Tag Archives: local search engine optimization

Mobile VS Desktop Search Differences

Last Updated On August 13th, 2014Local Maps SEO, Local SEO, Mobile Marketing, , , , , , , ,

desktopvsmobileLocal Splash Founder and CTO, David Rodecker, and other members of the Local Splash team have been researching the difference between desktop and mobile SERPs.

An early piece of this research shows that there is a difference between a search performed on a mobile device and a desktop computer even in the exact same location, signed into the exact same Google account and searching the exact same query. Here is the desktop version:

Google Desktop SERP for Fast Food

This is a fairly standard SERP with 3 organic results displaying before location results and surprisingly no Google Ads paid search results at the top. Now look at the difference between this page and the mobile page:

Android Mobile SERP Fast Food

There are several interesting differences between the results:

1. There are less organic search results before the location results on the mobile search. This is probably the least surprising difference. Google has been saying, for several months now, that 50% of searches have local intent so it comes as no surprise that mobile SERP’s cater to this switch in the way people search.

2. There is a significant difference in locations showing up between the two results. Both letter “A” results in mobile and desktop are Taco Bell, however they are different locations (the addresses are different). Not only that, but other than the first two, the entire pack of location result is different, which means that 6 out of 7 physical addresses are different between desktop and mobile search.

3. There is significant local mobile advertising, as shown in the lack of Google Ads ads on the desktop search compared to the two ads displayed in the mobile SERP. I think this may be the most fascinating thing in the search comparison. Even though the deceleration of desktop search and increase in mobile search and mobile ad revenues is one of Google’s worst kept secrets there is nothing like actually viewing it in the wild.

These factors seem to point to a localization of the results for mobile devices that takes us one step beyond desktop results.

Whether it’s mobile or desktop results, one thing is clear: local results are dominating the results page, which means it’s more important now than ever for businesses to focus on their local SEO strategies.

What local search queries are you noticing dramatic differences in for mobile and desktop?

How To: Clean Up Incorrect Listings and Increase Your Rankings

Last Updated On August 13th, 2014Local SEO, , , ,

cleanuplistings
If your Google listing is claimed and verified, but you still aren’t climbing the rankings like you had hoped you would, it may be duplicate or incorrect listings around the web that are holding you back. Cleaning up these listings can help you boost your rankings to the first page of Google. “Cleaning up” your listings is another way of saying, updating your listings to make sure they are consistent throughout the web.

First, you must identify the problem. Search for your business name on Google and check out the results that pop up. You will likely see a result for your Google+ Local listing as well as other local directory listings. If your business has been around a while, chances are it’s in a lot of directories that you may not even know about. These listings are unclaimed and unverified, so they are in danger of having incorrect or inconsistent information. When the information about your business around the web is inconsistent, Google has less trust in the business and will penalize it with lower rankings. This is why it’s important to find out where your business information is on the web and gain control of it by claiming and verifying listings.

Explore the listings and claim and verify each one. This can be done usually by clicking a button that says “manage this page” or “is this your business?” the exact wording varies from directory to directory. Edit these listings to make sure they have the correct address, phone number and other business information. Remember, the more information that is filled out, the more trustworthy the listing becomes. While editing addresses, remember, 1234 Harbor Blvd. is not the same as 1234 Harbor Boulevard. Although they are the same place, because boulevard is spelled out in one and abbreviated in another, Google sees it as an inconsistency and it will affect your rankings in a negative way.

Cleaning up your listings can be time consuming, especially if you have more than one business location. Local SEO companies like Local Splash can clean up your listings for you, so you have more time to focus on your customers.

How Does the Google-Apple Deal Affect Local Business Owners?

Last Updated On August 13th, 2014Local Maps SEO, , , , , ,

According to a report titled, The Next Google is Google,” Google could end up paying Apple $1 billion to remain the default search engine on the iPhone. According to this article from TechCrunch, for every dollar of revenue Google makes on iOS due to advertising and data collection, Apple gets 75 cents from Google. As long as iOS sales keep growing, this number is going to increase in the future. With Microsoft pushing to make Bing the default search engine, Apple has received more and more money from Google over the years. But how much is too much? The end of the Google-Apple deal could be near. If Google was no longer the default search engine on the iPhone, how would it affect local business owners?

googleiphone1Currently, the iPhone has about 30 million users while Google’s Android has about 50 million. Although, Google would still be the default search engine for the 50 million Android users, that still leaves millions of users that may turn to other search engines like Bing or Yahoo if the iPhone’s default search engine is replaced. How will this affect local business owners?

Although we can only speculate on how it would affect local business owners, it’s clear that they would have to put more emphasis on expanding their local presence in other places beyond Google, (which is something local businesses should do anyway). This means making sure they are found in other directories, particularly Yahoo Local, Yelp and Facebook. Yelp and Facebook both have popular iPhone apps that more users are increasingly turning to in order to find local business information.

Even without Google being the default search engine, iPhone users will still be able to utilize the Google Maps app, a relatively new app that quickly became one of the most popular apps in the Apple Store upon its release. This means that just because Google Maps won’t be easily accessible from the iPhone’s internet browswer, Safari, users will still be able to search for local businesses from the actual Google Maps app.

Local business owners should make sure their Google+ Local Listing is claimed, verified and optimized as well as submit their business information to popular local directories, including Yahoo Local, Yelp and Facebook in order to increase their presence online. It’s also important to business owners to make sure their website is mobile friendly. The easier you make it for potential customers to find information about your business or contact your business, the more likely they are to come to your store location.