What Key Factors Influence Google Local/Maps Search and Google Organic Search Results?

Data below republished from moz.com, a leading company in Search Engine Ranking and Optimization, Local Search Ranking Factors 

 

 

 

 

We are Santa Barbara’s SEO Experts.

 

 

 

 

Professionals in the Search Engine Optimization business completed a survey form that asked them what key factors influence Google Local/Maps Search results and Google Organic Search Results.  Below are the results of that survey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Pack/Finder Ranking Factors (aka Google Maps)

 

 

 

 

1. Google My Business Signals (Proximity, categories, keyword in business title, etc.) 25.12%
2. Link Signals (Inbound anchor text, linking domain authority, linking domain quantity, etc.) 16.53%
3. Review Signals (Review quantity, review velocity, review diversity, etc.) 15.44%
4. On-Page Signals (Presence of NAP, keywords in titles, domain authority, etc.) 13.82%
5. Citation Signals (IYP/aggregator NAP consistency, citation volume, etc.) 10.82%
6. Behavioral Signals (Click-through rate, mobile clicks to call, check-ins, etc.) 9.56%
7. Personalization  5.88%
8. Social Signals (Google engagement, Facebook engagement, Twitter engagement, etc.) 2.82%

 

 

Google Organic Ranking Factors

 

 

 

 

1. Link Signals (Inbound anchor text, linking domain authority, linking domain quantity, etc.) 27.94%
2. On-Page Signals (Presence of NAP, keywords in titles, domain authority, etc.) 26.03%
3. Behavioral Signals (Click-through rate, mobile clicks to call, check-ins, etc.) 11.5%
4. Google My Business Signals (Proximity, categories, keyword in business title, etc.) 8.85%
5. Citation Signals (IYP/aggregator NAP consistency, citation volume, etc.) 8.41%
6. Personalization  7.32%
7. Review Signals (Review quantity, review velocity, review diversity, etc.) 6.47%
8. Social Signals (Google engagement, Facebook engagement, Twitter engagement, etc.) 3.47%

 

 

 

 

Search/Ranking Terms Explained:

 

 

 

 

GMB Listing

 

 

 

 

Google My Business Listing. Your primary listing at Google that is editable in the GMB dashboard and publicly accessible at 3 locations:

 

 

 

 

1. Google Search (knowledge panel) (example)
2. Google Maps (example)
3. Local Finder (example)

 

 

 

 

GMB Landing Page

 

 

 

 

The page that a GMB listing links to. Usually the homepage or a location page. (example)

 

 

 

 

Local Pack

 

 

 

 

The regular local 3-pack that appears for most local search terms. (example)

 

 

 

 

Local ABC Pack

 

 

 

 

A local 3-pack with A, B, and C to the left of each result. No review stars, ratings, or counts appear for this type. This pack type is returned for branded terms such as “Starbucks” and, inexplicably, for storage and gas station terms. (example)

 

 

 

 

Local Snack Pack

 

 

 

 

This style of local 3-pack appears for dining, hospitality, and entertainment terms. Results have a photo, no phone number, and no links to the website. (example)

 

 

 

 

Local Finder

 

 

 

 

The complete list of local results that appears when the “More places” link at the bottom of a local pack is clicked. (example)

 

 

 

 

Local Services Ads

 

 

 

 

These special packs are generated by Google’s paid lead generation program called Local Services. These packs appear at the top of local search results in specific industries and cities (example). For more information, please see Tom Waddington’s excellent post on the topic here.