August 22, 2017: The day the ‘Hawk’ Google local algorithm update swooped in
Have you noticed a recent shift in Google's local search results? Columnist Joy Hawkins shares everything you need to know about the 'Hawk' update, which seems to have killed some of the changes we saw with Possum. What changed? The update, which I have dubbed "Hawk," changed how the local filter works. To get some history here, Google actively filters out listings from the local results similar to other listings that already rank. Basically, Google picks the most relevant listing of the bunch and filters the rest. It's very similar to what they do organically with duplicate content. (Note: Google is typically loath to confirm algorithm updates , usually only saying that it rolls out several updates daily, so these observations are based on an analysis of how local results have changed rather than on any official announcement or acknowledgment.) The filter has existed for a long time to help ensure that multiple listings for the same company don't monopo...