Changes in Google Local Search – What to Expect in 2022

Table of contents:

• What is Local Search Anyway?
  • Updates for Google Local Search in 2021 – A Timeline
• Google Local Search Changes - What to Expect in 2022?
  • Google Business is Being Re-branded
  • Addition of Better Visual Elements
  • Local News Improvements
  • New Attributes for Everyone
  • Pointy Integration
  • Mobile-First Indexing
• Local Search Drives Business Success

Google local search changes are usually guided by the needs of the clients at hand, but they can also be Google pushing their own criteria for a better experience. Either way, Google local search updates happen frequently and it’s important to understand them in order to properly monitor SEO trends for your website!

What is Local Search Anyway?

Local Search is simply the optimizing of criteria that allow people local to you to find your service or business easier. Both on- and off-site planning can increase visibility in search results for local users, causing them to find you more easily. In order to optimize traffic to your business or website, it’s important to get as much local traffic as possible. This is exceptionally useful if you are a brick-and-mortar business, like a restaurant, but all businesses can benefit from local optimizations.

Updates for Google Local Search in 2021 – A Timeline

Google Local Search changes are nothing new, here is a running tally of recent changes made in 2021. January

• Older posts were placed in the knowledge panel
• The local pack contained opening dates

February

• Staff added to the knowledge panel
• The “Available Online” label was added to maps
• Review stars added to the snippets on the knowledge panel

March

• No 3-pack on mobile SERPs
• History and Owner tabs added to the knowledge panel
• Review sentiments functionality added
• Estimated costs functionality added
• New label on reviews

April

• Reviews updated with Date Visited
• Highlighted Updates

May

• The ability to hide your phone number was added.

June

• Smiley faces added to the Review filter
• Review Topics filter added
• ‘New on Google’ functionality added
• Review averages on maps for restaurants added

July

• The review section for restaurants was expanded
• ‘Areas Served’ labels updated

August

• ‘New’ view in the local pack
• 3^rd party sites now have review counts

Google Local Search Changes - What to Expect in 2022?

There are many things to consider for 2022, from important tools to optimization practices, but some of the most important factors regarding Google local search updates should be considered when planning content into the future. Here are some of the things to think about for the new year in order to best optimize your website!

Google Business is Being Re-branded

While this might not be directly relevant to your website, it’s always important to keep track of the changes with the company in charge of driving SEO practices themselves. My Business is becoming Google Business Profile in order to make local SEO more convenient for everyone. This update contained many beneficial changes and allowed all kinds of editing for your business listing.

Addition of Better Visual Elements

In order to further efficiency for Local Search, Google added many advanced website marketing strategies and allowed access to very beneficial updates, including:

• Integrated visual search, which improves the visual searching of similar items. This is activated by the integrated visual search button.
• Better functionality for info-graphics – broad queries can now be helped with a variety of informational sources allowing for a greater depth of understanding for difficult topics.
• Improved carousels which allow local customers to access more relevant information for their searches.

 Local News Improvements

By introducing modern elements and modern features into local SERPs, users can find additional help in looking for local results in their news feeds. Google has released many local search updates in order to improve the quality of local-based news searches and will include many things on the local news carousel, like top stories, more news, and even local tweets.

New Attributes for Everyone

Attributes are a great way to provide proactive answers for questions that searchers have on a variety of topics. Now, features like ‘black-owned’ or ‘woman-owned’ businesses attributes can help some people decide whether to use their services and allow you the option to better delineate your business from the rest. If you apply for these attributes, putting them on your website is a no-brainer for optimization!

Pointy Integration

With this Google local search update, Pointy Integration, US retailers now have the option to show their in-store product inventory automatically. In 2021, it was found that 50% of US shoppers had planned to check online to see if there was stock for an item at a local store, showing the need for this service. If local customers are better able to find out whether or not your store has what they’re looking for, they are much more likely to actually come to your shop to make a purchase.

Mobile-First Indexing

At the end of 2017, Google announced that it would be focusing fully on a mobile-first approach in order to optimize the use of smartphones. 76% of people use their smartphones to search for something available in their vicinity and 28% of these result in a sale, showing the tremendous impact that optimizing for cell phones provides. The focus on positive mobile experiences with your website will be the new, essential strategy for any business moving forward.

Local Search Drives Business Success

It is crucial to consider local search if your business has any relation to a physical location in the world.  By paying attention to this aspect of your business, Google’s Local Search will greatly improve your chances of qualifying for the search criteria of someone who is nearby looking for your services. This is the best way for local businesses of all kinds to connect with their audience and offer them what they need. By planning into the future and seeing what kind of Google local search changes can be expected in 2022, you can get ready beforehand and properly prepare for a successful website optimization moving into the new year. If you need help with your local business don't hesitate to contact us! We've got the experience to boost your business beyond your imagination!