Ranking in Google white pages

How does Google prioritize listings

[mayor]

Anyone know how Google determines ordering for their white pages listings?

From what I can see, it's not alphabetical, it's not by zip code, it's not by telephone exchange.

[jeremy goodrich]

Google White Pages? Hm, not familiar with that one...anybody else? Seems that they would use a 3rd party for that, like the Yahoo Maps links, etc...or am I missing something here?

[Mohamed_E]

Jeremy,

I suspect that mayor is referring to [google.com...]

[jeremy goodrich]

Doh! Ya, that one. Interesting that they wouldn't provide listings in alphabetical order, though - hm, perhaps they are trying to thwart old school phone book / yellow page marketers? You know, those guys that always name their business #1 widgets or AAA Widgets, Inc, so they get listed on the first page, without buying ad advert? :)

[mayor]

Maybe an example will better illustrate this. Go to the Google search window and type in 'catering chicago illinois' without the '. The listings appear to be ordered somewhat at random.

With 175 listings for 'catering chicago illinois', but only two showing at the top of the serps, you can see why I'm asking the question.

[thewebboy]

I dont think its random but some kind of "lite" relavancy.

[Chndru]

Wow. this is cool stuff. never been a much of a user of this one. clicked on more phonebook listings..there's a lot in it:) Wish they keep a tab on the homepage for phonebook (atleast a link)

[mayor]

It really is cool stuff. Google allowed me to discard a couple five pound phone books and saves me long searches through long listings that I have to squint to read.