How fast are citations indexed into Google’s +Local algorithm?

How long it takes citations to hit Google’s local algorithm has been a subject of mystery and debate for as long as the A,B,C rankings have dominated Local SERPs.

Obviously it’s not possible to give exact speeds without the proper insider knowledge, but the research Mike Blumenthals and David Mihm put into this infographic is extensive and very thorough.

Head on over to Mike’s site to see the full infographic.

Why Small Businesses Hate Google+ Local

Every internet marketer’s relationship with Google is iffy at best, but with all of the lost reviews, citations, and listings the merge between Places and Google+ has caused, there’s more and more justification for rage on a daily basis.

Nifty Marketing recently released an info/comigraphic that details some frustrations business owners have felt because of Google+ Local.

While being utterly hilarious, this infographic also highlights the need for solutions to these +Local issues that occur much more often than they should.

4 Pieces of the Google+ Local Ranking Puzzle

The next bit of news is being highlighted because of how Local-noob friendly it is. The pie chart released by Travis Van Slooten shows the basics as to what is important for visibility in +Local SERPs. It doesn’t get more clear than this folks, so take full advantage of another mans hard work.

Head over to his original post to learn more about why each piece of the pie is important, and what steps are needed to make each slice as delicious as the next!

­In May 2012, Google merged their Places for Business with Google+ Local, throwing the entire Local scene into chaos with Local marketers trying to make certain their Local optimization tactics didn’t result in a dip in client positioning. Now that the dust has somewhat settled, a factor that remains important is having inconsistencies in your NAP information on Local Search sites.

Below are listed 3 incredibly helpful sources in identifying and fixing incorrect citations.

Best Citation Sources

Getlisted.org released a map which details the best citation sources by U.S. city. Their methodology for determining the best citations per city is explained on the page:

“Using Whitespark’s Local Citation Finder, we searched Google for the most common keywords within 71 local search categories across 53 large US cities, 20 medium-sized cities, and 20 smaller cities. We then scored the sites inversely based on ranking position combined with overall number of occurrences. The sites that appeared most often and with the highest rankings were deemed “best”.” – Getlisted.org

Why This Matters

If you’re having issues with duplicate listings or are desperate to keep a tight grip on the consistency of your NAPs, this is your perfect starting point. Starting with the top citation source for your city, go down the list and correct any incorrect listing information on these local search sites. Odds are if you find a listing that is incorrect, it could be a source for a troublesome duplicate listing that keeps popping up.

Rebranding and Name Change Issues

A great guide to changing business names & SEO was posted on Search Engine Land by Andrew Shortland. This details all the steps needed to successfully change your business name without effecting your current +Local and organic SEO strategies.

What This Means To You

The main example he uses is when a dentist in Carlsbad wanted to include his sons name in the name of his dental practice. When changing your business name you’re essentially changing the way your business is identified on Local Search sites across the web. Without making the necessary changes beforehand and monitoring potential NAP consistencies there is a HUGE risk of duplicate listings and drops in +Local visibility. Bottom line, proceed with EXTREME caution!

Local Search Ecosystem: Fall 2012 Update

A wonderful way to look at the complex Local algorithm, David Mihm explains in his recently released infographic on the Local Search Ecosystem where the big and small Local Search sites grab their information for your business.

Why The Heck Should You Care?

Referring to this infographic when fixing incorrect NAP information for your business can eliminate a lot of future work. Taking care of the biggest Local Search sites can have a spider web effect, trickling down to the not-so-major Local Search sites. With so much talk in this article about correcting your listing information, I hope you start to understand how important it truly is.

In conclusion, this quick re-cap can make a world of difference once the tactics are put into play. Each resource is incredibly valuable and decreases the amount of time you spend identifying and fixing NAP inconsistencies.