Google Introduces a New Local Pack Ranking Factor

Following the core algorithm upgrade in November 2023, several company owners reported experiencing unusual variations in the map pack ranking in a recent topic on the Local Search Forum. Depending on the time of day, they observed stark variations in rankings:

“Rankings significantly decreased overnight. The rank fell from 1 to 10 and beyond. Most of the ranks were regained by the end of the day. However, it dipped once more now! Does anyone know what’s going on?”

After doing some testing and poring over ranking reports, we were able to pinpoint the specific cause of the problem. Google will begin using a business’s current operation state as a ranking factor for local pack rankings in November 2023.

This is an example of how a lawyer ranked when they were closed vs when they were open two hours later:

This is the rating of a psychiatrist during the weekend, when they are closed, about the same keyword during the week, when they are open:

Yan Gilbert sent a fantastic graphic from Local Falcon that illustrates the hourly variance for each restaurant according to which ones are open and closed.

To be clear, this is indeed new. Even though they were closed, this lawyer had no trouble ranking at seven in the morning in October.

If your company is open around the clock (24×7), this will help you when your rivals close up shop at night, and you maintain your ranking:

Source – sterlingsky.ca/google-added-a-new-ranking-factor