One of the changes Google made when they dropped all 7-pack local results with 3-packs is they removed phone numbers and full addresses in the 3-pack for generic (ie. non-brand) searches. One could not get the complete address unless they clicked through to the map page with the local results.
This is huge news for local SEOs and local businesses who were impacted by this change.
This change is brand new – I noticed it while taking screenshots for the Home Service ads being displayed with 3-packs.
Google’s removal of phone numbers and full addresses was one that many local marketers found annoying when Google made their major changes to local results earlier this year. It required users to make an extra click if they wanted to know either the phone number or exact address – Google would only show the street but not the street numbers in the 3-pack.
Here are some examples of the new changes in action.
However, restaurant searches do not. While they now display the full address, they still do not show phone numbers.
These changes do seem to have rolled out internationally. It is showing in the UK:
As well as in Canada:
This is a fabulous change for local SEOs and businesses. The removal of the phone numbers and addresses was one of the changes that hurt local businesses the most, because it made two pieces of crucial information an extra click away.
However, like everything Google does, this could be removed. But since it was already removed and now added back, it should hopefully be sticking around.
Jennifer Slegg
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Brad says
Not seeing this rolled out in the UK yet, hopefully it wont be long! Let’s hope they actually keep it in place too
Nick R says
Welcome news indeed but not seeing any sign of it here in the UK yet when searching on google.co.uk Keeping fingers crossed that it’ll show up soon 🙂
Shelby Schack says
I think Dave is on to something. At least some of the people within Google have read, and advocate for the Google philosophy, published here as Ten things we know to be true.