Smaller, locally based businesses have a better opportunity to rank well for local intent searches. On Google, a local search occurs whenever a user adds a geographic modifier to the search results. Additionally, with a recent update, Google has now merged search results with both local (IP address-based) and organic results, regardless of the presence of a geo modifier. We'll cover the most important factors for local rankings and explain the importance of optimizing each of them. Getting your website to appear on the first pages of Google's SERPs is determined by how well you optimize these categories of local search ranking factors. In a post by Tom Gregan, SEO account manager and local expert at Mediacom, he states "An effective local search campaign must focus on sending clear signals that indicate the relationship between the website/business and the locations they would like to reach "He believes that having detailed and valid credentials for your business will help your visibility on search engines by sending a strong signal of your presence during searches."Google Places for BusinessImage source: http://www.googleplacesoptimization.orgYes is primarily about search and connects to maps by default users perform specific searches on Google Maps, only the Places for Business tab will appear. Local businesses can access these Google search results pages by signing up or claiming their business listing on Google Place. An SEO services company, primeseohub, said in a post that: “Every business owner must follow Google's local listing quality guidelines and rights process to get approval. Google responded in a forum on quality guidelines. Once you claim the listing, you can ask Google to verify y...... half of the document ......heCompany.comTestimonialTestimonials on a company website can often help persuade visitors to become customers. For this reason, Google allows local businesses to disclose that they have a testimonial. Google will sometimes display this information alongside business listings in the SERPs. Tagging your testimonials can increase their chances of appearing in the snippet text below your ad and in sample text callouts displayed in various ways in your webpage's cached image. Final Word This extensive list of local search ranking factors will help your local business rank high in online local SEO. You must remember that improving your positioning on Google Local is a process that must be worked on constantly; it's not just a one-off thing. Constantly monitoring and improving factors is the sure way to get your site ranked high.