Local search results appearing above Organic

[Sparkstone]

Hello,

I've just performed a search for the query 'outdoor clothing' using Google Incognito mode and I've added the screenshots below to show my findings. The first attempt at the search only showed local results then when I clicked search again adverts were shown.

I found this very odd, normally I'd see the local results after the 3rd of 4th organic result.Have Google changed their algorithm or is this just random?

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8643/incognito1.jpg

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/6382/incognito2jf.jpg

Thanks,

Dan

[esztanyo]

I noticed this with one of my clients who is a real estate agent.  Our placement stayed the same, but the organic has now blended in with the local result.  One big down side right now is that it cuts our Title tag in half because the Local result is shorter.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Dan, My guess from your question is that you may be a virtual business competing against local businesses for your specified search term. As you've probably seen over the past few years, Google is placing increased emphasis on their local results whenever they believe a search may have a local intent. Your search term could definitely have a local intent, so this is Google's reason for showing these local businesses. You are correct that one of Google's displays is to show their local results below 1-3 organic results. But, another quite common display is for the local results to be first on the page. This is what is showing in your first link. If you saw the display for this kw phrase go from one type to the other, that is just a sign of Google's constant changes to their presentation of data. It could stay the way it is today, or change tomorrow. So, for virtual businesses who do not qualify for inclusion due to lack of physical location, results like these can be a huge drag. But for local business owners, they are great. Google's goal is to present the information they believe will be most relevant and helpful to the user. In the case you've cited, Google has decided that more people want local results than organic ones, presumably.

[TomRayner]

Noticed it too and it absolutely sucks.  Don't expect Google to change it any time soon.

Two ways to act on this - make sure that your Google+ local is down to a tee, first of all.  Second, start targetting those keywords without those map results.

It may well be that those keywords end up being more long-tail/better converters anyway, like buy outdoor clothing.

Keep an eye on this SERP and analytics - if the map maintains its place, see if that has a reflection on your traffic and conversion (provided you maintain your organic ranking).  It may be worth maintaining optimisation for the term if people are as annoyed as you and I by the maps and scroll right past them.