesses are deemed as more relevant. Thus, these filtered businesses are playing possum.
Testing
It isn’t clear if this algorithm is set as it is or in A/B testing mode. So while changes seem drastic now, they might be less dramatic once the algoritm becomes more finalized.
City Limits
In the past, if a business was outside of city limits, it was hard for them to be shown when the city was included in the search keywords. Possum changes that so businesses outside of city limits are now included in city-specific searches. According to Search Engine Land, businesses are already seeing an increase in traffic from this change.
Same Address or Building
Businesses that are similar and can be found at the same address or in the same building more than likely will no longer show up in the same searches. For example, if two doctors are in the same building, despite being separate companies and being in different physical locations, gabapentin to buy uk those two listings would not be listeed next to each other for a specific search.
Same Parent Company
If two or more companies are owned by the same parent company or individual owner and located in the same city or general vicinity, it is unlikely that these companies will show up in the same search. If one doctor has two different practices that concentrate on different ailments in different locations in the same city, these two practices would not show up together. The thought is that the one that is most relevant to the current search would appear.
Workarounds
Consumers who want to see unflitered results can zoom in on the Map to find an expanded list of local businesses. The filter only appears directly from the search in Local. The issue is that consumers might not be aware that any filtering is happening.
In that case, it is important that your business has accurate information on its Google Local and other local accounts. Include very specific keywords to be able to be relevant to people searching keywords directly related to your business. Updating, and claiming, your Google Local account is very simple and will help as this algorithm continues to be modified.
Contact us today for help with your making sure your Google Local account is optimized.