Improving Local SEO

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

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  Simon Berenyi: Local SEO - Google Local Three Pack
  
  I've been struggling to improve my local SEO, and was hit by the Google update in December. I've been doing lots of good things on the site, but I'm missing something.
  
  The site seems to convert well, but the local three pack seems to be out of reach despite me having better page and domain authority to my competitors.
  
  I've been active in the SEOMoz community, but thought this might be a better place to get guidance on local SEO?
  
  Any pointers however small, would be greatly appreciated.
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  Ryan Cramer: I noticed that you said that you've been "doing lots of good things on the site", but what about on the Google Business page? Realizing that the 3-pack only shows on desktop (check your mobile), it is not that big of a deal if someone is looking for directions.  ;Still, optimizing your Google Business page as you would your website can give you the edge to get in the top 3.  ;
  Also, it seems that the amazing work done with hummingbird and panda don't seem to apply as much to Local search, so you may need to do old school keyword optimization in your Google Business pages
• 
  Simon Berenyi: Hi Ryan - many thanks for your kind advice. I think I've got the most optimised business page in my part of the U.K. This perplexes me greatly. Just when you think you've done it all, it doesn't make a blind bit of difference. My rankings are actually falling! My site is in freefall despite making big changes to make it mobile ready. Very frustrating and so far no one knows why. I have blazed into social media and this has also made no difference. Sometimes you just want to throw in the towel and start again - but I have a niggling feeling it's a big problem with a simple solution. So for now the hunt for what's wrong continues. 
• 
  Ryan Cramer: Unfortunately, my area of expertise is not in Local search, especially since the December update. Hopefully the panel will be able to help.
• 
  Jim Munro: From the expert panel in this week's SEO Questions hangout on air on 00:07:25 into the YouTube video: https://dumbseoquestions.com/q/improving_local_seo +Simon Berenyi
  
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