Google always makes a practice of releasing a new algorithm. So that it provides more useful, relevant, and accurate local search results that are more closely tied to traditional web search ranking signals. The changes will be reflected in Google Maps search results and Google Web search results.
Google makes major and minor changes that are behind the scenes, but it affects local search result rankings and changes to some local businesses can see an increase or decrease in website referrals, leads, and business.
To deliver more comprehensive results to its users, Google is always in the practice of making changes or updating search engine algorithms that result in changing the way local businesses are ranked in organic search.
The Google Pigeon Update, one of the biggest local search algorithm changes ever, changed the way local businesses ranked in organic search.
One of Google’s biggest-impact algorithm updates was implemented for local search results, and local businesses typically saw the effects of the update in their website’s analytics data.
After the updating of the pigeon algorithm, Google users certainly noticed the effect as well, and it generally had a different, and ultimately better, search experience in terms of local businesses and information related to those businesses.
The Pigeon Google Search Algorithm update aims to provide better local search results by rewarding local businesses that have a strong organic presence with better visibility in traditional search, similar to the visibility a business would have previously seen in Google Maps.
What Exactly Changed with the Pigeon Up-date
To eventually improve its local search capabilities, Google extended hundreds of ranking signals for both Google Search and Google Maps. This also meant that Google’s location and distance ranking parameters were also improved to better provide users with local, relevant results based on proximity.
Pigeon updates have rolled out since the early July 2014 deployment. It’s normal for a major algorithm change to happen after a series of refreshes. Pigeon algorithm was widely cited as the most influential local algorithm update ever, and certainly the most influential one since the Google Venice update in 2012.
What Google had to Say about Pigeon?
Google is silent on most updates. The pigeon was no different.
Google said that the Pigeon update was deeply rooted in Google’s overall web search capabilities, including a number of ranking signals used in web search, and other important features that changed the overall search experience (knowledge graphs, spelling corrections, synonyms, etc.), variations, etc.), it didn’t say anything else.
Pigeon Changes on the Google SERPs
Before Pigeon, search results on a map were markedly different from traditional search. The user experience was also quite different.
Now the aesthetics of the search results and SERP (Search Engine Results Page) for both Google Search and Google Maps search have a similar appearance and functionality
Pigeon algorithm improved integration between local ranking signals, and it treats consumer-driven local directories like Yelp, Home Advisor, and more
After the launch of Pigeon, Yelp and other local directories driven by user content and customer reviews were treated more favorably and ranked higher in search than they should have been.
The goal of the Pigeon algorithm, which Google confirmed, was to make the local search as similar to traditional organic search as possible, while still behaving the same way.
Pigeon algorithm effects are analyzed by local businesses who are aware of their position in the market prior to Pigeon’s update and how they have benefited or harmed from changes in local rankings.
The effects noted after the Pigeon update were an increase or decrease in web referral visits as well as an increase or decrease in KPIs such as leads and conversions.
Pigeon’s intention was to provide users in a local setting the most relevant and useful results favoring a certain scope and relevance of the user’s search.
Basically, Google can now provide users with information about a specific local business faster and easier than ever before. But if Google provides a user with important information (phone number, address, hours, etc.), those users may never make it to your site, forcing them to look no further.
Google “helped” users by offering them the information they needed in fewer clicks, but this often came at the cost of traffic to those websites.
How will it Affect Local Businesses?
As a result of changes in local search result rankings, some local businesses may see changes in Web site referrals, leads, and overall business.
Small businesses may see a change in their rankings. Whether this change is positive or negative cannot be said yet.
Some businesses will benefit significantly from a greater emphasis on local search, others may be put off by heavy traffic searches because of prioritizing directories.
Large directories will benefit more than smaller individual locations.
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