Google Business Page

[laurie]

Is there a difference between a Google business page and a Google PLus local page?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Hi Laurie,

Yes major differences. Local ranks. G+ doesn't. Local has Reviews. G+ Doesn't.
G+ has social Local doesn't. Unless they are merged then they have all of the above. But we don’t recommend merging yet cuz it's buggy.

I have this explained a bunch of places but rushed for time and can't find a good one. This one is good cuz it has pics and a chart.

Closer Look at Google Local - Local Splash

 

[laurie]

Thanks for that Linda. I"m still confused though. So G+ local is all business, but a Google plus page can be either personal or business?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Kinda but there's more.

Google+ Local is a LOCAL business.

Google+
Can be a personal G+ page
Or Brand page
Or A Company page that is not local - it's national

OR A Company page that IS local.
That G+ Page if it's local can be separate and only have the social features.
OR can be merged with the Google+ Local page so then it can rank & has both reviews and social.

I know it's really complicated and very confusing...

 

[laurie]

Wow, the more I ask, the more confused I get! I appreciate you taking the time to explain it.

So...

Google+ local is a local business
Google+ can be a personal or national business page.

But I'm confused as it also being a local business page. Why wouldn't that go under Google+ local?

That's as far as I have gotten right now...

 

[Linda Buquet]

So just talking about local businesses...

Some just care about ranking in Google. Some want reviews. But they don't care about social. They can just stick with what used to be a Google Place page and is now called a Google+ Local page.

Some businesses are into social and want to do posts and circle friends or customers. All the social features are on the G+ Business page.

Then a fairly new thing is the ability to merge both pages into one so you have all the features on one page. That's still a little buggy so some of us don't recommend merging yet. And also many types of businesses don't qualify to merge yet so should not.

 

[laurie]

That helps, Linda. Thank you. So, a business page allows you to interact socially, while a G+ local does not. Got it. (I think)

So, another scenario - if you want to rank for regular seo (a national/online company) you would still do a business page but not necessarily have to participate in the social aspect?

Also - one more thing - what kinds of companies do/do not qualify to merge yet?

Thank you SO much!

 

[Linda Buquet]

That helps, Linda. Thank you. So, a business page allows you to interact socially, while a G+ local does not. Got it. (I think)

Yes, you got that part.

So, another scenario - if you want to rank for regular seo (a national/online company) you would still do a business page but not necessarily have to participate in the social aspect?

No G+ Business pages do not rank in the search results. You could still have a G+ page for branding and just not do posts or build circles. But it does not directly help with SEO or show up in the rankings.

Also - one more thing - what kinds of companies do/do not qualify to merge yet?

Service area businesses like plumbers, carpet cleaners.

Multi-location businesses.

Businesses that have data problems with their G+ Local pages.

More detailed info on the above from Google: http://localsearchforum.catalystema...-pages/444-google-local-merge-faq-google.html

Here is another Google help doc: https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/business/tK6133zBZ1Y

 

[laurie]

Thanks Linda. Great information.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Laurie, this post is for you!!!

http://localsearchforum.catalystema...oogle-local-page-name-conundrum-clearing.html

 

[laurie]

Laurie, this post is for you!!!

http://localsearchforum.catalystema...oogle-local-page-name-conundrum-clearing.html

Thanks Linda. It's funny, I have just been thinking about all of this today, and then I see this post.

The most helpful part was this: If you are still confused, the simple easy answer is that a PURE Google+ Local page (the one that used to be called Place page) ONLY has a review button. The G+ Business page only has a Follow button, no review button. And a merge or verified G+ L page has BOTH!

I need things broken down into very simple terms!