Thanks for your post. This is a great question.

The skinny is that the ’10 pack’ map results are actually blended (or universal) search results – and not specifically Google Map results. That is why the ‘Kevin McLaughlin Custom Windows and Doors’ listing on the ’10 pack’ still shows the maps.google.com url. Hence, once ‘more’ is clicked, the user is then directed to Google Maps where the full details of your local business listing (including correct url) are listed.

Isn’t this frustrating? (I think so.) According to the GoogleMaps Help Blog (see details below) this is a problem that Google is aware of. We’ve had this happen with several clients. Primarily it’s been a matter of time (few weeks in most cases) for Google to update the url in the ’10 pack’ map results. I suggest doing all the local search and seo optimization you can to help speed the process — including, at minimum, listing in major directories and review sites, upload xml and kml sitemaps to Google, optimize internal links on site for target keyword(s), encourage reviews, etc. (Side note: I’ll be posting our ‘SEO Local Search [Ongoing] Checklist’ shortly.)

Lastly, because the ’10 pack’ map is a blended search result while Google Maps is separate, that is why you are listed ‘J’ on the ’10 pack’ map and #14 on Google Maps.

Following is the excerpt from the GoogleMaps Help Blog referenced earlier:

“You said that the results happen when doing a map search. However, you are actually doing a google search; You aren’t searching Google Maps, you are searching Google the web search engine.

This isn’t a major issue. But a proper explanation will help corrections to be made faster. And I’m sure you want this corrected as fast as possible!

The results on google dot com that you see are the results of a feature that Google refers to as “universal search”. With it, Google attempts to combine the search results of their many search locations into one result – which you see on google dot com.

Google has had problems with universal search from the moment they first put it into place. Google has acknowledged it, and said that they are working it. However, they said this some 2 months ago, and have not given an update.

The Google User Guides have said that you can report these errors here, which you have done. I am not aware of another reporting method for problems with universal search. The only thing remaining is to wait for them to notice and correct it.”

We just recently put up a web site and at the same time we updated our Google Local Business Center listing with key information about the business as well as details of our new website. Almost immediately we appeared in the 10-pack for ‘window replacement san francisco’ – see ‘Kevin McLaughlin Custom Windows and Doors’. We appear at the end (J). That 10 pack display does not display our website for some reason. If we drill down – either by clicking ‘more’ or even ‘more results near san francisco’ – then Google Maps opens up and if you scroll a page you will see our listing – complete with the website details!! Also, I would have expected us to appear on that first Google Maps page as entry J but instead you have to go the the second page and we are the fourth entry. Again, this does not match the 10-pack position.

We would be grateful if you can explain these two discrepancies.