What’s Up with the Local Search Results…. Who the f knows?

I was sitting on my office, doing “research” and did the same local search (Custom Jewelry Design Williamsville) on my iPhone in three different Google mobile environments; Safari, Chrome and the Google App. All within seconds of each other.

Next time your boss comes and asks you what’s up with the local search results, throw up your hands, show him this post and reflect knowingly “who the f knows….”. Be sure to note that even though you were not at your desk when he first came by, you were using your time wisely.

Updated: Just for good luck we have added a mobile search from Stephen Davies of the UK. Why have 3 variations when four (or who knows how many more) can do?

Safari browser result. 1500 Pixels high. Includes category, 3 facetted search options, and website content.

Chrome browser result. The longest clocking at almost 1600 Pixels high. Like the Safari result Includes category, 3 facetted search options, and website content but also includes review content.

Google App (iPhone) result. The shortest pack result clocking at just under 1200 Pixels high. No category, only 1 faceted search result, no review stars, no web content, no review content, no images. Most importantly (as pointed out by Stephen Davies) it includes direct access to calling and driving directions. It also includes the more button. Go figure.

And one more variation…. As seen from the UK via Android Chrome. Thanks to Stephen Davies.

Comments

6 Comments

Donnie Strompf (3 comments)

October 5, 2018 at 1:45 pm

Maybe Google creates the best UX for Chrome on purpose? So people switch to their platform

Mike Blumenthal (3913 comments)

October 5, 2018 at 1:47 pm

Maybe… although I find the UK ones the most useful and their Chrome is slightly different than ours…

Joe Goldstein (51 comments)

October 5, 2018 at 2:23 pm

Hah. Google experiments with different formats for search results. News at 11.

Jorge Sheffy (12 comments)

October 6, 2018 at 1:42 pm

It’s darn near impossible to ever know what’s going on with search, local search, or Google in general… ever.

I’ve found some odd search results where there are no star ratings show in the local pack. It almost looks like there are no ratings but when you expand the results, lots of reviews! They’re above the 5 threshold that you used to need to have them show in the local pack yet none of the listings had star ratings.

Search “car moving denver co” and no reviews shown, click into more results, still no start. Then, click into a listing and presto! 23 reviews with great ratings. It just looks odd but I’d imagine just another test with Google.

So, just to confirm, I don’t know what the f is up with local search, search, or anything with Google, ever.