Starting a new Google+ Local page

[Susan Walsh]

Hi, most of our clients have an existing Google+ Local (formally Google Places) listing that we search for in Google search and then claim and optimize the page.

Where are new businesses, with no web presence except a new website, supposed to create their Google+ Local page? Are they supposed to start at www.google.com/places or should they create their new Google+ Local listing within Google+?

It's is so confusing that the name Google Places and Places for business are still out there. It's become one big guessing game. There is so much information on Google+ Local and Google+ Business page - we want to convey the correct information - please let me know what way is the right way to create a brand new Google+ Local listing.

Thank you!!
Susan

 

[Colan Nielsen]

I would start in Google Places. You can create the G+ Business page as well if they want the social features and video's. Just don't merge yet, unless you must. Most agree that merging the places page(Google+ Local) with the G+ Business page is still buggy.

 

[Susan Walsh]

Hi Colan,

Thank you! I appreciate your answer - it onfirms what I had thought. We always claim the Google+ Local (formally Google Places) that already exists. I wanted to be sure we were still supposed to create the listing within Google Places. Why Google changed the name to Google+ Local I don't know. They could have had Google Places within Google+ - I guess if they are not confusing people like me, they are not doing their job. Sorry, that's my "vent" for the day.

Thanks again, Susan

 

[Linda Buquet]

Susan Colan gave the exact advice I would have given. I'd wait on merging too buggy.

And if it's a BRAND new business that has no Place page at all out there you COULD just set up in G+.
BUT I would not yet. Features are missing and still too buggy.

Why Google changed the name to Google+ Local I don't know. They could have had Google Places within Google+ - I guess if they are not confusing people like me, they are not doing their job. Sorry, that's my "vent" for the day.

Susan you are going to LOVE what I am posting tomorrow. My biggest post of the year so far.
Will make you LOL all day long AND clear up some of the confusion.

Stay tuned and check back around 9 AM PST.

 

[Broland]

Yup, use Google Places. Also, if you want to move rankings along quickly get a good bit of citations out on the web for the new business before setting up the Google listing.

@Linda, you've peeked my interest about tomorrows post..

 

[Linda Buquet]

Susan and Broland, here it is! It's a DOOZY!

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

(Sorry posted this AM but my 1st chance to get back to this thread. You guys subscribe to the forum RSS feed so you don't miss anything right? I did another really important post this AM about new category spam issues.)

 

[Susan Walsh]

Thanks Linda! Your new post really great - LOL - love the images too. It's explaining to the clients the differences and this will help.

We also tried to merge our business - we have a hidden address, but it didn't work. It's funny, Google won't let us make any changes to our G+ Business page without it being verified, which we keep trying and it doesn't work.

As far as clients go, we are working mostly with Google+ Local pages. The only time we ask them to setup G+ business page is if they want to use the Hangout feature with us. Since we build websites, the Hangout feature is good for training and troubeshooting. We love the Hangout feature in Google+ and use it all the time for our elSue meetings.

---------- Post Merged at 02:44 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 02:38 PM ----------

Broland, great advice. I agree with you on getting some citations first and then creating the Google+ Local page. I've done citations for some of our clients and they are time consuming - all different - but I know which ones now have the most value and show up in the searches - Yelp, Manta, CitySearch, Hotfrog, etc. We only do the free listings and then hand off the project to the client. We are trying to get away from doing citations, very time consuming, so we teach them how to do them or direct them to Optify or a business that does citation building.

Thanks!
Susan

 

[Linda Buquet]

We also tried to merge our business - we have a hidden address, but it didn't work. It's funny, Google won't let us make any changes to our G+ Business page without it being verified, which we keep trying and it doesn't work.

Susan there's a new G+ bug. I call it the Catch22 bug. They say you can't merge if SAB with address hidden, but then as you experienced G+ tries to FORCE you to merge by saying you can't edit unless you verify. BUT you aren't supposed to verify, so...

Jade told me the messaging is just off and you can still edit just fine. But I told her some are getting locked out... and it's a technical glitch.

See this thread that I escalated and Jade is involved with for any updates:
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/business/FcpwF06Xzrg

 

[Andrew Forster]

Use Google Places like everyone recommended ... trust me, I know from experience

As Linda stated, you CAN start with Google+ however, in my experience, the business won't receive a 'local listing' in the local map pack and you would end up having to re-add it to the Google Places dashboard and re verify it with a PIN to get it anyway, so just steer clear for now!