I have noticed two changes in SEO from Dec 2014 to Now

[Ashwin1978]

Why has most of the local pages from google disappeared? There were normally 3-6 local listings on Google but now it has vanished? Has the algorithm or rules changed?

Secondly i noticed a massive swing in seo rankings. I have done some testing i i found that google now gives you different rankings depending on the area that you in. So i can safely assume that the algorithms have changed and you now get results based on your area? The top 4-5 rankings stay the same but everything else changes to your current location.

Am i wrong, what has changed. Please help.

[Keszi]

Hi!

I do not know where you are from, but I think what you may have seen is the Google Pigeon update, which was rolled out to the UK, Canada and Australia on the 22nd of December 2014. Read more about it on: http://searchengineland.com/google-pigeon-update-rolls-uk-canada-australia-211576

I hope it has helped. Gr.,Keszi

[seovp]

Google has rolled out the Pigeon update to some countries outside the US including the UK, which has changed the landscape of local SERPs.

The top listings will now often be sites such as Yell, Yelp, Trip Advisor, etc with the local results then coming in underneath.

[LindaBuquet]

Yes if you are outside the US, then I agree with the others. The Pigeon algo expanded overseas and exhibits many of the characteristics you are describing.

Many report 7 packs being reduced to 3 packs, but in some industries packs are totally gone.

[Ashwin1978]

Thanks for your response. So this technically means that very little or no local pack details will appear anymore because of the update and this also means that Google is focusing heavily on Local SEO. So what happens to my Google plus page now? Do i discontinue using it and focus on backlinks. Im very confused.

[Keszi]

In my belief:

You shouldn't drop any inbound marketing channel, just because there has been a Google update, which currently doesn't work as you wished.

Maybe I would reduce the number of hours that I spend on this task, but for sure, I wouldn't drop it.

But that is me, I like to have more than one channel working around me.

[Ashwin1978]

I am from South Africa, thanks for the response

[Keszi]

I was asking for that info, because maybe you are in an area which was affected by this update. Although this update was meant for UK, Canada and Australia, I could believe that it has also affected other English search queries (especially that English is considered as an official language in South Africa - right?).

[Ashwin1978]

English is the official language in South Africa Correct

[Keszi]

Then it could be, that you are experiencing the Pigeon update.

[Ashwin1978]

You seem to be clued up on this subject. Maybe i could ask you another question?

Why doesnt the local pages (Google Plus pages) Show up anymore, are they doing away with that now?

[Keszi]

I did stick to this, because the situation that you have described matches the pigeon update.

And, as Linda Buquet has mentioned in her response to this question, with this update some 7 packs are reduced to 3 packs, but there are industries where it has completely disappeared.

The only thing which would stop me from dropping Google+, is that you may never know when it will come back (it could be only a large scale test for South Africa at this moment), and if you stop totally working on it, then you are loosing there.

Like I usually mention in my answers, this is a personal opinion.

[LindaBuquet]

Hi Ashwin,

You asked: "So what happens to my Google plus page now? Do i discontinue using it"

No I'd still keep it current and use it, for reviews for one thing. But additionally the data from your G+ L page still gets used and fed to other places like the knowledge graph. And your page may still show up and rank in Map search and Google+ search as well. Plus you never know when she'll come out with some new display format and use that local data.

But the other thing to keep in mind is that sometimes packs disappearing is temporary and based on a wide variety of factors like query volume. So the pack could come back. I've seen packs disappear for a week and then come back.

[Ashwin1978]

Thank you for your valuable feedback, i appreciate it.