Around 2-3 months ago Google started the worldwide rollout of what is know colloquially as the "Google Local Carousel". It sent local SEO's into a tizzy at the time but it appears that how to rank in this new landscape hasn't changed very much, if at all, since the days of the local pack of results. What has changed is the position you need to be in to get seen by searchers and what the searcher does after they select a location from the Carousel. This post tackles "Where do I need to be ranked to be seen by searchers" across differing resolutions?You may have noticed when using the carousel, that you can view more locations by clicking the small arrow in the semi circle to the right of the page. Though as you'd expect most searchers don't do this. The vast majority will only view locations they see before this click occurs. What we've done at Screen Pilot is look at the top 6 screen resolutions - as noted by StatCounter.com - from August 2013. In order of % usage from StatCounter, the resolutions are:
- 1366 x 768 - 25%
- 1024 x 768 - 13%
- 1280 x 800 - 9%
- 1920 x 1080 - 8%
- 1280 x 1024 - 6%
- 1440 x 900 - 6%
The following captures each tell us how many carousel positions show when you first perform a search. We have noted the screen resolution and how many show for each res below.[caption id="attachment_1722" align="alignnone" width="879"]
1366 x 768 shows 12 results.[/caption]The most popular browser resolution of all (with 25% of all screens worldwide) is 1366 x 768. This res shows 12 locations for a search on Brooklyn Hotels.[caption id="attachment_1721" align="alignnone" width="636"]
1024 x 768 shows 8 results. 13% of most popular resolutions[/caption]As you can see, the 1024 x 768 resolution is by far the lowest screen resolution used from the top 6 most widely used. With this resolution only the top 8 locations are completely shown every time.[caption id="attachment_1720" align="alignnone" width="818"]
1280 x 800 shows 11 results. 9% of most popular resolutions[/caption][caption id="attachment_1719" align="alignnone" width="1009"]
1920 x 1080 shows 17 results. 8% of most popular resolutions[/caption][caption id="attachment_1718" align="alignnone" width="814"]
1280 x 1024 shows 11 results. 6% of most popular resolutions[/caption][caption id="attachment_1717" align="alignnone" width="932"]
1440 x 900 shows 12 results. 6% of most popular resolutions[/caption]In summary, to show on every search results page your location must be in the top 8 results of the carousel. In my opinion, top 13 should be a bare minimum and top 8 should always be the goal. So, 8th position or lower in the results, means you are visible on 95%+ of all the most widely used screen resolutions.Beyond that, the gains are only marginal because of the horizontal nature of the carousel. In traditional local search pack results, 1st position was a must have but with carousel, the user's eye level is the same for all results. No vertical scrolling needs to occur, thus levelling the search playing field!Make sure you bookmark our blog or sign up for our newsletter as we'll be studying the effect on clicks on carousel results for your analytics and marketing decision making next time around. Remember, smartphone results don't show carousel formated results, but tablets do as well as regular desktops.So what do you think about carousel? Like it? Love it? Has it hurt or helped your rankings for keywords?Happy searching (oh and Happy Birthday Google)!
Around 2-3 months ago Google started the worldwide rollout of what is know colloquially as the "Google Local Carousel". It sent local SEO's into a tizzy at the time but it appears that how to rank in this new landscape hasn't changed very much, if at all, since the days of the local pack of results. What has changed is the position you need to be in to get seen by searchers and what the searcher does after they select a location from the Carousel. This post tackles "Where do I need to be ranked to be seen by searchers" across differing resolutions?You may have noticed when using the carousel, that you can view more locations by clicking the small arrow in the semi circle to the right of the page. Though as you'd expect most searchers don't do this. The vast majority will only view locations they see before this click occurs. What we've done at Screen Pilot is look at the top 6 screen resolutions - as noted by StatCounter.com - from August 2013. In order of % usage from StatCounter, the resolutions are:
- 1366 x 768 - 25%
- 1024 x 768 - 13%
- 1280 x 800 - 9%
- 1920 x 1080 - 8%
- 1280 x 1024 - 6%
- 1440 x 900 - 6%
The following captures each tell us how many carousel positions show when you first perform a search. We have noted the screen resolution and how many show for each res below.[caption id="attachment_1722" align="alignnone" width="879"]
1366 x 768 shows 12 results.[/caption]The most popular browser resolution of all (with 25% of all screens worldwide) is 1366 x 768. This res shows 12 locations for a search on Brooklyn Hotels.[caption id="attachment_1721" align="alignnone" width="636"]
1024 x 768 shows 8 results. 13% of most popular resolutions[/caption]As you can see, the 1024 x 768 resolution is by far the lowest screen resolution used from the top 6 most widely used. With this resolution only the top 8 locations are completely shown every time.[caption id="attachment_1720" align="alignnone" width="818"]
1280 x 800 shows 11 results. 9% of most popular resolutions[/caption][caption id="attachment_1719" align="alignnone" width="1009"]
1920 x 1080 shows 17 results. 8% of most popular resolutions[/caption][caption id="attachment_1718" align="alignnone" width="814"]
1280 x 1024 shows 11 results. 6% of most popular resolutions[/caption][caption id="attachment_1717" align="alignnone" width="932"]
1440 x 900 shows 12 results. 6% of most popular resolutions[/caption]In summary, to show on every search results page your location must be in the top 8 results of the carousel. In my opinion, top 13 should be a bare minimum and top 8 should always be the goal. So, 8th position or lower in the results, means you are visible on 95%+ of all the most widely used screen resolutions.Beyond that, the gains are only marginal because of the horizontal nature of the carousel. In traditional local search pack results, 1st position was a must have but with carousel, the user's eye level is the same for all results. No vertical scrolling needs to occur, thus levelling the search playing field!Make sure you bookmark our blog or sign up for our newsletter as we'll be studying the effect on clicks on carousel results for your analytics and marketing decision making next time around. Remember, smartphone results don't show carousel formated results, but tablets do as well as regular desktops.So what do you think about carousel? Like it? Love it? Has it hurt or helped your rankings for keywords?Happy searching (oh and Happy Birthday Google)!
