What's New in Local Search October 2016

Once a month our in-house local expert, Mary Bowling, hands us her take on what's changed in the local search industry over the last 30 days. Let's jump straight in and see "What's New in Local Search" for October 2016.

• The local and organic search results quake and shake and bounce around, indicating algo adjustments beginning around the first of the month. With the local and organic algorithms both being affected, it's hard to discern what may be going on. Local Pack results are affected by both local and organic signals. But, as always, it's best to sit tight, watch and research for a while to allow the tremors to settle down before reacting.

• If you lose your stars in the search results, read the schema review guidelines that Google just updated. It's well worth the effort to comply with the rules to get those attention-getting stars.

• Joy Hawkins gives us her take on the latest Local update, which has been deemed "Possum”. This is important research on the changes that all Local SEO's should read and understand. She then goes on the air with Conrad Saam in a lively podcast focused on Possum that is well worth spending time listening to.

• PPC Hero coaches us on how to best geo target our paid ads. Don't miss this advice for everyone from AdWords beginners to seasoned experts.

• Rand Fishkin of Moz gives us a Whiteboard Friday on how local links can help non-local businesses, too.

  

  Rand's advice gains some credence from a local link building case study published by Local SEO Guide.

• Don't be surprised if you see some Google reviews disappear. Chatter ...