Page One for Google Places Gets Harder and Harder

 ONLY THREE SPOTS FOR GOOGLE PLACES ON EVERYTHING SEARCH?!

Mike Blumenthal and 145 other commenters on his blog have noted that there are now far fewer Google Places listings showing up on the blended "Everything" search.  Where there has commonly been seven, the most common number is now three.  Some searches have four or five, but seven has become rare. 

My goal on this blog is to make it possible for small business owners to Do It Themselves when it comes to Google Places strategy.  If the three pack becomes the standard, and with the addition of Google+ effecting search results, and and and, it may be time for me to change my recommendation to:  Don't try this at home.