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In one of the final nails in the coffin for G+ Local pages....
Remember when Google recently took the Google plus link out of the SERPs and we were all trying to find the easiest way to get to the G+ page. One of the suggestions was to search for the brand, because it still showed the G+ link in the brand SERPs.
Well now G+ page links are gone from brand SERPs too. So are reviews. Say what? Yep you heard it right!
Both are gone from the SERPS. (Reviews still show in the Knowledge Graph next to it - but no G+ link.)
This came up last week at the Local Search Pros Community and on Twitter. I was sure I posted about it, but can't find it. Some of you may have already seen these posts but I'm sure many of you have not.
I don't have time stamps, but I think Jenny F from Organik SEO at the Local Search Pros Community last Friday was the 1st to mention it and show a screenshot of the missing G+ link on a branded search. A lively albeit discouraged conversation followed.
Google + and Review links stripped away from branded searches?
Around the same time I think, Colleen Harris alerted me on Twitter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Because Google's not changed enough - branded stars gone? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LocalSEO?src=hash">#LocalSEO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mblumenthal">@mblumenthal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/localseoguide">@localseoguide</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CatalystLocal">@CatalystLocal</a> <a href="http://t.co/XIIJ5FUXrT">pic.twitter.com/XIIJ5FUXrT</a></p>— Colleen Harris (@cdawg2610) <a href="https://twitter.com/cdawg2610/status/642390849297489921">September 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Twitter discussion here: https://twitter.com/cdawg2610/status/642396769540788224
Then Joy posted this:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Google just removed the links for reviews & G+ page now for business-name searches via <a href="https://twitter.com/CatalystLocal">@CatalystLocal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OrganikSEO">@OrganikSEO</a> <a href="http://t.co/iy1LQuRJTq">pic.twitter.com/iy1LQuRJTq</a></p>— Joy Hawkins (@JoyanneHawkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/642405309122654208">September 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Full Twitter convo here: https://twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins/status/642405309122654208
Then a couple days ago, Tim Capper, a new Google Top Contributor posted this at our Pro Community
Disappearance of Google+ Page Link
So they are gone, together with the review snippet!
Google must have data to back up their removal from SERPs, but for me, I personally feel that its a bad user experience.
After making such a big song and dance about "Google My Business", "Lets Put our Cities on the Map" ..... i am beginning to feel that local business, no longer matters![]()
Here is one of my comments in Jenny's thread:
I reported a couple weeks ago about local packs where Google had totally removed the review count and stars too. I have a feeling this is all connected to the eventual pay-to-play I keep predicting.
Those "Nearby Businesses" ad units are showing up more and more. Often they are a 4 pack too, which pushes the free 3 pack way down. But with the home service ads there is no free 3 pack below, the ads replace the pack.
Small changes are gradually made little by little, all leading up to: If you want to rank high - in the top pack and have a call button and your precious reviews showing, need to pay.
What do you make of all this???
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