Comments on: Service Area Limitations In Google Places

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:50:00 +0000

From what I have observed, I think it’s best to just keep the service area radius option disabled. I haven’t heard many success stories with it to date. Additionally, to your point, including all states like in the example image would likely cause more harm than benefit.

By: Mal

Mal — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:22:00 +0000

Hi Justin, thanks for these posts.

I am still stuck for what to use for my business listing though…

We have three locations here in Australia, and offer free delivery of our product within a 600 km radium. However, we are happy to ship country wide, just the customer will have to pay for shipping.

So if I use the service area setting, with the 600km radius, will those outside the radius not see my Google Places listing? (I would hazzard to guess so) I am thinking of marking all states (as in your example above) but am not sure if that would come across as ridiculous… or even hide penalise my listing {:-(

By: Vernon Blake

Vernon Blake — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 06:17:14 +0000

@ Justin – Very nice tutorials! As for your last comment/example, it confused me a bit. If we are speaking in terms of service areas for businesses without a storefront, hot dogs and/or medical services would only apply if they are delivered to the customer. So, it’s not how far the customer is willing to travel, but rather how far the business is willing to do so. Right? Or am I missing your point?

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:20:23 +0000

Agreed. Initial reports out there indicate that eliminating a business address and using the service area option severely limit your ranking ability.

Depending on the type of service searched for (and depending on the local competition for that product/service) one would think distance would vary.

For example, a person is probably only willing to travel a mile or 2 in order to get a hot dog, while they may travel far greater distances for medical care or legal services. One can assume Google is smart enough to make this distinction and apply it to the local algorithm accordingly.

By: Randy Kirk

Randy Kirk — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:13:09 +0000

There is no possible way that Google is going to allow this to result in a outside MAP 7 pack listing even 50 miles away. That’s my sense anyway. Time will tell

By: Rasmus Himmelstrup

Rasmus Himmelstrup — Wed, 12 May 2010 11:48:04 +0000

Nice observations – just checked here. The 625 miles pretty much means the entire northern europe. So yes pretty wide open…

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 12 May 2010 03:14:46 +0000

That’s actually my “hyperlocal” example… after I decided to remove the cities in Asia, Europe, Africa and Iceland

By: Matt McGee

Matt McGee — Wed, 12 May 2010 02:20:40 +0000

I just have to say that the image example you used in #2 above is awesome. Local search FTW!

By: Google Places Service Area Dissected | JustinBlase.com

Google Places Service Area Dissected | JustinBlase.com — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:50:11 +0000

[...] See my post a few hours later regarding some limitations of the service area feature: Google Local Service Area Limitations Share Posted in Google Maps, Local Search Marketing, Search Marketing Industry | Tags: [...]