Google 7-Pack Replaces 10-Pack
As a firm with multiple local clients, we constantly monitor Google’s local map results. Well, as of yesterday, the familiar local map with 10 listings begin (familiarly called the 10-pack) now yields seven listings; so now, a new SEO term is born: the 7-pack. Note however, that selecting the “more results” link at the bottom of the map results is unchanged: it still takes the user through successive lists of 10 results. There is some chatter in Webmaster forums that seems to indicate that the change is being implemented worldwide. Certainly, the seven pack is fully in place in the United States and Australia.
The Ranking Order Appears Largely Unaffected by 7-Pack
Naturally, we wondered if the fundamental ranking algorithm was altered along with this change; ultimately, it’s the ranking order which concerns online marketers. Along with the 7-pack change, we examined several key phrases for which we monitor local results. It appears that the order of local Google listing results is largely unaffected from the rankings of a week or two ago, although read on for some other changes.
Welcome Change: Multiple Listings Reduced to One
We also wondered about several businesses in markets that we monitor that had submitted, successfully, multiple listings in the Google maps section. These multiple listings have consistently been a frequent complaint about Google local. In at least one keyword family in our local market of Austin, Texas, we have monitored one of these unscrupulous advertisers that obtained three listings on the front page results of Google maps, and through the use of obviously fake reviews, was able to maintain those listings consistently. The recent change appears to have filtered out these multiple results.
Technorati wants: 6XUBGTNSNM4Y.
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We were listed as #8 just before the change, now we are #14 when searching for “Cincinnati Movers”. Our rankings changed slighlty for several other searches also. I do believe Google tweaked their search algorithms some.
That’s interesting. Yes, it’s very possible the ranking algorithm changed, just not for anything I was following. Also, could be that some data centers rolled out the changes at different times…
Interesting. I’ve also been closely following duplicate listings. Unfortunately, I’m still seeing duplicate listings by the same company on a few that I’m following. One of our clients accidentally created a new listing when they already had a listing, and their dupes are showing, too–same address, business name, telephone (etc.). I wonder if they’re cleaning things up on an industry/category case-by-case basis.
I agree with “cincinnati movers”as we have been listed from #1-#10 on google local for “atlanta movers” or “atlanta moving” and have always had the largest number of customer reviews. with the new “7″ pack we are off the main page and 90% of our reviews are gone. Our reviews have gone away in the past to come back again in a week or so. Any ideas as to why google local periodically drops valued customer reviews?
How often does google local update there data? It seems that a large part of our listing data has gone missing (reviews and webpages/citations) and I wonder if it will simply repopulate with a data dump?
I have two clients that were drastically affected by the change on Google. One who had alternated between page 1, 2 or 3 on the maps, jumped up to page one # 4 and has stayed there. Another client who had been ranked on page one of the maps for much of the last three months moved up to #7 just before the institution of the 7 rank. But then, he dropped. First he dropped to page 7. Then he has continued to drop to page 12. I have added content to his web site, submitted him to blogs and some directories, gone over his Google Local application including removal of one geographical term in the categories section, but nothing has worked. So all in all, I definitely believe that there were algorithm changes at the same time that the 7 map was instituted.
My blog was showing up for a lot of great keywords under a sub-domain, then I purchased a domain name and my old sub-domain is out ranking my new one. Weird huh! Mabey this is why.
By and large I don’t post on websites, but I would just like to mention that this article has compelled me to do so! Thank you for your perceptive post.
I have never heard of this being called the Google 10-Pack but I like it! Well I guess now it is the 7-Pack. I also use Google Maps for my Medical Website Clients and for one of them they have multiple listings with multiple reviews. I’ve been trying to get Google to take one of them down but have so far been unsuccessful. They are usually very good about this.