Explaine Google Local to me

[Rwh909r]

ok so im noticing that almost every search result comes up with Google Local listings right there up at the top of everything else, making that person look like the number 1 site on the net, when they are not the most informative for the key word searched on. Actually it just goes to their home page that doesnt have as much content as other sites.

Is this a case of google forcing their own listings above everyone else just because they are indexed in the google local and not going off of the actual content of the page?

[IslaScotts]

It is a feature. Like if I were to type in "JCPenny" it would give me the local listing of that store first. It's style and appearence show that it is a different kind of listing, just like the payed listings look different. It is just a feature of the listings and is not meant to show you who is number one. It's kind of like the switch AOL made for searching things... it brings up listings, video, pictures, and maps for your search terms.