What causes Google Maps to display?

Can anyone tell me what exactly causes Google Maps to display at the top of the page when doing a search?

One of the phrases i use to check on my own site's performance always used to have the Map at the top and my site appeared as 'B' on that list. A while ago, the map stopped showing on the search.

Does anyone know, is there some specific criteria that causes the Map to display?

I think you mean the geo targeted listings next to the map. As far as I know, the only time they don't appear is when Google don't want to show local results for the specifc phrase. You can get a geo targeted listing by submitting your site to Google local business centre.

Hope this helps.

I have not been able to put a finger on this either. To me, it seems completely random. I noticed some 1 keyword searches more often than less, display the map while searching your keyword + city or state (widgets new york).

I remember a certain query used to work and display the map several months ago. That same query does not show the map anymore. Why? No friggin clue. I tend to think that Google tries to determine the purpose of your query. I would like to think that Google can actually do such a think with a 1 term query but can they be that good??

Please share if you figure it out. I'm definitely eager to know.

P.S. There is a local search section in these forums a little bit. May be a better place to ask this question.

Thanks for the reply.

I have set up my Google Local Business Centre account and use the phrase i am searching with. Currently, neither the map nor the geo-targetted listings appear. It just seems strange because they used to appear religiously, but now do not appear at all.

Google appears to be making changes to listings for web-professional services ... it's temporary.

Hello, I am new member in seochat. Actually it's a temporary error and will right after some days.

use google map guideline, add specific city, country you target and also add description with relative search