Google has rolled out new features for local search, including new tools that can assist with producing locally-relevant stories.
More users are typing in queries with phrases such as “news near me” than before with recent searches. According to Google Trends, search interest in “news near me” has increased three times globally over the past five years.
With this demand for local news, Google has added new features to local search results to help people find locally relevant stories.
New Features in Google Search Local News
- Deeper Understanding of Topics – Google now refines its ability to connect broad topics with local stories.
- Local News Carousel – Google will now display a carousel that features local news stories relevant to the search user’s query.
- Local Tweets – Searchers looking for local news may now see surface tweets from local and authoritative journalists.
- Top Stories Carousel – Google will now show authoritative local news sources in the Top Stories carousel, generally reserved for stories from national publications.
New Tools for Local Reporters
Google has also released new and upgraded tools for reporters to publish more work designed to a digital medium. These new tools aim to help local journalists by providing them with locally relevant data that they can use for their stories.
- Census Mapper Project – This is an embeddable map that displays Census data at the national, state, and country levels. This also shows census tracts. Each data is collected and processed by The Associated Press.
- Common Knowledge Project – This is a new version of an existing tool. It allows journalists to search local data and integrates journalist feedback. This tool now includes new features, including new charts, new visuals, and geographic comparisons.
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With these new local search features, your content writers will be able to deliver more localized content for customers within your area. If you need help with your content marketing, Cybertegic, the top digital marketing company in Pasadena, can help you. We have a team of content writers who are experts in the industry capable of producing on-page and content marketing campaigns that will build buzz and drive new traffic.
