• Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search , Wednesday, January 23, 2008 1:15 PM

In the past few days, numerous bloggers have posted about some major changes to the way Google includes local and map results in the SERPs--and while the giant is constantly tweaking the organic listings, the changes to the OneBox info seem to be sticking.

Local listings can now take up to 10 spots in the OneBox--which formerly held data for just one business, including its position on the map, a URL and address and telephone info--hence the name, OneBox. It expanded to three listings last year, and now with 10 listings, the area of coverage by the map has expanded, and the OneBox info for each business includes the company's name, the URL, phone number and a link to consumer reviews, if there are any.

Mike Blumenthal includes screenshots to compare the 1, 3, and 10 listing OneBox results, and notes some inconsistencies between the quality of results in rural vs. urban searches.

Read the whole story at Understanding Google Maps & Yahoo Local Search »