Google Updates The “Local Pack” Showing 3 Instead Of 7 Local Results

google-maps-dots-g-ss-1920

Last night Google has updated the local results you see in a normal query that has local intent, to show three local businesses instead of showing seven local businesses. In the language of a local SEO expert, the 7-pack is now a 3-pack.

The local pack is not just showing fewer business listings, it is also redesigned to fit more with the mobile user interface.

Here is a picture of the new local pack, displaying only three results:

google-local-3-pack-hardware

Here is a screen shot from last year what the local results looked like:

Screen-Shot-2014-10-22-at-5.00.03-PM

Compare that to a zoomed in view of the new look:

google-three-pack-barber-1438946176

This obviously will lead to less phone calls and sales for those businesses that appeared in the fourth position or lower. But it might lead to more business for those in the first three results.

There are plenty of local SEO experts talking about this now, including Mike Blumenthal.

We emailed Google for a comment on this change and will follow up when we hear back.

The post Google Updates The “Local Pack” Showing 3 Instead Of 7 Local Results appeared first on Search Engine Land.