David Mihm has released his annual comprehensive guide to local search ranking factors for Google. Local Search Ranking Factors Volume 4 offers valuable insight on the the major shifts in local search to end 2010 and start 2011.
This year’s edition surveyed 33 local search experts including myself and focused on both the Blended Place results and the Pure Place results ranking factors.
The changes in local search ranking factors this year have greatly increased the value a quality website brings to the mix. In years past, almost all of your local ranking was determined by factors outside of your website, not anymore.
Overall Top 10 Local Ranking Factors To Focus On
1. Physical Address in City of Search
2. Manually Owner-verified Place Page (check your verification)
3. Proper Category Associations
4. Volume of Traditional Structured Citations (IYPs, Data Aggregators)
5. Crawlable Address Matching Place Page Address
6. PageRank / Authority of Website Homepage / Highest Ranked Page
7. Quality of Inbound Links to Website
8. Crawlable Phone Number Matching Place Page Phone Number
9. Local Area Code on Place Page
10. City, State in Places Landing Page Title
The report dives further into the needs of both pure and blended results as well as factors to avoid (negative practices to avoid). This years edition also has an addendum that explores why Google displays a Pure or Blended results page.
Reading this year’s edition as well as past editions will greatly help your local search understanding. While there are clear numerical breakdowns of the factors at work, expert comments on each topic provide extremely valuable insight for anyone.
You can read David’s summary of the 2011 report as well as follow him on Twitter via @DavidMihm.
