Google Places Optimization and Local SEO Blog

SEOmoz PRO just FINALLY launched a major update that added local (Google Places) results to their rank tracking solution. Whether it’s a 7-pack or a blended result, if you care about local SERP results, it’s often a pain to find out where you stand. We aim to help.

If Google’s perpetual changes drive you nuts and make you want to pull your hair out, read on! This TOTALLY explains why almost every time you check, the results change. This REALLY hit me between the eyes when I read it. So there! You aren’t going crazy! It’s even more of a moving target than we thought! Don’t you feel better now?

There is a BIG window of opportunity here for those that understand what the change means. Everyone that’s ranking on top right now in the new localMerge format, just got lucky and happened to do several things right, but most don’t understand how they got there. Therefore they don’t know how to move up or how to STAY on top. On the FLIP side there are a bunch of companies that HAD Google Places but are not even listed in the new localMerge results and can’t figure out why.

WOWSER! The radical changes I posted about are rolling out now. The big difference is that Google LOCAL listings that are driven by Place pages and the local ranking algo are MUCH more prominent and organic rankings are pushed way down the page. The Google Places (local map) listings are much bigger and are like a combined local and organic ranking.

WordStream recently launched a hot new product called WordStream for SEO that has a lot of advanced features. I’ve been talking to the folks over there and am impressed with what they are doing so wanted to share part of the press release to let our reader know about it.