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Hi Chase, Great questions. I highly recommend that you study GetListed.org's Local Search Ecosystem infographic to start getting a handle on the big players and the way in which data feeds from one source to another. It's a truly awesome illustration of how this all works: https://getlisted.org/static/resources/local-search-data-providers.html

Hi Chase, Linda has given you very good information here. I also recommend that you check out 51 Blocks' competitive analysis tool: http://www.51blocks.com/online-marketing-tools/free-local-analysis/ Though not, per se, a ranking tool, it provides a great deal of free insight into why certain businesses are achieving certain rankings.

Great to see you here, Linda! I hope you'll love your new membership.

Hi Chase, Very good question, and Linda has done a great job of explaining that the city centroid is no longer a heavily-weighted factor. You will get more information by performing the type of search she recommends. However, if you would still like to see where the centroid is, just search for the city in Google Maps and look where Google puts the pin. That is typically the centroid.

Hi Chase, Both Wissam and Linda have done a great job of explaining how data in one place gets fed to many others. Do check out the link to David Mihm's graphic. It's excellent.

Hi Chase, You've gotten some good answers here to your specific questions, so I'd like to give you some more general advice, seeing that you are just dipping your toes into the big pool of Local SEO:) I hope this will be helpful to you! First, ground yourself in the basics of Local SEO. I recommend you read David Mihm's 2012 Local Search Ranking Factors report. This annual survey has been the premiere local industry publication for many years running. It points out the things that make up local rankings, and therefore, the different things you'll need to study. http://www.davidmihm.com/local-search-ranking-factors.shtml Next, I recommend that you visit the Local Learning Center at GetListed.org and read through some of the tutorials there. Thirdly, one of the main tasks of a Local SEO is to keep on top of updates, because they happen so frequently in Local. There are a ton of great blogs on the topic of Local SEO, and here at SEOmoz, we publish some great local pieces, but I would highly recommend that you become a regular reader of the blog of Local Search Godfather, Mike Blumenthal. blumenthals.com/blog Hope this helps!