Google ads, Google places, Google ranking, Local search, Marketing news, News, PPC ads, SEO,
An Important Change from Google
It might not seem that long ago that when you typed “vets in [your location]” into Google the results would include lots of ‘places’ listed alongside a map. We refer to this as a ‘pack’
Appearing in this pack is a key tool to get found by people searching for a local service. So you had to make sure your place was showing but as long as you added all your information and verified the listing, it was pretty straightforward.
Then Google cut it down to only show three places; a 3 pack. So now we all have to work a bit harder to make sure our practice shows in the top three. We refer to this as ‘optimising our Google Place’ and a well optimised place will include all practice information and description, website and social media links, images and reviews.
Results for a search of “vets in Fulham” from a desktop computer
The same search performed on a mobile – very easy for potential clients to see and to click on the map to look for directions quickly
It also depends a lot on your competition, if they are also optimising their place then you all have to keep adding more content, more images, more reviews to show in the 3 pack.
The Important Change
Now Google is rumoured to be cutting this down to just a 2 pack plus an advert. For their own marketing revenue this makes perfect sense – that pack is key search result retail estate. Appearing in them takes more and more specialist SEO work. So now you can shortcut it and just pay Google!
The good news
If your SEO team is struggling to get you into the current 3 pack, this means you can pay your way to the top!
The bad news
There is now even less space to appear here organically so your SEO needs to go up another gear. Although you can ‘just pay’ to appear in the paid for slot, if your competitors also want to appear there, you could be in a bidding war and things could get expensive.
What to do
If you don’t already, start optimising your Google place (also referred to as Google My Business), claim it, verify it, update all details and add more information. Link to it, link from it.
What we can do
- Help you build your Google reviews. Our new website is due to be launched soon, this includes new functionality (you can read more about that here) including prompting clients to leave you a Google review after leaving you one on your VetHelpDirect.com listing.
- We can manage your SEO for you, this includes managing your Google places and Google Ads. We can only work with one practice per location so please get in touch now to book your area.
