Four Things to Consider w/Google+ Local Replacing Google Places
The recent change of Google Places to Google + Local has brought about some interesting dilemmas for the local business search world. It’s really turned the way you search for business upside down in a way.
You now have SEO companies trying to update their strategies for this change. But what strategies need to really be changed and what needs to stay the same?
First…let’s go back in time. September 8th, 2011 in fact, when Google acquired Zagat, the highly popular online review company. It seemed a bit odd. Little did we know that Google had something up their sleeves with this acquisition.
Fast forward to May 30th, 2012…Google introduces Google+ Local with a sprinkle of Zagat. Instantly Google Places is replaced and is no more. What is this all about? What does this really mean? What to do now?
Well here are four important things for internet marketers and small businesses alike to consider with the New Google Plus Local:
- It would appear that Google is trying to manipulate the system with putting Zagat into the usual search process. With Zagat being the main feature for local search, business have to really pay attention to what is being written by customers. It’s not all about who’s first in the search engine. You have to pay attention to your feedback from your Zagat reviews and their overall score.
- Internet marketers have to convince their local clients about these new changes and how Zagat can now be a headache for them if their scores aren’t positive. And perhaps mention that their Zagat may even be more important than a high search ranking at times.
- Keywords have to be carefully researched in Google Local now. For example, search for the keyword: “Pizza”, then search for the keyword “Pizza in” or ”Pizza Shop” in your area. You may find slightly different results in all three.
- The gut reaction is to get a bunch of people to go and make reviews that are positive. And that requires them having a Google+ account and taking the time to actually write good things on behalf of that small business. Can this be manipulated? Anything can but hopefully you are going about the right way to make sure the reviews are honest. You’ll see this Zagat score may be a factor on how your business is featured before a search is even done.
Now these challenges only reach the surface of what needs to be considered with this change. And since this affects millions of businesses world wide. So with these challenges come opportunity. And these opportunities are another path for profits for you.
So in our next monthly product, we will feature Google+ Local as the topic. This go over in detail what this change is all about and how you can market your services for success. So stayed tuned.
About Bryan S Arnold
Bryan S Arnold is an avid writer with a passion for copywriting, blogging, and helping people market their businesses online. And if you ask nicely, he might just sing a tune for you.
