Organic ranking vs Local ranking

[echo1]

After reading this blog entry from Dr Pete on Mirametrix, my question would be:
What's more important for a local company, being in the 7 pack or in the top 10 organic results? Which one attracts more clicks?

Is the optimization for local ranking just became more important than the traditional SEO?

[RobertFisher]

Hello Echo1

I am of the opinion that given  the seven pack would be above 90% of the organic results in most cases, that the local is more important. Here is how I arrive at that conclusion:

Without local, we know that the first page results are basically #1 is getting 35 to 40% of clicks, #2 roughly 10 to 12%, #3 - #5 would be approx. 9, 6, 5%. 
Next, we know  people are creatures of habit. So, just the fact the seven pack is above, says they will choose it first.

Also, we have a client who ranks #7 (G) in Places and then shows up in the organic at number 5. He gets most of the clicks through the Places listing.

As to did it just become more important, I think it always has been but Google forced us to clarify the position.

[Dr-Pete]

Given the current state of local, I tend to agree with Robert. Those local results seem to dominate in some cases and they're a powerful draw for search visitors. I should add, though, that it's possible to be in the 7-pack AND organic with blended results - sometimes, Google actually counts a listing as both.

I'd say it also depends a lot on the nature of your business. Some queries/industries are naturally local-oriented, and you have to compete in that space. For some queries, local won't matter at all. If your business is naturally local, though, and many queries produce 7-packs or blended results, that's where you have to compete.