Exploring Google's New Local Search Features: What You Need to Know

Nov 18, 2022 -- Posted by : admin

SEO Local Search With ever-evolving technology, Google is continuously innovating its services to accommodate user needs. One of the most noteworthy recent updates is the new local search features that have been incorporated into the search engine. For businesses, this means increased visibility and potential leads, while for users it means more accurate and efficient search results. Whether you're a business owner or simply a Google user, it's important to understand what these new features are and how they can benefit you. In this article, we'll explore Google's new local search features, discussing the different elements and how they can help you get the most out of your local search experience.

What is Google's Local Search Feature?

As we mentioned above, Google's new local search features provide more accurate and efficient search results, which is great news for businesses, especially local ones. More specifically, these new features help Google better understand location context, allowing searchers to get more helpful and relevant results. But how does it do this? First, it takes the searcher's location and time of day into consideration — seeing as these two factors have a big impact on the types of businesses people will search for. After analyzing this information, Google is then able to determine the most relevant local businesses based on your search terms, rather than just the name of the business. For example, if you search for "Italian restaurant," you will notice that the top results are no longer just restaurants that have the word "Italian" in their name. Instead, you will see a list of relevant restaurants near you, with details such as their hours, menus, and prices.

Benefits of Google's Local Search Feature

As we saw above, Google's new local search features are aimed at enhancing the user's experience by providing more relevant and accurate search results based on both location and search terms. This can result in more traffic directed towards your business, as well as more leads and sales. When Google places your business at the top of the list when a user is searching in your specific location, you will likely get more clicks than if your business were listed lower in the results. When your business is at the top, you are more likely to get the click compared to businesses listed below, especially since these new features are more focused on the businesses closest to the searchers. Plus, the higher your business appears in the results, the more clicks you will likely get from people who are further away. The potential increase in traffic from Google's new local search features can also have an impact on your bottom line. More customers are likely to convert if they are clicking through to your website from the first page of results compared to those who have to search further down the list.

Features of Google's Local Search Feature

As mentioned above, Google's new local search features are designed to enhance the user experience and provide more accurate results based on location and search terms. Here are some of the specific features that make up these new features: - Google My Business - This is the central hub for all your online business information, including reviews and details about your business hours, address, and other important information. If you don't have a business listing on Google yet, you can create one through this platform. - Enhanced Business Information - Google uses your online business listing to gather data on your company, such as your business hours, address, customer ratings and reviews, photos, and other information. Over time, they will also ask you questions related to these topics to further clarify your business data. This helps Google further understand your business and improve the search results for your specific business type. - Refined Search Engine Results - When you search for a local business through Google, the search engine will now focus on local businesses first, rather than any businesses with the words "Italian Restaurant" in their names, for example. Google will also consider your distance from the business when determining which businesses to show in the search results. - New Local Ad Types - With the new local search features, Google also introduced new ad types that are designed to better appeal to users searching for local businesses. For example, one of these ad types is a "callout," which allows you to highlight specific features or business hours in your ad. - New Location Tools - Google also launched new location tools, which help you add or edit your business's address and business hours, respond to reviews, and view data about your customers' search behavior. These tools are accessible through Google My Business and come in handy for managing your business data, especially if you have several locations.

How to Use Google's Local Search Feature

After reading about what Google's new local search features are and how they can benefit you, you may be wondering how you can take advantage of these new features. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to see the most impact from these new features. For starters, make sure you have a Google My Business listing for your business. This is a free service that allows you to create a business profile on Google that includes your business hours, photos, contact information, and other important details. Having a business listing on Google is especially important if you want to appear in the top search results, as Google is now prioritizing businesses with a listing at the top of the search results over businesses listed further down the list. Additionally, you can boost your online presence by making sure you are also listing your business on Facebook, Yelp, and other popular social media and review platforms where your customers are likely to search for businesses. You can also improve your chances of appearing in the top search results by optimizing your business name and addressing other factors that influence your local search results. To do this, you can use keyword research to find out what your potential customers are searching for and then make sure your business name and other information are consistent with these search terms. You can also use Google's search console to help you monitor your local search results and make any necessary adjustments.

Tips for Optimizing Your Local Search Results

Now that we've discussed what Google's new local search features are and how they can transform your local search results, it's time to look at how you can optimize your local search results. To do so, you can use the following tips and tricks: - Choose a descriptive business name - The name of your company is one of the first things that people will see when they click through to your website or click on your ad in search results. Choose a name that is descriptive and enticing to get more clicks. - Make sure your business information is up-to-date - It's important to keep your business information updated on Google so that potential customers can find your business easily. This includes your business name, address, phone number, hours, and other information that may appear in search results. - Choose compelling images for your website - Studies have shown that visuals are a powerful marketing tool, so use high-quality images that make your website more appealing. These images can also help you appear at the top of search results for image-based searches like "best restaurants in town." - Keep your website content relevant - Your business website is the place where you can share your expertise and knowledge with potential customers. This can help you build trust and show potential customers that you can solve their problems. - Use local citations - Local citations are references that let Google know that your business is located in a certain place. This includes references like your website address, a physical address, and your hours of operation. - Be active on social media - Social media is one of the most popular ways of finding new customers, so make sure you are active on the major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Best Practices for Local SEO

Now that you've learned how to optimize your local search results and how to take advantage of Google's new local search features, it's time to put your knowledge into action. For starters, you can do keyword research to find out what terms people are using when they are searching for your type of business. Next, you can create a strong business name and address that will appeal to customers in your area. After that, you can make sure to keep your business information up-to-date, along with your website content and visuals. Finally, you can be active on social media, use local citations, and monitor your local search results. These steps can help you get the most out of Google's new local search features and improve your local search results.

Conclusion

As we've seen throughout this article, Google's new local search features are designed to enhance the user experience and provide more accurate results based on location and search terms. For businesses, this means increased visibility and potential leads, while for users it means getting more helpful and relevant results.

- Ed Moore, SEO Coach

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