Google Values UK Internet £100 Billion

Google Values UK Internet £100 Billion

Google are now in the middle of a changing phase, the importance of a local maps listing is being replaced

To see just local results, you can now click the “Places” icon in the left column, which replaces “Maps.” Previously, clicking Maps took users into Google Maps. Like the other icons Places is now a filter that delivers new results and keeps users on the Google search engine results page.

The new Place Search features only local businesses on the first page. It seems that unless publishers are among the favoured links they will likely have to resort to paid search now to gain exposure on page one of Google. I haven’t had time to do extensive or  testing on this, but I would imagine this pattern carries through across all local categories.Local SEO was focusing on “getting into the 7 Pack.” That’s all gone now. Now, fully detailed Place Pages will assume much greater importance, as will being present and reviewed in the various sites featured in the directory links. I’m sure someone will put together a  comprehensive list  but Yelp could be a winner here.

By making local business marketing (and Place Pages) more prominent than even they were before, users will likely respond with more local queries and rely on Google more heavily for local information. The overall volume and percentage of queries on Google looking for local information will increase dramatically.