Google Local Results - can we improve ranking?

[Jack_Frost]

We are starting to get into local search for some of our clients that have offices around the country and I am wanting to understand how the Google local results are ranked.

We have submitted our sites and are now listed in the local listings. However, the algorithm used to rank sites in the main organic listings does not seem to apply here. It also looks like the paid listings are separated. So...I'm wondering if one can do any type of optimization to improve a site's rankings in Google local?