New Local 3 Pack Advanced Hack PLUS Speculation: New Style Local Page Coming?

[Linda Buquet]

I wanted to highlight an advanced tip/hack regarding the new local changes...
A new easier way to get to the G+ page for research & troubleshooting.

AND speculate about something new that may be coming.
A new local maps profile page to replace the "Views" page? (Image below)
It's all connected so follow along, boys and girls.

h/t to Broland from Directory Bug, (link to his post at bottom) for some info that lead me, in part, to the following tip and speculation.

#1 Hot Tip/Hack - Easier Way to Find G+ Pages - OK so we all know Google has pretty much disconnected Google + from Local Google+. The links are all gone from general searches.

Only SEOs would know how to find the related G+ listing for a given search. AND we are the only ones that even care and need to see them. Mainly for new potential clients to see if they have a keyword stuffed description and to check completeness of the page. (Or I guess sometimes for competitive research and rank analysis too.)

Recently the only way to find the page was very cumbersome. You'd need to find the listing in Map Maker (copy/paste from search, then search Map Maker). Then if there are multiples, try to figure out which one you were looking at. Then view source to find the CID, then know how to format the link as a G+ link to get to the G+ page. (If you have RSI problems like I do that's way too much click/drag/highlight/copy/paste/searching to even be worth doing.)

NEW WAY + NEW DISCOVERY

1) From search results, click the listing you are interested in. (Not the website, but the business name.) This will take you to the new "Local Finder" with a knowledge graph for that business. 2) Click photos in the knowledge graph. 3) That will take you to a page showing the images.

4) But here's the kicker. Click the 2nd instance of the name in the top left on that photos page.
(The top link for the name is borked.) That will take you to a page I'd never paid attention to previously - a page we never talked about in connection to local before. The Google Maps Views Profile page. Click that link to see a sample. NOTE: the URL format is googleDOTcom/maps/views/profile/longnumber/additionalparameters.... You'll need that URL for step #5.

5) That long number is the same number as the one in the G+ Local URL. So to get to the G+ L page, leave that number intact and replace the 1st part of the maps URL with a G+ URL as follows. (Just replace the parts in red - can strip off the rest.)

VIEW Page: https://[COLOR="#B22222"]www.google.com/maps/views/profile/[/COLOR]117282003257983155227

G+ Page: https://[COLOR="#B22222"]plus.google.com/[/COLOR]117282003257983155227

#2 Speculation (Prediction?) - New Local Page to Replace G+?

I'm not sure about this. It's largely speculation. I don't have any insider info from Google and if I did and told you, I'd have to shoot you, so here goes... follow along boys and girls...

Good bye Google "Views" - we barely got to know you!
New Local profile page coming mid August??? (Maybe???) ​

I mentioned above that the 1st link on that images page is broken and does not work. Well there are lots more problems in paradise for these "Views" pages. (At least as far as local info discovery goes.)

Let's look at that Views Profile page
No wonder this product is being retired! Just a few problems Google...

<img src="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Views.jpg" alt="Views" width="90%" />​

1) It says "Follow on G+" SRSLY??? You can't even get to the G+ page to check out posts, to see if you want to follow their page!

2) This Seattle Chiro's map is in the middle east?

3) 16 photos but none of the links on this page show them, so all images are MIA.
(It's a "Views" image page but no images work.)

4) No reviews on the page.

5) Plus no contact info, description or categories. But this currently is not designed to be a business listing. Just a photo listing. But photos are missing, so it's not much of a photo page either.

BUT HERE IS THE BIGGIE - Right now this "Views" page is the only page a consumer could even find and get to from the main keyword Google search results. And only if they clicked to view photos from the knowledge graph in the new "Local Finder". (Which admittedly most would not think to do.)

But at top of page it says: Views is becoming part of Google Maps. Learn more.
If you follow that link it explains "Views" is being deprecated this month. It says:

"Your Views profile will have a new look and feel, and be transferred over to Google Maps when Views goes offline in mid–August."

So... I wonder if this new maps page will be a more rich profile for businesses, where the images actually work and there is contact info, description, categories and reviews???

Probably not because "Views" seems to be more for photos. But the photos don't show up on those local Views pages anyway, so who knows.

At any rate, I'll be keeping an eye on these "Views" pages to see how they change once transitioned to Google Maps pages.

h/t to Broland from Directory Bug for the tip about the URL hack to get to G+. See his tips here.

What do you think? Any other speculation or thoughts to share???
<meta property="og:type" content="article"><meta property="og:title" content=""><meta property="og:description" content="">
<meta property="og:image" content="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Views.jpg">
P.S. In case you've been on vaca or live in a cave, here's the background info on all these changes:
<a href="http://www.localsearchforum.com/google-local-important/35481-goodbye-7-packs-only-3-packs-no-phone-address-all-local-results.html">Goodbye 7 Packs! Only 3 Packs with No Phone # or Address for All Local Results</a>

 

[Scott Rawlins]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Going to be a bumpy ride.

 

[Brian Barwig]

I follow the train of though Linda and it makes sense to a point. These pages as they currently sit do nothing for the end user....if they can even find them. I mentioned this in my first post about the Local Crap Pack (I enjoy this name). I didnt even think of clicking on the upper left brand name but did click on the Terms of Service in the bottom right and it took me to a similar page saying Views will be gone soon.

Itd be nice if there was a place to input additional, useful information about the business which people can actually find.

Thanks for digging!

 

[JoyHawkins]

Wow this is so much faster than my method. Thanks for sharing. I always wondered what Views was going to become.

 

[Sara Garrison]

For now at least, a brand and address specific search will still result in a single local result for the listing I want, from which you can still access the G+ page link. So for example if I search "Seattle Chiropractic 3611 Woodland Park Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103" on Google I see this: 2015-08-12_0836 - screenshot. That's how I'm getting to the G+ pages still. Not sure if this is useful for researching at large, but it's been useful to me to at least have a way to get to the +page quickly.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Thanks so much Sara, I forgot to mention that. Brand searches (IF single location) still show G+ link, for now, but who knows how much longer? It's really the only easily discoverable like left.

 

[theitsage]

What a great find! I followed your instructions and found something about Views I'd like to share. The Maps location depends on GPS metadata of the photos which contain them. My Google+ listing has 11 photos, of which 7 show up in Views and they all were photos I took.

 

[Priya Chandra]

Great find Linda and a great hack too!

Just wanted to mention that if you're logged into Google and you hover over the Follow button, you can see the name of the Google+ page there (in blue).

Clicking on that name takes you straight to the page - so a bit less copying, pasting and typing hopefully.

And if you're not logged in, you see the following Google+ button which takes you straight to the page as well:

 

[Colan Nielsen]

Thanks Linda, this is very helpful!

---------- Post Merged at 08:07 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 08:06 PM ----------

Great find Linda and a great hack too!

Just wanted to mention that if you're logged into Google and you hover over the Follow button, you can see the name of the Google+ page there (in blue).

Clicking on that name takes you straight to the page - so a bit less copying, pasting and typing hopefully.

And if you're not logged in, you see the following Google+ button which takes you straight to the page as well:

Amazing find! Thanks Priya! You da bomb.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Great find Linda and a great hack too!

Just wanted to mention that if you're logged into Google and you hover over the Follow button, you can see the name of the Google+ page there (in blue).

Clicking on that name takes you straight to the page - so a bit less copying, pasting and typing hopefully.

And if you're not logged in, you see the following Google+ button which takes you straight to the page as well:

Shoot. Thanks Priya!

It's either Google's over subtle UI or I'm blind, because I tried 3 times and every time all I saw was the selection boxes for all my circles. Never saw the linked name there.

So scratch this whole post. Maybe I should wake up before posting.

 

[Celeste]

Wow - my mind is reeling! Surely this is just the beginning of a larger rollout that will produce something meaningful for Google searchers. Let's pray - and then wonder how everyone at Google can be considered a brainiac when this is the kind of crap that they produce.

 

[Eric Rohrback]

Great find (everyone)! It's pretty frustrating how difficult Google's made it to find that page. If Google has made it this difficult to even find the Google My Business page, do you think it's losing importance in the sense of how much time someone should spend optimizing it? Why spend time to make a great looking page if the average user wouldn't be able to find it?

 

[Linda Buquet]

Great find (everyone)! It's pretty frustrating how difficult Google's made it to find that page. If Google has made it this difficult to even find the Google My Business page, do you think it's losing importance in the sense of how much time someone should spend optimizing it? Why spend time to make a great looking page if the average user wouldn't be able to find it?

I get your point Eric, and it seems so counter to the whole "Get your Business Online" push. Think lots of SMBs will eventually think, why bother with GMB since I have no chance of ranking in the new 3 pack AND since the page does not really show anywhere obvious anymore. (Just brand searches, which most would not even notice.)

HOWEVER people need to realize it's still just as vitally important to have your G+ L page accurate and well optimized with images and reviews.

All the data on that page or most of it, shows up in various other places like maps and the knowledge graph, which now shows in the Local Finder.

In fact you could almost say the Knowledge Graph in the Local Finder IS the new Google Local page.
But keep in mind, all the info is being pulled from the GMB dash.

So data accuracy and having the right categories in GMB, is still critical, even if the G+ page didn't show anywhere. It is still key to location trust and citations, which are key to rankings. Plus hours are increasingly important in Google search, so those need to be accurate in GMB too.

So still lots of reasons to optimize the page!

 

[whitespark]

For getting to the Google+ page, have you seen our bookmarklet? We've fixed and updated it for the new changes. Just search the business name in Maps, then click the bookmarklet. It will either take you directly to the G+ page, or, if it had trouble getting the G+ page URL, it will send you to a branded search result with address which will have the G+ link.

https://www.whitespark.ca/google-maps-to-plus-bookmarklet

 

[Linda Buquet]

That one totally slipped my mind. Thanks Darren!!! Need to add it now!

Thanks for the reminder and I'm sure many others are not aware of it.

 

[Scott Rawlins]

Awesome! Thanks Darren.

 

[Wallery]

This afternoon, when clicking on the 3 pack for a search on "lawyers twin cities" I received a much different format for the page with 20 businesses. Instead of showing a website link and directions link, a picture was displayed. The listings link to a Google+ summary page with NAP, photos, reviews, a link to the website and a link to directions. Clicking on the picture centers the map on the business. Any speculation on whether this is a test or a slow rollout of another change? The listings are still displayed this way as of 5:15 p.m. central.

 

[Linda Buquet]

VERY interesting. But the changes you are talking about, it sounds like that's not on the 3 pack on 1st page of search. But the Local Finder after you click? Because the Local Finder has had 20 listings.

The if you click a listing there it has a Knowledge Graph looking card. It sounds like maybe what you are describing.

But then again it sounds like you are saying there are pics on each listing?
I'm not seeing that.

There are so many nuances and it's hard to picture sometimes when someone just describes it.
Could you share a screenshot of what you are seeing, Wallery?

 

[Wallery]

I have attached a screenshot as of a few minutes ago. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

---------- Post Merged at 07:07 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 06:59 PM ----------

Here is another example for "assisted living twin cities" after clicking on the 3 pack.

---------- Post Merged at 07:15 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 07:07 PM ----------

Here is the case if there are no reviews for the location.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Oh Wow Wallery, that is new!

2 things, the images in the Local Finder. Plus the web results for the business if there are no reviews.

Earlier today I wasn't seeing images for lawyers twin cities, but now I am.
But not for lawyers San Diego.

But I can't replicate images for assisted living or the web results.

So interesting. Could be a test, but could be rolling out.

Thanks so much for sharing! I might do a new post about this tomorrow and if I do will link to your post here and give you credit for the discovery.