Google+Local Photos Appearing in Local Search Results

As an SEO it’s critical to keep a pulse on industry trends and how search results are being displayed for various search queries. Yesterday we noticed that Google+Local profile photos were showing up for a select number of listings in the local search results, very similar to how Google+ photos show up for websites with verified authorship accounts. This could have a major impact on click-through rates for businesses that have an optimized Google+Local page.

Google+Local Profile Photos

To date, the only example of Google+ photos appearing in search result listings was a result of having a verified Google Authorship account. For authors who have enabled authorship on their website’s blog, Google displays their profile photo next to their listing in the search engine results.

After running a few local search queries, we noticed an interesting display in the Local search results for the phrase [personal injury lawyers albany ny]:

Google+Local Photo Display in Local Search Results
Google+Local Photo Display in Local Search Results

The integration of Google+Local photos in the local search results may have a noticeable impact on click-thru-rates for companies that have an optimized Google+Local listing. There have been many indications that an author’s photo in the search results can positively influence click-thru-rates, and it’s plausible to suggest that we should see a similar effect with the display of photo-optimized Google+Local listings.

The Growing Importance of Google+

Last year we saw Google+Local replace the Google Places profiles, as Google+ continued its path to growth. Today’s findings may simply be another fleeting experiment conducted by the Google search team to analyze click-thru-rates for photo-enhanced listings (however, the results are still visible today when running a similar local search query). The one certainty from all of this is that businesses must have an optimized Google+ presence if they want to capitalize on every aspect of getting found in the search engines.

About Sara Mannix

Sara Mannix founded Mannix in 1996 with a goal to get clients found on the web through organic search engine optimization (SEO). The company now serves over 1500 clients worldwide and employs a team of 30 specialists, operating under the tagline "Success Measured." The tagline reflects the company's focus on measurable results for every client. This multifaceted company is an industry leader, specializing in organic SEO, conversion rate optimization, SEO-friendly website design, paid advertising (PPC). Mannix Marketing has two divisions, one side is focused on lead generation for nationally competitive businesses. The other side is focused on local businesses. Mannix has one of the largest portfolios of tourism and city guides in Upstate New York. These guides, (Albany.com, Saratoga.com, LakeGeorge.com, and Adirondack.net etc), reach over 10 million visitors a year. Corresponding social media profiles for the region extend this reach to millions every month.