Google maps

[Palms]

I used to be on the first page of google maps and now you have to click on "other flowers in widnes" before you see me.

I am also on the first page for flowers and chair covers and balloons, but with the latter two, my competition seem to be in front of me.

I know this probably seems ok but i think google maps is taken much notice of. And, i worry that the flower search may go soon as well.

Has anyone any suggestions. I do update my site regularly and i also put in the right key words.

Do i need to ppc.

 

[artistry in bloom]

I don't know if it's the same in England but about two months ago google changed google maps in Canada to be based on a GPS system. They picked a specific point in the center of town and now what page you show up on is based only on how far you are from that point . I used to be on page 1 too and now I am back on page 3 even though I am less than 2 miles from the center of town.What really annoys me is that there are 2 corner grocery stores that sell buckets of flowers outfront. They do not arrange the flowers, they don't deliver and they don't have websites but because they put "food and florist" in their names they both come up on page 1. Less than 10% of the population of Victoria lives in the center of town and all the the florists here deliver anywhere in Victoria so I don't know why being right in the center should have so much pull as to where you come up on google maps.Google doesn't differentiate depending on the type of business you are in which is unfortunate.I suppose for a lot of businesses it would be important how far you are from the center of town.Since all this happened I now come up on page 1 below the map section which is good but it has still hurt my business when I dropped from page 1 to page 3 on google maps.

Dianne

 

[CHR]

Google Local/Maps Ranking Factors

There are a lot of factors that contribute to placement in Google Local/Maps searches. Read the above article and see where you can improve your citations and/or info.

City centroid is now less a factor than it used to be. Citations from third parties are now much more important.

 

[artistry in bloom]

Hi CHR,

I think things may be a bit different in Canada than the USA. I wish we were more like the USA in relation to google but there seem to be a few differences. I had a similar list to the one you have .I spent months trying to do as much as I could from this list- good reviews, video, pictures, keywords,adwords, coupons, etc etc. and finally after a lot of work I made it to page one on google maps in most search terms. Then suddenly about two months ago everything changed. No matter what I did it didn't seem to make any difference. I asked my web people to look into it and that's when I was told about the GPS system determining where you show up on google maps. My web people mapped out the city showing where all the florists are and it did show that the main factor here seems to be how far you are from the center of town.I wish it wasn't so but when we have 2 corner convenience stores that don't even have websites that are in the top 10- page one and a florist that has been out of business for over a year- also with no active website- also on page 1 location does seem to have more influence here.We also cannot edit businesses here unless they are our own so if we see a business that has closed or moved there doesn't seem to be any way to get it removed.I would love to have some way of contacting google to ask them specific questions. I have even gone on their forums to ask questions and have not had any replies. It is really frustrating!

Dianne

 

[theRKF]

Dianne,

CHR is right (shock!) about the centroid being less of an issue than it used to be - even for us in Canada. Review David Mihm's list that Cathy linked to. Get citations from Canadian sources. Get reviews on Maps and other relevant sites.

Ryan

 

[artistry in bloom]

Hi Ryan,

This is a real puzzle to me because if you look at Victoria you will see that all the florists on page 1 are closest to the center of town and 2 of them aren't even real florists(corner convenience stores) , Ballantynes has been closed for a year, and one other florist doesn't even have a website .Of the 7 "florists" on page 1 that means that 4 don't even have websites so I can't understand the logic. If what you do with your website is so important than how do you get to page 1 if you don't even have a website and as far as relevance goes how do you get there if you don't even do floral arrangements or deliver them ?
I guess I don't understand because I am one of only 3 florists in Victoria that has any google reviews and I have had my business mentioned on as many sites as I have been able to find so far.I have added a video, pictures, etc, etc . I looked at CHR's list a while back and did as much on the list as I could. It did work and I was on page 1 for about 8 months and then suddenly 2 months ago everything changed and the original list of florists that was on page one(that included me) changed to the current list of businesses that don't have websites, reviews, pictures, etc etc.
It wasn't just me this happened to either.It was other florists as well. I am listed on Shopping in Victoria(shopping in Canada) and suddenly they also dropped way back - not on google maps but on google searches. At least I have finally made it to page 1 for "florist Victoria BC" and several other relevant search phrases and am actually now placed higher than most of the sites I pay to be listed on but on google maps I am way back on page 3.
Anyway I don't know what the explanation is and I don't know what I am doing wrong but it sure isn't from lack of trying.

Dianne

 

[Palms]

Google Local/Maps Ranking Factors

There are a lot of factors that contribute to placement in Google Local/Maps searches. Read the above article and see where you can improve your citations and/or info.

City centroid is now less a factor than it used to be. Citations from third parties are now much more important.

Thanks Cathy, this looks great and i see you have had some input too. I have just had a skim over this and will print it out and read it later slowly with a coffee and a highlighter pen. I think i have already done some of the stuff but definately some more pointers for me to get on with. I may have some more questions later

Ryan, how can i change the title of my site? I remember doing this when i was with one and one but not sure if it is as still relevant as it should be?

 

[theRKF]

Of the 7 "florists" on page 1 that means that 4 don't even have websites so I can't understand the logic. If what you do with your website is so important than how do you get to page 1 if you don't even have a website and as far as relevance goes how do you get there if you don't even do floral arrangements or deliver them ?

Maps rankings are only partially influenced by your site. The Local 7 Pack points to "places" - Google pages about a specific location (aka your local business listing). Not having a website is not a block against achieving a Local ranking.

Ryan