How to Influence the Google Local Justifications

May 9, 2023

What are Google justifications?

Are you trying to increase visibility for your business in local search results? If so, it's important that you understand how Google justifications can help. To assist users in understanding why a business is appearing in response to their search query, Google displays brief text snippets known as justifications within the local pack.

Google justifications explain why a business is appearing in response to a user's search query. They provide additional information about the business, like "In stock," "Sold here," or "Open 24 hours." They're like little breadcrumbs of trust, leading potential customers to your business.

These justifications come in different types and the specific type highlighted in the local pack is determined by the user's search query.

Justification come from a variety of sources including websites, reviews, posts, menus, services and other places.

Types of Google Justifications and How to Influence Them

Types of Google justifications can provide valuable insights into your online presence and how it impacts your search ranking. Here are the main types, along with examples and tips:

  1. Website: Website mentions or justifications show content directly from your website, indicating what influenced the ranking for a specific search phrase. For example, if your website mentions "best Italian restaurant," Google might show this as a justification.

    How to Influence: Place keywords prominently on your webpages. Include additional mentions and variations of the keyword in the navigation, internal links pointing to the target page, and throughout the main content of the your service page.

  2. Reviews: Reviews justifications are pulled from Google reviews for your business. They can be influenced by reviewers using specific keywords in their reviews.

    How to Influence: Actively manage your Google reviews to avoid negative justifications and maintain a positive brand image. Ask your clients for specifics on the services and products they received.

  3. Sold Here: Sold here justification shows that a product is available at your location. It's indicated by a checkmark and cannot be influenced.

  4. Service: Service justifications use a checkmark icon and are pulled from your Google Business Page's services.

    How to Influence: Using the Services section of Google My Business, add each target keyword as a service, and add a supporting description for each service. Ensure your service descriptions are clear and avoid potential misinterpretations.

  5. Menu: Menu Justifications are specific for restaurants showing menu information from your Google Business Profile. It can attract new customers looking for specific dishes.

    How to Influence: Keep your menu information updated to attract customers searching for specific items.

  6. Post: These justifications pull keywords from your Google posts. They are updated as new posts are published and can overwrite other justifications.

    How to Influence: Focus each post on one main service or product to increase the chances of appearing in this type of justification.

Conclusion

By implementing these suggestions, you may affect Google's local justifications and raise the online exposure of your company. To stay competitive, it's crucial to continuously evaluate and improve your web presence because Google's local search results are always changing.


Remember, justifications are not a replacement for a well-optimized website or Google Business Profile. They are an additional layer of information to support search results. Focus on providing relevant and high-quality content, strong onsite SEO, and following local SEO best practices to improve your online presence and search rankings.

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