Google Local - Two Things I didn't know

has its own spider, uses different algo

[lorenzinho2]

Here are two things I learned from the Google Local presentation at SES yesterday.

Google Local has its own spider (they didn't say how it would be identified in log files)

Google Local uses its own own algo in determining the SERPS for Google Local (I guess I sort of knew this one, as the Local SERPS look nothing like the regular SERPS)

As far as how to entice Google Local bot to stop by, all they said was to have 'local' type info on the page (e.g, listing name, zip, area code, etc.)

As far as how to optimize for Google Local, they basically said the same thing.

My observations: Google Local spider is not nearly as active as Googlebot or Media Partners. I know of a site that ranks top 3 in the regular SERPS for a number of competitive local phrases, but is nowhere to be found in the Google Local SERPS.