Understanding Google My Business & Local Search
Google Testing Location Answer Box
Pete Meyers of Moz just pointed out an unusual new feature that Google is testing: Location Answer Box. Darren Shaw noted that it was visible via Firefox.
I see it regardless of whether location is set or whether I am logged in, if the query is specific enough to generate a single answer.
IE Dress Barn Locations Amherst gives me the Local Address Answer Box
If however the query returns multiple answers it still delivers a Pack Result:
I was able to see results for brands other than Dress Barn if (again) there is only one in the market:
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Comments
14 Comments
Good find.
What troubles me is that Google’s ability to broadcast address info lags behind its ability to make sure that info is correct.
Not a fan of this.
@Phil
Good point.
Another good one made by Pete… how is this superior to the One Box?
Why do searchers need another format?
A good way of getting these results to Show is by adding Where in front of the name
i.e
“Where UK Small Business Directory”
I’m also finding it could be tld specific
I.e I search on Google.co.uk and it comes up fine foer UK located business, but not if I search using google.com
More here – http://www.sim64.co.uk/blog/new-google-layout-for-where-is/
@Terry
Thanks for the insights.
@Gyi
Yes mobile would explain the layout.
@Mike –
how is this superior to the One Box? Why do searchers need another format?
Perhaps because One Box doesn’t do so hot on mobile?
Then again, doesn’t look like either feature is showing up on my iPhone, yet…
Why do searchers need another format?
if you have google glass you really understand how valuable is the one box answer is especially in local.
i did a test where i provided information about my client to freebase and in a matter of a month the location box was showing (probably 3 weeks from now) for the local and others based on the data i provided to freebase …
Phil’s point is good. Avis has more than one location in Portland. Gee I might not want to go to that particular location. On top of that the query itself was plural.
On mobile I thought the response of a map above the onebox with links was okay. On mobile or a pc, the organic results describe what I learned from Bill Slawski are entity results. The first, x number of results all go to the same url/ website responses.
Outside of local many webmasters with a lot of content just hate these google responses. They push all the various content and sites further down the page, cost web publishers traffic… and who knows but google if it really provides the searcher with “answers”.
But I think Phil nailed it with his comment….Can google deliver good answers when it comes to address and location? Can they correct the mistakes quickly?
In the Avis locations query the specifics of the query are more than one location.
Phil: you nailed it imho. 😉
Thanks, Dave. Great points. Google just has this unfortunate habit of burping into the megaphone. Cranking up the volume on the megaphone is the last thing they need to work on.
Phil… Burp into the megaphone… LOL! This might be a more southbound body noise amplification.
Hi Mike,
I just wrote about this topic and was able to produce some other similar results like you mentioned in your article…
But i also came across a local carousel for one of the searches “BRAND + LOCATIONS” in the restaurant segment.
See:
http://blog.kennstdueinen.de/2014/01/google-testet-neue-local-antwort-box-auf-den-serps-zeigt-local-carousel-bei-filial-suchen-an/
It seems to me, that this specific carousel is displayed instead of the 7-Pack (like in your 2nd example screenshot), because it’s a touristic search query and that’s what the carousel is aiming at primarily…
Cheers!
– Sebastian
@Wissam & Gyi
Great point. I agree that this format would be useful in Glass and possibly in mobile. That does however beg the question of why they are showing it on the desktop where it is butt ugly and they do NOT appear to be showing on mobile.
@Sebastien
Interesting find. I can reproduce it on your search but not on any others.
I like what Phil has said in the comments here. This is critical info to any business and Google needs to be sure they can get this info right and that it updates at the moment a business wants it updated.
Google burping in the megaphone. I’m loving that. Thanks Phil!
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