AMAZING NEW LOCAL SEARCH LISTINGS FROM GOOGLE NOW AVAILABLE!
Not a regular GMB 3-pack... Much better!!!
In the middle of 2019 Google quietly started to show the new medium in the main search page when we searched for local businesses. Back then, it seemed to be another Google experiment and only a handful of categories of local business were shown.
One year later things has changed: in the mid 2020 this new cool feature has spread to practically all local business categories in any city of the USA.
Here is the example of the page type, the keyword "hair salon near me" returns:
:
What is interesting: the traditional "3-pack" of Google My Business is still there at the top of the page. But now we have a rich-card-carousel-type "5-pack".
Also, it is worth noting the following:
1. SEARCH BY PHOTOS
This new feature is called "Search by Photos".
2. NOT AN IMAGE SEARCH. ITS LOCAL SEARCH
Unlike traditional Google Image Search, it shows nearby businesses with physical locations.
3. MOBILE SCREEN ONLY
This feature works on smartphones only, not on desktop or even tablet browsers versions. Welcome Mobile First from Google!
4. DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAROUSEL
There are several types of carousels:
a. Similar to the one in the first animated screenshot above, when the picture takes the whole surface of the card with average star ratings
b. Similar to the first type, but it has both stars AND the number of reviews.
c. Cards where the image occupies only the top half of the card and the bottom is white background with reviews and stars.
5. MAIN PHOTO - NOT A COVER PHOTO (IN MOST CASES..)
The main picture on the card is not the same as the headline image of the GMB profile. If you tap on the card - regular GMB business card opens... Well, not completely "regular" , since the first image in this scenario will not be the same as the main image on the GMB listing. Quite the opposite effect happens: the image that was on the card in Search by Photos becomes the headline photo!
In the example above, we started to search for tatto places around us and ended up at the listing that goes first in the second line of 5-pack, permanent makeup salons: https://miamibeachmicroblading.com
6. WHAT PART OF THE PAGE DOES IT APPEAR ON?
The new Search by Photos can be placed at the very top right after 3-pack, after Q&A section but before organic section, in the middle or in the end of search page. In the example below is when this 5-pack is shown immediately after 3-pack:
7. LISTINGS WITH REVIEWS ONLY.
Last but not least: if 3-pack may include listings with no reviews in less competitive market categories on less competitive keywords; the new Search by Photos 5-pack ONLY includes the businesses that have ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ average reviews. We couldn't find ANY 5-pack listings without reviews.
REVIEWS and users interaction with the GMB listings are more important than ever in Google's eye!
Please check Reviews section of this Help -
Learn how to use Botzzup for getting more reviews!