Has anyone noticed that since the early May Google “redesign” the local business results "change location" setting on the Google Maps Onebox changes the organic search results to favor local businesses in that chosen location? That location remains in affect across different searches until it is changed.

I'm the lucky one that's just happens to be sitting on the data center that evidently no one else can see. ;-) So I gave Mike all the screen shots and worked with him on the story.

There is another totally different layout that they are testing too. I gave it to Mike, but don't think he's uploaded yet. It gives an even different perspective on where Google may be heading.

If this change hits, it's really going to shake things up and make Google Places an even more important spot to optimize for - if you have a local business. It makes local MUCH more prominent and pushes organic way down the page.

Linda