On a beautiful Friday morning we decided to amp up the phase and create a Google+ Local Business page to show you how you can set it up, and how this page can be useful to your business.
Google+ Local Business
Google+ Local Business Uses
Now that you know how to set up your new Google+ Local page, let’s talk about the uses of Google+ Local for business owners.
First, Google+ Local is a great place for local consumers to find your products. Just like Google Places showed the map of local stores in your area when you were doing Google searches, Google+ Local is sharing your information via Google search and also in Google+ itself.
Second, this means that making your business more sociable through Google+ for local business owners is more crucial than ever. It is no longer just a matter of getting a few reviews and posting it up there to get good rankings. Instead, Google+ is making business owners create social networks around their Google+ page complete with reviews and interactions from consumers.
Third, it means that true local search is dead. I know a lot of business owners who staked their business traffic to their website on backlinks and keywords. Google+ Local is slowly killing that notion, because businesses can not just hope that people find them on the first page of Google anymore. Instead, a full blown campaign to involve your customers and get their social network involved in your business is needed to get your business traction.
Have you use Google Local in your business? How do you see Google local business helping you find new clients?
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This is a great post! One thing about Google Local Business Listings, they recently changed it to only have 7 top listings. They are making room for their Paid local listings spots.
What do you mean by top 7 listings?
Google truely is changing the local marketing game. The new ranking system is great and shows that the acquisition of zagat was a great move. The recent chages are a huge opportunity for businesses to gain an advantage over their competition.
Jeff,
It is definitely an opportunity. I just hope that it does not make business unfair for small business owners.
Andy
I am really happy with this local results, I think the results of the search would be more need centric, and the so called spammers will have to simply vanish! SO overall good days are coming back for us!
Jeremiah,
The challenge with is spammers are already using scraper bots to get massive amounts of Google+ connections. That gives them a tremendous lead over most small business owners.
Andy
ya it is unfair for small buisness owners
Great post, Andy! Much appreciated. I’m starting on the page for my Ear Brandy venture right now. Cheers! Greg
Greg,
Thanks! The site looks nice.
Andy
Nice summary Andy, also worth noting that the basic SEO things you needed to do with Google Places still apply to Google+ local pages – consistency of citations and links to your site.
Jas,
Absolutely correct! Goolge+ Local is a new variation of Google Places. They just added the + Local.
Andy