Being listed in the Google Maps section of search results is highly important. The maps have ‘pride of place’ at the top of local search results and so being listed in the maps meant you wee listed at the top of the search results. Google has changed the listings from 7 local businesses to 3. This article explains why and more importantly how to get yourself included in the Google map listings.
Google Maps – Old Version
Google maps, until August 2015, had 7 local businesses listed at the top of the search results. In the world of SEO this was commonly called “the 7 pack”. It was a highly prized position as it meant that when potential customers, local to a business, were looking for products or services a company was listed at the top of page 1 of the search results, regardless of the optimisation on their website.
The listing included the companies full address and telephone number and many of our customers found they received telephone enquiries simply by being listed in the 7-pack.
Google Maps – Why Has It Changed?
This is only my opinion (please note the Google Legal team – an opinion), but the obvious reason would be to monetise the Google maps.
As mentioned before, being included in the 7-pack and therefore at the top of the local search results for relevant searches by potential customers, was highly lucrative for local businesses. Placing a listing in the maps was “free”, so it was a very cheap and effective way of gaining customers.
I say “free”, as many businesses employed the services of a Google expert or SEO company to get their business listed, and those services were not free, but still made the map listing a very cost effective place to be listed.
The issue, I believe, is that the listings were too popular with users of the Google search engine. It was easy to find a fairly large choice of potential local suppliers. With the address listed it was easy to ascertain who was local, and easy to choose a business if you wanted to visit a showroom or store. With the telephone number listed it was easy to make contact with a company. All of which was great for the internet user and the listed business, but not making Google any money. In fact it was taking customers away from the paid advertising on the page.
In only showing 3 businesses you have more chance of a Google user using the paid adverts to find a business.
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