What drives the position of the local pack in a google SERP?

[adriandg]

I have noticed that sometimes search results appear above the local pack, and sometimes the local pack is right at the top.  What causes this? is there a way to induce it?

[dignan99]

HI Mike...

I'd love to discuss with you a couple of my findings, any chance you're on Skype?

[MBayes]

In general we have found that if a local site has a significantly higher PA or DA  and no Local places account it will rank above the Maps.

[dignan99]

I believe distance from the city center has also become extremely important.  It seems this took a back seat for a while, but may have made a comeback.

[ninjamarketer]

Local ranking factors has a lot in common to regular search ranking factors including quality and quantity of links, content LDA score, and several other metrics.

However, there are lot of other metrics that Google generally looks at to rank a site locally.

• local place page with correct information ( address, correct category, phone # , map icon)

• Profiles on local directories ( superpages, citysearch.com, angielists ..)

• Local citations (links from local directories and sites like chamber of commerce, BBB, local small business groups)

• reviews (Google and other local websites like Yelp, citysearch, judysbook)

Here is a link to a website that provides extensive research work on local ranking factors.

Here is another links to awesome SMX Seattle 2011 breakaway session on local ranking factors.

[flowsimple]

Hmm I'm curious about this too..

One of things I've noticed is that Google more often shows the local pack first when it's a singular search term, like "hair salon miami" and search results first when it's a plural search like "hair salons miami" I've seen this pattern a lot, so I think that might be one of the factors.