Jump On Google’s Carousel!

Jump on Google’s Carousel! No, not that kind of carousel! Google has changed the way it displays local results for major categories with a new feature that is worth optimizing! Have you noticed the new Google Local Carousel at the top of a Google search? Find out what it does and how your business can take advantage of its features. See below:

 

You will need to do two things to make sure you are optimized for this carousel feature:
1. Most importantly, make sure you have high quality photos on your Google Plus Page. Google randomly selects a photo from your page to be the header photo that shows up on the carousel.
2. Keep all pages updated, including your website! This should be an easy step, since you ought to do this anyway!

The Google Carousel is the new design layout for Google and any business fitting the criteria will make it on board. While you may not have a choice regarding whether you want to be a part of the new carousel or not, there are many benefits to this feature:

→More images always lead to more engagement by fellow customers. Instead of needing to scroll over a listing in order to see a photo, it will be visible right at the top of the page.
→More listings will show up along the carousel and small businesses will have a better chance of being seen with the new layout. Instead of seeing 2 or 3 listings, you can see over 8 or 9 listings.
→An interactive map is now a bigger part of the Search Engine Results Page (SERP). All users need to do is scroll over the map to custom select their targeted areas, and the carousel will change its results.
→By hovering over a photo on the carousel, you will be able to see more enhanced information such as business hours or a phone number. A user will not have to wait for a page to load and might already find the information they are looking for.
→A user can edit the carousel in terms of their desired price range, and filter the results by previous user ratings.
→You can also search for “best horror films”, something that isn’t location based, and still get a carousel result. You will then have the option to sort by “genre” or by “year”.

As time continues and Google receives feedback, more and more SERPs will begin to use a carousel when appropriate. As of now, a majority of the categories showing up are restaurants and hotels. Something to notice – underneath the carousel, you will still see the typical organic results along with a map.

Now that you are educated on this new feature, make sure you are editing your business pictures and updating your enhancements on your pages! Enjoy the ride!