Google+ Local Launches
Google announced a revamped version of their Places service last night named Google+ Local that integrates Google+ business Pages with search, maps and local listings in SERPs. The changes also bring Zagat, which Google acquired last year for $151 million, into restaurant search results and Google+ Local search. The list of changes include:
- A new ‘Local’ tab on Google+
- The meat and bones of Google+ Local is the new ‘Local’ tab located in the Google+ sidebar menu. Housing a list of recommended places near your location, the Local page allows you to whittle down your search and explore Google+ local pages for businesses matching your search. You can also limit suggestions to your circles to see which places matching your search your friends have been to, rated or reviewed.
- Local information integrated across Google products
- Google+ Local will also begin integrating into Google’s broader suite of products. Searching for locations in search, maps and other Google products will provide searchers with Google+ Local information rather than the existing Google Places info and build a tighter connection between a business and their Google+ page
- Revamped local search on mobile devices
- Most people now search for restaurants and local businesses on the fly, prompting Google to roll out Google+ Local through Google Maps on Android devices. Hold tight iOS users however, Google have promised a rollout soon.
- Zagat ratings for restaurant local searches
- Google has integrated the recently acquired Zagat into their local listings, providing searchers with a better review system to take on competitors such as UrbanSpoon and Yelp. Zagat ratings appear in Google+ Local searches, General search and on Google+ local pages and give each restaurant a standardized score out of 30 that takes into consideration food, décor and service.
Google+ Local & Your Business
If you’re a local business owner, now is the time to take the plunge with a Google+ Business Page. Many businesses have avoided Google+ due to a perceived lack of audience and social interaction. However as Google+ gets further integrated with the search giant’s stable of more popular products, the opportunities available to drive searchers to your business with just a Google+ profile make it more than worth the time and effort.
While businesses can still manage their listings through Google Places, the search giant seems to be indicating that Places may be put to pasture, meaning Places listings will either be converted to Google+ Pages or have less significance than Google+ Pages in search.
So You’ve Set Up Your Google+ Page… What now?
- Share content regularly about your business, customers or industry so that you your customers regularly interact with your page. These kinds of ‘social signals’ will help you rank better in Google+ Local listings.
- Provide your customers with incentives to get on Google+ and rate your business. Offering specials, promotions and deals on your Page that are available only to Google+ users is a great way to build your presence on the platform.
- Make sure all relevant information fields are filled out and that you’ve added photos to your profile and photo strip. This information will also be appearing in Google’s search and maps, so triple check that they’re correct.
- Engage in conversations with your customers on your Google+ Page and use the service to reach out to raters and reviewers. With the heavier focus on ratings and reviews in Google+ Local, you’ll need to stay on top of what people are saying about your business on Google+ and respond accordingly.
Still unsure about setting up a Google+ Page?
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