Google Local Roll Out Changes Local Results from 7 to 3 Pack

The worldwide roll out of the latest Google Local Update on August 6th has meant that where there used to be 7 pack for local results these have now all gone to the newly revised 3 pack (with no telephone numbers).

new 3 pack v old 7 pack

Fundamentally this means that

1. Local businesses phone numbers are not immediately evident directly on the search results page (SERP)
2. Only 3 businesses are listed
3. Local addresses are not immediately evident on SERP
4. When click through there is a list of 20 competitors
5. More people will click top natural results
6. Reviews will become progressively more important

There is a full review of the revisions and how this might affect local businesses for local searches at Big update in Google’s local search results