BREAKING! Google+ Business Merge with Google Place Pages Starts Now!

[Linda Buquet]

<a href="http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/showthread.php?323-BREAKING!-Google-Business-Merge-with-Google-Place-Pages-Starts-RIGHT-NOW!"><img src="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/G+Local.jpg" alt="" title="GoogleLocal" width="150" align="left" hspace="10" /></a>This is just the 1st iteration and beginning step for merging your Google+ Local (Google Places page) with your Google+ Business Page.

THIS WILL WORK RIGHT NOW IF YOU HAVE ALREADY CREATED a GOOGLE+ BUSINESS PAGE with LOCAL set as the CATEGORY. (If you didn't set local as category or if you are a service area business with address hidden you can't merge yet - see below.)

See important updates and resources - bottom of this post.

I AM CALLING THIS PHASE ONE

PHASE ONE is for straight forward merges with existing G+ Business page (set as local) and Google Place page.

After you verify your G+ Business page, then it will merge with your Place Page and you'll have ONE page, with all the Places features like reviews AND all the social features combined.

From the Google and Your Business Forum

<a href="http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/business/technical-issue/cLdShAg9xYs">Verification available for local pages created in Google+</a>

For those of you that have created local Google+ pages (with social features) -- good news! Today, you can become the verified business owner for that local Google+ page.

In essence, this will combine the page you created in Google+ with the page in Google+ Local (formerly Places listing). Your business’ presence across Google Search, Google Maps, and Google+ will be unified. You’ll be able to manage this page from Google+ Pages admin. Check out the Meatball Shop for an example of a combined page, with both social features and reviews.

If you’re ready, just click on Verify now on the right side of the page. You’ll need to verify that you’re representing your business by having a postcard sent, even if you’re a verified business owner on Google Places for Business. Also note that verification will only work for pages created in the "Local Business or Place" category in Google+.

The new upgraded pages aren’t yet available for those that just have local Google+ pages with reviews. We’re working on getting the upgraded experience to all business owners. If you’re curious, go ahead and create a Google+ page in the local category.

Got questions? Reply here -- I’ll update this post with answers.

Thanks,
Jade

There are many scenarios that are not covered in this 1st phase. More will be revealed soon.

I am doing Q & A on a bunch of issues with Google via email. I know there will be a TON of questions. Google is working on help docs, FAQ and other integration options.
Like I said this is just the very 1st phase.

More coming, as I get news I can share publicly.

CHECK FOR UPDATES TO BE CONTINUALLY ADDED HERE:

NEW 3/2013 GOOGLE SAYS DO NOT MERGE YET
http://localsearchforum.catalystema...dont-merge-google-local-g-business-pages.html

11/29/12 - Link to Mike Blumenthals Local Train Wreck post. He, I and now even Jade from Google suggest waiting to merge. Just too buggy still. Is Google Local Really this Broken? Who's in Charge? What's the Solution?

11/29/12 -Jade just did a bunch of updates to the original G+merge/verify FAQ.
Verification available for local pages created in Google+

Update 8/16 - <a href="http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/showthread.php?444-Google-Local-Merge-FAQ-from-Google">Google+ Local Merge FAQ from Google</a>

NEW 8/14 - Should you Merge or WAIT? Some bugs and problems are being reported.
Google+ Business Update - Pros and Cons of Merging Google Places Now Vs Waiting

NEW 8/7 <a href="http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/showthread.php?359-Video-How-to-Merge-your-Google-Local-and-G-Business-Pages-Detailed-Instructions">Video - How to Merge your Google+ Local and G+ Business Pages - Detailed Instructions</a>

ADDED 8/4 <a href="http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/showthread.php?331-Service-Area-Businesses-with-Hidden-Address-Can-t-Merge-Your-G-Business-Page-Yet&p=1257#post1257">Service Area Businesses with Hidden Address - Can't Merge Your G+ Business Page Yet</a> Google forgot to mention you are not included in this initial update. See details in the post.

Official Google help docs Step-by-step instructions - Google+ Help
Note: waiting on confirmation from Google that these docs are updated and correct for this new update.

Mike Blumenthal's Step by Step instructions. Likely more detailed than Google's.
<a href="http://blumenthals.com/blog/2012/08/03/step-by-step-guide-to-the-google-businesslocal-merge-verification-process/">Step by Step Guide to the Google+ Business/Local Merge Verification Process</a>

Just got these help doc links from Jade:
<a href="https://support.google.com/plus/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2609871" target="_blank">Step-by-step instructions</a>
<a href="https://support.google.com/plus/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2623608&topic=2661706&ctx=topic" target="_blank">Verifying a local Google+ page</a>
<a href="http://support.google.com/plus/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2693876" target="_blank">Edits to verified local Google+ pages appearing</a>

Jade added FAQ to original announcement this AM (8/4)

Upgrade/Merge FAQ (From Google Business Forum)

Q - Can a local Google+ page that I make in Google+ have multiple administrators? (ie, Can multiple Google+ profiles manage my page?)

A - Yes! There are two types of administrators -- owners, and managers. Read more about each role’s capabilities here.

Q - Can I have one social local Google+ page that links to my many locations?

A - No, at this time, we only support one social local Google+ page linking with one location.

Q - What if I made my social Google+ page in a category other than “local business/place?”

A - Currently we only support verification of pages made in the local business/place category. You may make a new page in that category to access verification, but we cannot automatically move content or followers. There is currently not a way to change the category of a +page.

Q - What about if I’m a service area business with hidden address?

A - The new verification process does not currently support service area businesses with hidden addresses.

Q - What if I’ve just got a local Google+ page with reviews (in Google+ Local) but don’t have a social +page?

A- You may create a +page in the “local business/place” category to have access to verification, if you would like. We hope to offer the upgraded experience to all local businesses, soon, but currently, verification of the social +page is the only way to get the combined/upgraded pages.

NOTE this is just an announcement thread and is closed to discussion.

Please see the OPEN discussion thread over here:
http://localsearchforum.catalystema...google-business-merge-google-place-pages.html