Google are playing with the SERPs design again. Today I’m seeing local results (Google Places) displayed with a grey coloured pin that changes to the more familiar red or blue (AdWords placements) as you hover over the listing.
The Google Map at the top of the right hand side has been flattened so it makes more room for AdWords ads to show above the fold!
In this case at least there is a full complement of 7 local listings and 10 organic placements as well as a News listing at position 4. Other searches are cutting the organic listings on the first page.
I did notice that on a search which had fewer AdWords advertisers the map was less flattened:
Seems like there is no end to the changes…
Interesting! It’s barely worth doing SEO anymore!!