Google Places Ranking Shakeup, New Algo, Testing or Bugs?

[Google Places Blogger]

I've been getting lots of calls and seeing forum posts about really strange Google Places ranking shakeups. Not just one person that has a ranking drop but all the page 1 rankings dropped to page 4 - 6. I've noticed some very odd results that make me think either Google is testing a new algo in certain markets or the algo is simply broken.

Read the rest here...

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[bigcat1967]

Oh great. I just got a client that wants me to do a lot of local search optimization (He has a local business directory). You would think that G would notice this if the algo is really broken.

Anybody else you know of going through the same problem. I'll have to check on a person I did who is a chiro out in Boston and see where he is at.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Don't worry, the probs I've noticed are just in certain markets.

Google Places is SUPER buggy. Holler if you need help. I do free consults.

 

[WarnerO]

Hm...as I see now there are no changes with our sites PR) so it seems like temporary problems...

 

[Linda Buquet]

Warner the above topic is about Google Places, Google LOCAL results, not organic, so does not have anything to do with PR.

 

[Nyagoslav]

Hey Linda, just noticed Mike Ramsey yesterday tweeting about seeing the VERY old-school map rolling again, he took a screenshot, check it up here: yfrog Photo : http://yfrog.com/gy9fiip Shared by niftymarketing
I am very positive that these shake ups are caused by the changes in the Google Places page layout + the Google Places Updates which seem to be much more frequent since April (at least I notice much bigger changes in rankings much more often).

 

[Linda Buquet]

Ya plus Blumenthal posted about quite a few changes that I've noticed in the Place page layout itself.
I have this feeling we are in for a BIG shakeup pretty soon.

 

[Nyagoslav]

{Note to mods, one time link to his own site approved by Linda)

I have actually posted pretty similar one, which both summarizes the things Mike Blumenthal wrote about, and added some new. I usually don't like to post my own links, but I haven't found these ones covered anywhere else, so you could find the my post on the changes here: Google Places Listings with Changed Interface

I am a bit worried about the changes coming up, because as you have noted in you article on the shake up, the outcome is truly unpredictable and could have devastating consequences.

P.S. I noted the SERP changing from O-pack to 7-pack and back to O-pack in just a week for a keyword I am following in Sweden - "bilverkstad Stockholm".