Newsletter #43

The 2018 Local Search Ranking Factors Survey Results Are In

November 21, 2018

Whitespark's Monthly Local Search Newsletter

Local InsiderNovember 2018

The 2018 Local Search Ranking Factors Survey Results Are In! As the landscape of local search changes year to year, it's exciting to see the shifts in the areas that require focus and dedication to beat the competition and earn the top ranking positions in search results.

Cheers,Team Whitespark

Darren on the Moz Blog Announcing the 2018 Local Search Ranking Factors SurveyIt has been another year (and a half) since the last publication of the Local Search Ranking Factors, and local search continues to see significant growth and change. The biggest shift this year is happening in Google My Business signals, but we’re also seeing an increase in the importance of reviews and continued decreases in the importance of citations. Check out Darren's suggestions for what areas you need to focus on in your local search strategy for 2019.

Upcoming Webinar Local Search Ranking FactorsLocal rankings shift at Google's whim. Get ahead of change with insights from the Local Search Ranking Factors Survey. This annual study surveyed top practitioners in local search to find out what works so you can focus your local SEO efforts where they’ll matter most.

Join Darren & Dr. Pete on Thursday November 29th, 10:00 am-11:00am PST, where they will discuss: Which factors are absolutely necessary when it comes to ranking in the local results? Which factors are competitive difference-makers that can push your rankings further? Is proximity to searcher still the number-one ranking factor?

ResourcesTop 35 Local Citation Sources in Canada - UpdatedThe top local citation sources in Canada have undergone some significant changes over the past 6+ months. If you're wondering which citations have the most influence in the Canadian local search ecosystem check out our updated list of the Top 35 citations; if you need help cleaning up your listings on any of these sites we've got you covered with our Citation Audit and Cleanup Service.

Click here to download a copy of our updated Top Citation Sources by Country resource - includes the updated Canadian sites, and the top sites for 14 other countries.

Around The Web

New Google My Business App Launched

Google has redesigned the GMB app to make it easier to view and edit a profile, share new posts and photos, and attract more customers. Tim Capper goes through the newest features and shares screenshots of what you can expect. Google is still rolling out this app, so more features will be added over time.

Google Rolls Out New Local 4-Packs for Hotels

There is a new user interface for hotel results in the local pack on desktop searches. Sergey Alakov is the first to report on this new pack, and shares his thoughts on where hotel marketers may want to focus their attention when it comes to their listing.

Yelp’s Heyday Is Over

“The bottom line seems to be that Yelp has a big trust issue, both with consumers and the businesses who advertise.” With increasing competition from other platforms like Google, and Instagram, businesses are taking their advertising dollars elsewhere.

It’s Not Too Late To Localize Your Black Friday SEO Strategy

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are closing in. Andrew Shotland reminds you that you still have time to implement the basics with some very simple website updates, and take advantage of one of the biggest revenue generators of the year.

What the Local Customer Service Ecosystem Looks Like in 2019

Local customer service is a commitment to being accessible to people whenever, wherever, and however they need it. "When you subtract the medium, the device, the screen, it’s two very human people on either side of every transaction," Miriam Ellis shares how brands can get to the heart of commerce in 2019.

Algorithm Analysis In the Age of Embeddings (Advanced SEO & Technical Read)

"Recent Google algorithm updates are changes to their understanding of language. E-A-T won't help you navigate these changes." AJ Kohn believes that the 'E-A-T' update is wrong, and you may too after you read this intelligent and through analysis.