In several years of tracking the Local SEO space, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many changes and tests happening on Google SERPs in real time. From the changes in Adwords positioning to the introduction of Google Cards/Posts, this week adds new review photos and up to 4 new types of carousels.
Google Posts/Cards = Google Local Business Cards, and it’s kill or be killed.
Google’s updated Google Guides program let’s your customers leave Google reviews with photos and Imprezzio Marketing has some great tips on how to use this.
The wacky People Also Search For: Staring this month Mike Blumenthal notes, Google has included a “People Also Search For” carousel, a feature long buried in the Knowledge Graph of search results. That might be just the beginning, adds Blumenthal this week, look out for a new group of carousels, including related results, related businesses and businesses nearby.
“Can You Be Both Cheap and Best?” or Review Sentiment in Local Search: In Google’s first, full, public release of its Search Rater Quality Guidelines, Mary Bowling notes reputation as an important signal of quality in a conversation with with Mike Blumenthal at LocalU. Mike follows up on this with new results starting to show for best and cheap restaurants “near me”.
More on micro-moments, Google talks about the utility of user intent over demographics.
But it’s really about research and targeted engagement: 6 Strategies to Build Local Links
AND THE REAL STORY IS BECOMING MUCH MORE THAN GOOGLE, according to O3’s Casey Overcash (and others) in her great wrap-up of Local SEO’s Mecca — Mozcon.
