Unfortunately, Google is pretty silent on local SEO. What we know for sure, however, is that local results are based on three main ranking factors: Relevance Distance Relevance While the concept of distance is pretty clear, what should we say about the other two? And, considering that a local business is an entity and that the Knowledge Graph paradigm also applies to local SERPs, Lots of questions and few certainties.
The good news? I can give you some pretty convincing spain number data hypotheses. No, don't worry, I didn't wake up seeing double this morning. On the contrary, I did what a good SEO consultant would do: I went to analyze the sector studies and the authoritative opinions of other SEO experts. Below I report the ranking factors on local SEO identified by Darren Shaw (well-known expert in local SEO) in the 2020 Local Search Ranking Factor survey. Then, together we will try to combine these results with the reflections on entities.
You should know that Shaw's study works on two levels: On the one hand, it measures how much the different factors influence the organic local ranking, that is, in the classic SERP. On the other, it tries to understand how much the same factors influence the ranking in the local pack or in the local finder, that is, to be clear, in the results linked to Google Maps. Ok, now I'd say you're ready. So let's start by shooting the data right away: 1) Google My Business (GMB) For local businesses, the Google My Business listing has always been even more important than a website.