This past week the top ranking factors for local search in 2017 were revealed. Google has been implementing efforts to turn Image Search into a shopping destination. Search results for blogs have received a facelift. Lastly, a new trick was discovered which will make it easier than ever for site owners to submit URLs to Google’s index.
Details about each of these top stories are included in this week’s SEO & SEM news roundup.
2017 Local Search Ranking Factors
Moz has released its 2017 survey of local search ranking factors. Ranking factors are separated by rankings in Google’s local pack, and rankings in Google’s organic local search results. Local pack ranking factors seem to have been given more of an emphasis this year, which could be because the local pack appears before organic search snippets when searching for a local business.
Results from the survey are based on the opinions of dozens of local search experts. Experts were asked to provide opinions on what they believe are this year’s top ranking factors in local search. Moz then compiled the results into multiple lists of top 50 ranking factors.
In addition to top local pack ranking factors, and top local organic search ranking factors — the experts were also asked about what they’re focusing on since the possum update, what they’re focusing on less since the possum update, and what they believe are the top negative local ranking factors.
In the interest of brevity, we’ll just go over the top 10 ranking factors for the local pack and organic local search results. For further information, we encourage you to view the results of the survey in full.
Top 10 Local Pack Finder Factors
- Proximity of Address to the Point of Search (Searcher-Business Distance)
- Physical Address in City of Search
- Proper GMB Category Associations
- Quality/Authority of Inbound Links to Domain
- Consistency of Citations on the Primary Data Sources
- Domain Authority of Website
- Product/Service Keyword in GMB Business Title
- Quality/Authority of Structured Citations
- Consistency of Citations on Tier 1 Citation Sources
- Click-Through Rate from Search Results
Top 50 Local Organic Factors
- Quality/Authority of Inbound Links to Domain
- Domain Authority of Website
- Diversity of Inbound Links to Domain
- Topical (Product/Service) Keyword Relevance of Domain Content
- Quantity of Inbound Links to Domain
- Quantity of Inbound Links to Domain from Locally-Relevant Domains
- Click-Through Rate from Search Results
- Geographic (City/Neighborhood) Keyword Relevance of Domain Content
- Product/Service Keywords in Anchor Text of Inbound Links to Domain
- Mobile-Friendly/Responsive Website
New Design for Blog Search Results
A new look for blog search results has been quietly rolled out in Google organic search. There are two notable features of this new look, which are carousels and rich lists.
When typing in a search for a category of blogs, such as “tech blogs”, Google will return either a carousel or a rich list which appears above the organic set of search results.
Here is an example of a carousel:
Here is an example of a rich list:
For some reason, Google has designed these new features in a way that tapping on the name of a blog will not bring you directly to the blog itself. Rather, it will automatically conduct a new search for the name of the blog.
With that in mind, this new design for blog search results may not be an immediate boon for new traffic. However, at the very least, it has the potential to improve visibility for authoritative blogs in a given niche.
Similar Items in Google Image Search
In mobile search, and the Android search app, Google has launched “similar items” suggestions within Image Search. As the name of the feature would imply, it is designed to help searchers find products similar to the one they were initially searching for.
The feature is currently very limited, only supporting searches for handbags, sunglasses, and shoes. Google says it will add support for other apparel, as well as home & garden items, over the next few months.
In addition to providing suggestions for similar items, the suggested products will also include information about pricing and availability from the online store where the image was pulled from.
If you run an online store and want to see your products show up in ‘Similar items’ suggestions, the first step is to add schema.org product metadata to the pages of all products you wish to include. Products with name, image, price & currency, and availability meta-data are eligible for inclusion. Use the Structured Data Testing Tool to make sure the markup has been added correctly.
Google reminds that it may take up to a week for Googlebot to crawl your site and include the new additions to search results.
Style Ideas in Google Image Search
In a feature similar to the one we mentioned above, Google is adding “style ideas” to Google Image Search. These are available in either mobile search, or on the Android search app.
Now, when you search for a product and tap on one of the image results, Google will provide a grid containing examples of how the product can be worn in real life. So if you need to find shoes to match your favorite bag, or a tie to match your favorite suit, Google Image Search now has the answer.
Submitting URLs to Google’s Search Index
A new Google Search trick was spotted this week, which makes it easier than ever to submit URLs to Google’s index. Previously, if you wanted to manually submit URLs to Google’s index, it would have to be done through Google Search Console. Now, you can just type “submit URL to Google” in the search bar and you’ll see a box like the one below.
Just enter your URL, confirm you’re not a robot, and hit “Submit.” That’s all there is to it. Keep in mind this just speeds up the indexing process, it’s certainly not necessary to manually submit every new URL. Googlebot is capable of finding and adding new URLs to Google’s index whether they have been manually submitted or not, it just might take a little longer.
Wrapping it Up
This year’s local search ranking factors have been revealed, a new design has been rolled out for blog searches, Google is making strides to become your personal fashion consultant, and you can now submit URLs to Google’s index with a simple search trick.
Pam Aungst
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