silverbytes - 3:25 pm on Jun 17, 2009 (gmt 0)

This is the scenario: a business about whatever has #1 organic position, he's located at whatever city.
Google introduced their own map with a bunch of business listed at very top of page now (local search) so whenever someone searches for "business at city" that #1 organic result is beated by the google map with some ten results from A - www.example1.com -
B- www.example2.com -

and so on.

Add also 1 more serach result at top of these 10 for: "the Local business results for [search query here]"

Also add 1 result for "more results from [search query here]" link at bottom of map but still above you.

You have 12 results before your #1.

Now, at top of map you can see up to 3 Adwords horizontal results above the map (3 others paid for) and at right column first 5 Adwords results are above your ex #1 organic result. 1 add is exactly aligned to your right.

Let's do the maths: 10 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 6 = 21

Your #1 site became #22 being the first real organic result.

How to revert this situation?

Under certain circumstances your business don't apply to be listed in local search (IE: your company sells services in several destinations), or your business is not reviewed for those important companies that added other business to map, or your business is not one of those top 10 because in that city there are thousands of bigger business)
One last: business addition is not even available in Google Local (only some countries may add business).

Well you are out of map no matter what.

What's the only remaining option? Pay an Adwords add higher than all other 9 Adwords Advisors. How much is that, well of course not cheap, specially if you want your #1 back, because you have to beat them all so you end paying USD xx for each click.

But what happens in the meantime? I saw this happening: #1 organic result now in #22 position having an Adwords add pointing to exactly same page that their organic result AND having the 9th position, that is the one exactly at your right column!

So when your bidding is beated your add goes down in position and you may end again in #22 or below.
Why? Because all other advertisers also want the place above the map certainly.

Ok, you refine your ads, work on them, focus on CTR, landing pages, bla bla, and most important: pay more.

I notice that this model enforces to buy Adwords, and personally notice that I need it like it or not, and have to pay more than before to stay worst.
What about the older organic results #2, 3, 10.

The local map and horizontal Adwords ads became a barrier that you only trepass buying ads.

Sadly I don't feel local search will dissappear from regular search. I'd like local serach would be only available in maps.google instead being the #1 ever.