Easiest way to get out of Google local results?

[ccgale]

Odd one this, but what's the easiest way to remove a website from the Google local listings? Would removing all the Google map listings do the job?

A client of ours is suffering massively since the Google update in the middle of last month. Previously they would appear no1 or no2 in the local results and normally 1 or 2 in the organic results. However, since the middle of last month any time they rank on the first page for a local result, their organic result has dropped massively to at least page 4.

If I set my location as something different in google, say 100 miles away, they then rank well for the organic listings (obviously not appearing for local searches). When I change it back to my current location the organic listing is gone and they are back to ranking for the local. Since the middle of July the traffic from search engines has dropped about 65%. All the organic rankings remain as strong as ever just not in the areas where they want to get customers from!! The idea is to remove the local listing and get the organics reranking as the ctr on those is much much higher.

On a side note, anyone else notice very poor ctr on google local listings? Maybe users feel they are adverts

thanks

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Carl,

You are not alone in wondering about this phenomenon in which a local listing appears to make organic visibility disappear. We've had several questions come into Q&A about this recently. In fact, what is happening is that the organic listing has typically been absorbed into the local blended listing which contains both first party data (like, from the company's website) + 3rd party data from Google's local index and other sources.

If clients are concerned, it will be helpful to educate them about this and, also, to show them heatmap/eyetracking studies like this one that shows how local listings get the lion's share of eyes on them in the SERPs:

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/eyetracking-google-serps

Many such studies have reached similar conclusions. Because of this, a high local blended rank is generally to be prized.

In the past, it was common for dominant businesses to have both a local listings and an organic one on the same page of the SERPs. I saw this everywhere, all the time. Now, I am hard put to come up with a single example of the results being configured in this way. Now, pretty much all local results are blended results and the appropriate goal for most local businesses is to get a high blended local listing for their main search phrases.

Regarding deleting the local presence from Google's index, it's really important to realize that this can be really tough to do - some would say impossible. Remember, Google can create a local page for any business at any time from third party data, hence, all the unclaimed listings that have always existed in their local index because they were created from third party sources and not from the say-so of the business owner. So, unless the client were to remove every reference to his local business from his website and across the entire web, there is always the chance that Google will re-create a profile for the business without his permission.

Because of this factor, and because of the vast power Google now has over the local business scene, business owners have had to determine to learn to play the 'game' with Google as well as they can. In most cases, the highest goal being aimed for is a high-ranking blended listing, which it sounds like your client has achieved. So, typically, this would be a time for congratulations rather than concern.

Hope these thoughts are helpful to you!

[JustDucky]

Carl - A couple of peple have questioned whether their listings in local caused declines in non-local results.

You mentioned that the problem you described coincided with a Penquin update.    Penguin appears to be penalize the keywords contained in the offending links as well as set a sitewide ceiling on organic referrals per day.

Is there a reasonable chance the site is penalized by Penguinn?  If so, are the offending keywords the non-local or local variety?   You've probably done so, but I'd inspect the IBL's carefully before I'd delete any reputable links.

[ccgale]

yes, will give it ago. Annoying to lose the local potions but would rather have the organic ones back. thanks for the help

[tomcraig86]

Hmm, this sounds very strange.

If removing the places page will fix your problem temporarily then perhaps this is something to do then, but continue to look online to see whether there are any other things you can do to get those listings back!

[ccgale]

Hi Tom

Thanks for the reply. Yes, all the pages on the site are optimised well. Prior to the middle of last month the client would rank normally 1 or 2 in organic and have a local listing on the same page. However, since the middle of last month (the date seems to exactly match the last Panda refresh) we cannot seem to have a local and organic listing on the same page. The organic listings still rank very well if the location of the user is removed from the box so the google local vanishes.

All very puzzling. While it would be ideal to keep the local listings, at the moment they are causing considerably more harm than good as they are stopping us ranking organically.

Have checked other competitors in the niche and it appears the same with them. All the sites in the local listings have vanished in the organic listings.

[tomcraig86]

Technically, yes, removing the Google Page will remove the results, but I'd think twice before doing it personally.

Have you checked all of your on page content to make sure your page is fully optimised for your location? I've found that our Google Places listing compliments ours, but yes the places listings get a lower click through rate.