Google Showing Local Search For National Search Terms

April 1, 2009 - Google launched a new algorithm and search query results system that has increased the importance of local listings on regular search results. Prior to the change, users were required to use a city and/ or state qualifier to find a local business (for example "pizza Tampa"). With the new change a user in Tampa only needs to type the initial phrase (ie "pizza").

The impact of this change is enormous. Google Local Listings now can easily rank well above standard web sites for multiple keywords and keyword phrases. The change will result in increased traffic to the Maps section of Google and Local Listings in general.

"With this change, small/local businesses will now be getting exposure on at least hundreds, and probably thousands of prime keywords. As search marketers, we often tell our small business clients that they don’t want to rank for terms like “lawyer” or “doctor” because they’re too generic, and the competition for those prime terms would be beyond their reach. But, with Google showing local results on this prime real estate, a big door of opportunity has just opened up. A doctor in Topeka can get visibility on the term “doctor,” but only when local folks type it in." Search Engine Land