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Understanding Google My Business & Local Search

Distinguishing the Local Carousel from the Knowledge Graph Carousel

The Knowledge Graph Carousel was first introduced in August of last year. The Local Carousel was introduced formally last week although it had been appearing regularly before that. While there are similarities between the two types of carousel, they do not return quite the same information or display and it might foster some confusion on results that one thinks should be local that are not and vice versa.

How can you tell them apart?

Here are two carousels, one of each type, for roughly the same search result (one was misspelled).

Top level search differences:

Knowledge Graph Carousel Museums NYC

Screen Shot 2013-06-23 at 8.17.38 AM

 

Local Carousel Musueums NYC

Screen Shot 2013-06-23 at 8.18.32 AM

 

Differences: The traditional Knowledge Graph Carousel typically displays logos and the right side panel is for the first, most popular result. The Local Carousel shows a map on the right side panel, typically does not display logos and does display photographs. Most importantly the Local Carousel displays Zagat rating and total reviews.

Interior view differences:

When you click into one of the results there are subtle differences as well.

Knowledge Graph Carousel Museums NYC – American Museum of Natural History

Screen Shot 2013-06-23 at 8.19.14 AM

 

Local Carousel Museums NYC – American Museum of Natural History

Screen Shot 2013-06-23 at 8.18.16 AM

 

Differences: Since there is not “top level” results for the Knowledge Graph Carousel there is no link above the photos on the carousel like with the Local Carousel. The location specific panels are different as well. The Local Carousel panel shows more information from the G+ page and Streeview if available. It displays the phone number higher in the display and offers up the opportunity to write a review.

Panel Differences:

Knowledge Graph Panel

Screen Shot 2013-06-23 at 9.23.07 AM

 

Local Carousel Panel

Screen Shot 2013-06-23 at 9.22.49 AM

Differences: There are other differences as you scroll deeper into the panel as well. On the Local Carousel panel Google shows reviews from around the web, recommendations from those in my + circles and other similar listings. The Knowledge Graph panel shows more general detail as well.

Questions you never asked have now been answered. 🙂