Local Search has become very popular in the year since the introduction of the Local Search Ranking Factors was published. Having seen Google re-brand its Local Business Center as Google Places, it has shown an incredible number of Local-related results for nonspecific search phrases, a handful of review controversies involving Yelp (an important search engine for business owners to pay attention to), signals from Facebook that they're about to get involved in Local in a major way, and an explosion in the number of location-aware applications.
It's getting harder and harder for small business owners confused about Local Search, or those strapped for time, to prioritize their marketing efforts. Even for the Local SEO experts who empathize with small business owners not only in trying to understand how to use the Internet to market their business, but also to run it successfully.
Google Places, Yahoo Local, and Bing Local remain critical places for search visibility, and the increasing complexity of the space makes it even more important to get the opinions of the practitioners who follow Local most closely about what can improve one's ranking in the Google, Bing, and Yahoo Local algorithms, as well as techniques to be avoided. Study the Local Search Insights and implement all of the steps above but make sure that the tracking is working. Some businesses tend to gain more from a few of these than they do from others. Concentrate on the areas that best help each specific business.
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