Understanding Google Places & Local Search – Developing Knowledge about Local Search

February 9, 2009

New Universal Local Search Result Type: Branded Local OneBox

Category: Google Places (Maps & Local) – Mike Blumenthal – 6:23 am

While Firefox is not supposed to have geolocation available until ver 3.1, it appears that Google is personalizing search results using some form of geolocation now.

Last month, David Mihm first spotted and pointed out a new Universal Local Search Result; the Branded Local One Box. The new Universal Result appears to only show in Firefox, for regional brand related searches. It requires that the searcher is in the same general area as the business.

I live in Olean and on the search for the company named Barbara Oliver & Co. Jewelry (no local modifier) which is 70 miles away in Buffalo I am presented  the new Branded Local Onebox. I get the following result in Firefox with the Google Toolbar (not Safari and not IE):
barbara-oliver-branded-oneb

David who lives in Portland searched on the business name Pacific Benefits Group and saw:

pac-benefits

Neither of our results was visible to the other. The result has only shown up in Firefox with the Google Toolbar (but not neccesarily toggled on) and for branded searches that are within the region that are within the searchers area. It does not require that I am signed into Google for the result to show.

Please consider leaving a comment as your input will help me (& everyone else) better understand and learn about local.

1 Comment »

  1. [...] development is similar to their more limited showing of a Local One Box for branded local results that started showing in [...]

    Pingback by Google Maps now showing Local 10 Pack on Broad Non Geo Phrase Searches » Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search — March 31, 2009 @ 3:37 pm

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