Best Google+ Local Resources

[Linda Buquet]

Google+ Local Resources

Confused about Google+ Local and all the changes? Here is a list of the most important resources that I include in my Advanced Google Places Optimization training program.

ADDED 8/3 IMPORTANT NEW UPDATES Re PHASE ONE MERGE with G+

<a href="http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/showthread.php?323-BREAKING!-Google-Business-Merge-with-Google-Place-Pages-Starts-Now!">BREAKING! Google+ Business Merge with Google Place Pages Starts Now!</a>
I am adding all important updates regarding Merge Phase One to the bottom of that 1st post.

Older original resources listed below.

FAQ: Google+ Local Posted at the Places forum.

<a href="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/google-plus-local-update-tips.html">Google+ Local Update Some Tips and Important News</a>

<a href="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/local-university-advanced.html">Local University Advanced – Insights from Leading Local SEO Pros</a>

<strong><a href="http://blumenthals.com/blog/2012/06/08/google-for-business-places-forums-wrapup/">An Updated Step By Step Guide for the SMB to the Google + Local Page Transition</a></strong>

<a href="http://support.google.com/plus/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1723748&topic=2489960&ctx=topic">Google+ Local scores – (Explains Zagat ratings)</a>

<a href="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/google-plus-local-tips.html">Google+ Local Tips, Tricks, Ranking, Live Video from Google and Farewell Places Pages</a>

<strong><a href="http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1708844">How to link a Google+ page to your website</a> </strong>– for clients that already have a G+ Business page (not Place page) start doing this now. There are lots of convoluted instructions. These are the easiest I’ve found.

<a href="http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/google-author-tags/">How to Add Google Author Tags to Your Blog for Improved Search Results</a> This is even better, instructions with images. HOWEVER note, there is author markup and publisher markup and Google is even confused about the instructions. We have asked for clarification and better instructions.

 

[Linda Buquet]

I'm afraid we are in for a very bumpy ride as all the new G+ changes start to roll out.

One of many reasons I started this forum is that I think it will be good to have a place to compare notes and learn new tricks as everything, as we know it, morphs into G+.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Feel free to add more good resources and blog posts as you find them!

 

[Linda Buquet]

IMPORTANT NEW UPDATES Re PHASE ONE MERGE with G+

<a href="http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/showthread.php?323-BREAKING!-Google-Business-Merge-with-Google-Place-Pages-Starts-Now!">BREAKING! Google+ Business Merge with Google Place Pages Starts Now!</a>

I am adding all important updates regarding Merge Phase One to the bottom of that 1st post.

 

[Nick.SEOSpark]

Thanks for all of these invaluable links Linda!

I really recommend everyone bookmarks this page as this will help steer us through the bumpy ride.

It's amazing how much less (Good quality) content there is covering Google+ Local movements compared with other things going on in SEO. We really do get the breaking news here!

 

[Linda Buquet]

Thanks Nick. More coming including hot how to video.

 

[DoubleOhDave]

Hi Linda,
forgive a possibly silly question, but now in 2013 can we take it this merge is finished, or is it an ongoing thing?

thanks
Dave

 

[Linda Buquet]

Dave, it's neither finished OR on-going. It's kinda sort of optional but it's a manual process - not automatic PLUS it's still very BETA and not advised. And it's confusing. I've written a TON of posts in great detail. But in a very brief nutshell...

Places now is called G+ Local. So that part is finished, but that's not considered a merge, that was an update.

G+ Local page (the old Place page) is one page. (With reviews and ability to rank in Google search.)

Then you can also create a G+ Business page. (No reviews but has all the social features.)

Then there is the ability to merge the 2 IF you qualify (and many businesses don't qualify to merge yet.) But it's still pretty buggy and there are many problems so many of us advise not merging yet.
(FYI merging is also referred as verifying the G+ Business page.)

See this post for visuals and more details:
http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-local-important/2730-crazy-google-local-page-name-conundrum-clearing.html

Plus that big link in the top on this page has all the most important initial announcements about merging:
BREAKING! Google+ Business Merge with Google Place Pages Starts Now!