For localized searches a lot of the time you will see a map with bullet points showing places in the locale you are searching. How is positioning determined for this? It seems like the businesses with more reviews are higher towards the top. Is this true? Although I see a site that is 8th in the list and has the most reviews. Does anyone have any idea how that is derived?
This link should be of help to you. Relevancy is important in the positioning of the listings on the map as well (both on and offpage optimization). But the businesses still need to signup at the link noted previously...