Google Local has been updated in the last few weeks. The “new” Google Local shows more results, usually about 10, and the algorithms appear to have improved. On the good side, the local results now appear to be closer to the organic results. On the down side, the results are still displayed above the organic results (which created Google’s success). However, because of this, the Local listings pose an SEO opportunity for law firms. If you have decent but not stellar organic results, you may be able to leap into the top 10 Local results (and thus display at the top of the first page) above your competitors who may have better organic results but not a Local account. So the moral of the story is make sure that your law firm has an accurate Local listing account as well as good organic SEO. Obviously, appearing in both places will accentuate your SEM on the first page results.

Aaron at SEOBook made the following posting on the changes: http://www.seobook.com/google-local-becomes-more-important