14 DAY TRIAL // Google has introduced a new search feature that should make local searches a lot more interesting. Dubbed Google Place Search, the name says it all, it enables users to find places rather than websites. This may not seem like much of a change, but it completely turns on its head the search results paradigm used so far.
"Today we’re introducing Place Search, a new kind of local search result that organizes the world’s information around places," Jackie Bavaro, Product Manager at Google, wrote.
"We’ve clustered search results around specific locations so you can more easily make comparisons and decide where to go," she added.
"Place Search results will begin appearing automatically on Google when we predict you’re looking for local information. In addition, you’ll find a new link for 'Places' in the left-hand panel of the search results page so you can switch to these results whenever you want," she explained.
While, technically, it will be a part of the main Google Search, Places Search is a big product on its own. Similar to universal searches, places results will show up when Google determines that your query is for a local business or place.
If your query is too general to trigger Places Search, you will be able to filter your search results by selecting Places from the left sidebar.
The big change is that individual places will be listed, each with any website associated with it. This may be the official website but also review or travel sites.
Contact info such as address, phone numbers and so on will also be listed in the search results. A map of the places listed is available on the right side. Links to the Place Pages of the locations will also be listed with each result cluster.
Google developed its local search tech for Places Search. The algorithm groups hundreds of millions of websites around more than 50 million places, Google says.
The new feature is being rolled out over the next few days and it will be available in over 40 languages. If you aren't seeing it yet you can use this link, provided by Google.