In Competitive Analysis for Local Search-Part 1, we determined the 13 Google Local Business Listings (LBL) that we want to analyze  in an effort to improve our own rankings for our 3 best search terms. Now, we’ll begin the dirty work of seeing which attributes may be important for us to emulate.

Are My Competitors’ Google Local Business Listings Claimed?

Even though plenty of Local Business Listings rank well in the Local Pack without being claimed and verified, experts believe that doing so is an important factor in ranking in Google Maps and, therefore, in the Local Pack. You can determine if a listing has been verified or not simply by looking at it. Click on the link at the end of  the Local Pack listing. It is usually labeled as “reviews”, “more”, “directions” or a combination of those terms.

This will take you to the Local Business Listing. If the listing has been claimed, it will say “Owner Verified Listing” and show a check mark near the top right of the page. If it has not been verified, it will say “Business Owner?” in that spot, instead.

In this case, all of the competitors we are researching have claimed their listings. This tells us that, as far as that particular ranking factor goes, we have a level playing field. While claiming my listing won’t give me any advantage, it will keep me from being at a disadvantage. So, if I haven’t done so already, I need to be certain to claim my listing, too.

In the next installment, Competitive Analysis for Local Search-Part 3, we’ll look at the categories in which the top ranking Local Business Listings are placed.