Ad-Spot-#1---AAW---March
Trellis Webinar Ad 770 Spot #6
share TWEET PIN IT share share 0
Google My Law Firm

Local Map Rankings: Has Your Law Firm Been Filtered?

By Mike Ramsey

Local map rankings are a big deal for law firms. If you’re an attorney with an unstaffed virtual office, share the same building with a law firm in the same practice area, or even have a competitor within walking distance, listen up. This one’s for you.

Everyone wants to rank better in Google’s Local Maps because the traffic converts at an extremely high rate. And, naturally, law firms want to know how they can get more map visibility. Unfortunately, it’s not a clear-cut science — and it’s increasingly difficult to achieve with the algorithm changes and guidelines Google rolls out from time to time.

Here’s a brief rundown of the aggressive steps Google has taken in the past couple of years:

  • In August 2015, Google shrunk the size of the map and cut the number of local businesses featured from seven to three (the “local 3-pack” view).
  • Nearly a year later, Google began monetizing maps, making things even more competitive in 3 packs and Google Maps (“Local Finder”).
  • In late 2016, Google released another algorithm, code-named Possum. Possum had its pros and cons for the average attorney, but a major con was filtering law firms based on address, proximity and affiliation. In plain terms: If you are a law firm and have other law firms of the same practice areas in your building or within close walking distance, it’s possible that Google will choose only one firm and the others will be filtered out. (This isn’t unusual considering Google does a very similar thing with organic local results by choosing the best and most relevant result and filtering out all others that are similar.)
  • In February of this year, Google released further clarification of its guidelines for when a business is eligible to create a Google My Business page (GMB). So, basically, if you’re in a virtual office or space where someone couldn’t be greeted during normal business hours, then you’re not eligible for a GMB.
local map rankings with my business page

Example: Google My Business Page

This all poses a number of questions, and a major one we’ll answer here.

How Can You Tell If You’ve Been Filtered Out of Google Maps?

If you notice a drop-off in your local search ranking, always check to see if it is algorithmic in nature first. Here’s how to determine if you have been filtered out of Google Maps because of the Possum update.

First, go to Google’s Local Finder.

local map rankings with google's local finder

Now, enter a search based on practice area and location, such as “personal injury attorney Toledo,” and you’ll see a handful of results in the Local Finder.

What you see first when you perform this search (or one pertaining to your own market) is NOT filtered. This is what Google has chosen to be the “most relevant result.” Now, zoom in slightly. (Tip: Don’t use the buttons on the bottom right.) You’ll see new addresses populate, some of which may share the same exact street address. In this example, you will see a few addresses highlighted below that have been filtered because they share the same address.

Search performed: “personal injury attorney Toledo”

Local Results Showing:

  • Charles E. Boyk Law Offices, LLC
    405 Madison Ave #1200, Toledo, OH 43604

Local Results Filtered From Maps:

  • Connelly & Collier LLP
    405 Madison Ave # 2300, Toledo, OH 43604
  • Fredric M. Boyk, Attorney
    405 Madison Ave #1200, Toledo, OH 43604

Local Results Showing:

  • Lafferty Gallagher & Scott LLC
    416 N Erie St #400, Toledo, OH 43604

Local Results Filtered From Maps:

  • Groth & Associates
    416 N Erie St #100, Toledo, OH 43604
  • The Law Office of Dennis E. Sawan
    416 N Erie St #200, Toledo, OH 43604
  • Chester Law Group Accident Lawyers
    416 N Erie St #200, Toledo, OH 43604
local map rankings filtered

Click to enlarge.

It’s interesting to note that a few of these offices share last names (not the same lawyer) or the same suite (still different law firms).

As a result, these law firms are most likely landlocked.

This is a major problem for some law firms, while other firms have benefited because their location is more “physically relevant” to the searcher’s query (i.e., searcher’s physical location within Toledo). Gone are the days when a law firm outside the city’s center could be relevant for specific “Toledo” searches. What applies in real estate also applies in Google searches: “Location, location, location!”

What Can You Do?

The bottom line is Google is prioritizing local search results based on the searcher’s physical location.

Think twice if you are considering moving to an office space that is already occupied by a law firm that ranks in Google Maps. It will be very difficult to dethrone them. If you once enjoyed local rankings and no longer do, use this process to determine if you’re being filtered out because of physical proximity to other law firms in the same practice area.

Bonus Pro Tip

Did you know that Google is collecting ROI metrics directly from your Google My Business page (calls, clicks to website, directions)? If you’re not familiar with that data, check it out by following this process.

Thanks to the Nifty Marketing team for contributing to this article.

Illustration ©iStockPhoto.com

Subscribe to Attorney at Work

Get really good ideas every day: Subscribe to the Daily Dispatch and Weekly Wrap (it’s free). Follow us on Twitter @attnyatwork.

Categories: Daily Dispatch, Digital Marketing for Law Firms, Law Firm Marketing
Originally published September 14, 2017
Last updated May 20, 2018
share TWEET PIN IT share share
Mike Ramsey Mike Ramsey

Mike Ramsey is President of Nifty Ventures and founder of Nifty Marketing and Nifty Law, which brings digital marketing, website design, SEO and content marketing to firms nationwide, and Managing Partner of Bold+Stone investments in Burley, Idaho.  One of the foremost authorities on local search, Mike is the author of “Winning at Local Search: The Nifty Guide to Digital Marketing for Lawyers” and a top-rated speaker at events such as Mozcon, Smx, Pubcon.

More Posts By This Author
MUST READ Articles for Law Firms Click to expand
envelope

Welcome to Attorney at Work!

Sign up for our free newsletter.

x

All fields are required. By signing up, you are opting in to Attorney at Work's free practice tips newsletter and occasional emails with news and offers. By using this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understand our Privacy Policy.