Google local pack business categories dynamically change based on query

Google now uses searchers' keywords to customize the local pack business categories.

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Google Small Local My Business Ss 1920

Google’s local pack, the local results that show up in the main search results page, now may show different business categories next to a business’s name based on the category the user queried.

For example, if a business does web design and SEO, if you search for [web design], Google may show the category “website designer” next to the company name in the local pack. At the same time, if you search for [seo], Google might show “internet marketing service” next to that same company name. Previously, Google would show the primary business category only, no matter how you searched Google for that company.

Here are screen shots of my company being shown in different business categories based on the query:

Google Local Category One 1529323612

Google Local Category Three 1529323642

Google Local Category Two 1529323663

Kudos to @sergey_alakov for spotting this first.


About the author

Barry Schwartz
Staff
Barry Schwartz is a technologist and a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics.

In 2019, Barry was awarded the Outstanding Community Services Award from Search Engine Land, in 2018 he was awarded the US Search Awards the "US Search Personality Of The Year," you can learn more over here and in 2023 he was listed as a top 50 most influential PPCer by Marketing O'Clock.

Barry can be followed on X here and you can learn more about Barry Schwartz over here or on his personal site.

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