In the last year Google’s Local Listings 10 pack that displays during relevant local search results has become a vital marketing hub for many small local businesses. Many local businesses success has been largely influenced by their ranking on the Google local 10. Because of this many service providers who service areas beyond their local address or zip code would use false addresses and create listings in neighboring cities. The service provider’s had always serviced that market but with the launch of the Google Local map they where getting edged out by competitors who’s address was in that city or zip-code. This was a major problem for mobile service providers.

Companies that created multiple listings would often find that their listing would be automatically merged by Google with their initial listing and than removed from the map as stated in the Google Quality Guidelines.

Finally Google has giving that option in the Google Local Business center dashboard for participating business members to state if they are a mobile service provider and they can even outline they cities they service specifically.

This changes the optimization and SEO factors for listings to a more traditionally relevancy model that Google uses for its natural organic search, the difference being that their are parameter set for local areas and zip code inclusion. It will be interesting to see of this new dynamic will affect search rankings for local businesses.

This is a great feature for consumers because now searches can see the best 10 businesses with the highest reviews that service their area rather than just the local businesses that are in their zip code. It also looks to be a great for small business people! As expected with all Goggle projects there will be some bugs but hopefully through crowd sourcing they will continue to evolve the local search beyond its current state.

If you have a local business listing be sure to adjust the local setting: Look for the Service area & Location Settings dialogue box. (see image to left) You can then select if you provide services at your place of business or if you provide services at i.e. a plumber, roofer, & electrician.

A user can select to hide their address from search results. (this is a good option for business that work from home)

Users have the option to either choose a radius around their location, or you can choose specific cities that your business services.

The outlined service area will appear as the image below. Once you have covered your service area resubmit your listing and you are good to go.