How long before we show up in Google+ 7 packs?

[CsmBill]

Some of our generic, non localized keywords (ex: "Information technology services") are triggering Google+ 7 Pack listings with local results. We are ranking on the first page for those keywords in organic. The companies listed in the 7 packs have worse link profiles, mediocre SEO fundamentals, fewer citations, and no +s or reviews. Our Google+ page has been up for a few weeks, and we added content: images, videos, a detailed profile, and articles. Our competitors have nothing but a blank site. We did our research, and we also built well-optimized pages for each of the keywords that triggers a 7 Pack.

Assuming Google decides we deserve to be there, how long should it take for Google to place us in the 7 Packs?

Our vertical is a little different - IT Support - the 7 packs are localized within a 40 mile radius, and the organic SERPs are a mix of regional and national (ex: IBM) players. Are the results totally geocentric?

Does it pay to build legitimate backlinks to our Google+ page or link there from content on our corporate site?

[LindaBuquet]

The local blended algo in the 7 pack is more about organic ranking factors. Claiming, filling out, # or reviews and citations does not matter as much as organic does.

I just did a huge post about it showing how you can research and see this and how to do competitive analysis to see why whos at the top of the 7 pack is really there.

But additionally new Place pages can take 6 - 8 weeks to fully work into the local database. So if you recently pin verified you won't show in local at all for KW searches and will only show on maps for direct phone or name+ city searches.

[CsmBill]

Great Answer Linda - Your Article was awesome! One of the best I've read in a long time. It really cleared up a lot.

Based on my "expert" assessment, we are much stronger than the top listing in the 7 Pack. So at some point, according to your research, we should hit that top spot.

Our niche is a little different than the typical 7 pack. We have a large service area essentially a 90 mile radius, and growing. What is fascinating is how our rankings change depending on where I'm connected. We are in northern NJ, not a large geography. Some areas don't pop 7 packs at all for the same keywords. Looking at the rankings in our Niche for keywords that don't pop a 7 Pack, the results mix is actually similar to the 7 pack. There are some locals, some articles, and some nationals. For one of my treasured keywords, (non-7 Pack) my ranking at home is #4, and my ranking at the office (35 miles away) is #134. (I've checked and double checked...) Bizarre.

What was really interesting is that for a few days (about 60 days ago), the 7 Packs were all over my keywords, and then many of the 7 packs disappeared. Google must have been testing something.

Your AOL trick is the answer to my biggest frustration. My rankings reports vary wildly based on where I sit. AOL clears that up.The only real way to control rankings is to be 1-2 in AOL. Who knew?

[LindaBuquet]

Thanks Ruhul

"Some areas don't pop 7 packs at all for the same keywords."

I think it's mainly based on search volume. I can give you lots of examples but here's a good one.

I was consulting for an SEO I trained that was working for a roofing client. I told him he was wasting one of the Places categories because that key phrase didn't even pull a pack. He said "I learned well from your training and I KNOW I checked to be sure it pulled a pack! Turns out that was 3 months ago when he set up the listing. Also turns out that was the rainy season. So in that small town there were enough searches for that type of roof repair, but when the rain stopped that search volume dried up too!

So if your KWs are a little nichey for local OR competition is low OR you are dealing with fairly small towns, that could be why.

A good KW to test with is Sedation Dentistry, in larger cities it will pull a pack. In some smaller ones  - no pack.

Re: my AOL trick.  Did you see Dr. Pete's post today? http://moz.com/blog/how-does-google-count-local-results

I think my AOL trick is easier and I like StartPage even better for some things. But he found a way to pull pure organic with a Google search parameter - which is pretty cool. I need to find time to test and compare with my method this weekend but I think it's pulling the same results for all 3.