Google is hoping searchers add local reviews to businesses with a new “Write a Review” test in the search results within the local knowledge panel. Here is what it looks like on mobile: It is a call to action style box within the local knowledge panel with “Write a review” showing underneath the section on […]
Google Shows Special Ad Note for Vehicles in Local Ad Pack
If you are a care dealership or work in the vehicle industry, this new change Google has made to the mobile local pack ads is pretty interesting. It highlights the type of vehicle dealership it is at the top of the local pack ad units. I have spotted Google doing more testing of the local […]
Google Showing “From the Menu” Photos, Adds Photo Uploads for Local Restaurants
Google has added a new feature to the restaurant local knowledge panels. It is a section called “From the menu” that shows photos people have taken specifically of the food from the restaurant. Here is what it looks like: Note the blue camera image on the right above the photos of dishes. You can click […]
Google AdWords Testing Click to Text Business Option in Mobile Ads
Google is testing a new click to text option in Google AdWords ads that appear on mobile. While some businesses have an option to call, these ones are specific to a text only option, allowing a searcher to text the business instead of phoning. Here is what it looks like (screenshot taken earlier this week): […]
Google Testing “Add a Missing Place” in Local 3-Pack
Google is testing a way to solicit new businesses from searchers in the search results, using the local 3-pack. When a local 3-pack shows up without a third listing, Google instead includes a “Something missing? Add the missing place” in this test. This is not just for searchers who might want to add their favorite […]
Google Serving AdWords Local 4-Packs in Mobile Search Results
Google is stepping up their local pack ads in a big way. Google is testing new 4-pack local ads, showcases up to 4 “nearby businesses” for local related mobile search queries. This is pretty significant, since it is expanding Google’s expansion into local pack style ads. But it pushes down the organic search results when […]
Google Showing Blue Pins in Local 3-Pack to Mark Higher Relevancy
Google is testing a new colored pin within the map that displays in Google’s local 3-pack. The test shows one of the icons blue, while the remaining are marked in the usual red. Here is how it looks: The reason seems to be that Google is showing blue for the result with the higher relevancy […]
Google Testing Local 3-Pack Near Bottom of Search Results Page
Many are used to seeing Google’s local 3-pack appearing near the top of the search results – underneath the AdWords ads with occasionally a single organic result above the local 3-pack. This means that instead of the lcoal 3-pack appearing above the fold, it won’t show up until either near the bottom of the fold […]
Google Local Testing 2-Packs for Local Search Results
Google seems to be testing replacing their local 3-packs with 2-packs instead, even for queries that would normally show 3 results, and with many results showing in the “more places.” The map itself is still showing 3 icons, even though there are only 2 results displayed below it. There are lots of examples where Google […]
Google Testing Click to Call on Organic Generic Local Queries
Many are used to seeing click to call feature in the mobile results for Google AdWords results. You also sometimes see it for specific brand queries or on generic queries when you start going pages deep in the results. But now Google is testing click to call for businesses on the first page of the […]