Google Local, which used to list only 3 companies in its local search results, has decided to make room for more. This should be a relief to companies who wanted to fairly share the lime light. We’ve been battling other local firms to get the one of the coveted three spots. But now, Google has opened it to ten companies, looking now like:

The downside? Now sponsored links and Google Local results take up the majority of the screen real estate. Those hard earned organic listings are being pushed even further down the page, making them less valuable. Ah, the Lord giveth and he taketh away.