There are reports of a major local search ranking change with Google Maps and Local Search results. Reports of this local search algorithm update began over the weekend and the local SEO community is abuzz with drastic ranking changes. "I've experienced the same drop," said one local business owner, illustrating how many have plunged from top positions to the 16-20 range without any modifications to their websites. Discussions on platforms like Local Search Forum and Reddit show the widespread concern.
Many users expressed their frustration in a Local Search Forum thread, indicating they dropped from ranks of 1-3 to below 20. One user stated, "I was 1 to 3 in five top keywords for the last couple years and now I am below 20... I didn't make any changes to my website. I don't really know what it could be." This reflects the confusion shared by many affected business owners.
Another user pointed out the absurdity of the situation, commenting, "Absolutely madness. Now ranked 18+ and businesses that I know the owners and are no longer trading in the local map pack. Lots of us lost rankings unexpectedly, and with new profiles appearing in top spots, it raises questions about how these updates are impacting established businesses.
A business owner noted, "I dropped from 1 to 4 and 2 to 4 for the main keywords, and the ones in the 3 pack have no reviews or are new profiles." This sentiment resonates among many, where established businesses are overshadowed by less credible listings, raising concerns over the fairness of the ranking algorithm.
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