Top 8 Factors Why It's Hard to Game the New Google+ Local Rankings

My recommendation is that PPC is something that you can for sure show results to them in terms of more customers. So I suggest that's a better idea to get your feet in the door and gain their trust. Or any setup service, such as setting up their FB page, their G+ Local page (not ranking), some website work, etc. are good ways to gain their trust and show them they can count on you.

SEO+Google Local Rankings, especially after April 24 Penguin & May 30 Google+ Local launch, Google is cornering SEOs more and more. And if you are new in this game, there is a risk that you will not be able to show them results.
So that's my recommendation.

Seems to me it would be difficult to rank sites this way. Even outstanding businesses might have trouble getting some of the requirements naturally.

As internet marketers, we are just making our best observation on what can be part of the ranking algorithm and experiment to prove it. Nobody really knows.

But these factors are reported in the admin section of the Google Places in your stats, so if they are reporting, they are tracking and using for rankings most likely. Experimentation is needed to say these are the ranking factor facts for sure, upcoming months will show.

They probably have different algorithms for different industries - just like they use Zagat and different rating system for "restaurants". Google bought Zagat a few months ago just so they can use their world-class "review system" in Google Places. And today, they put it in use.

For travel, I wouldn't be surprised if they integrate it with review sites such as "trip advisor" etc.

Of course someone from Fiji can review a hotel, but that applies to the travel industry. And also there are different thresholds for different industries. But you can bet if there are 20 reviews and 20 of them are from Fiji for a hotel in Miami Beach, then that raises a flag. That case they look at IP address, Gmail account.

Every user needs to have a google account to post a review, and what does a Google account need? A valid phone number for verification. Google started to push these "we require your phone" alerts when you login to your gmail about 6 months ago or so, with the warning that "make sure to provide your phone number in case your account gets hijacked!!, lol". Thanks Google you are so concerned about my account!

Partially they want to use this phone information when you G+ a website or Google Places or when you review a business - it prevents their system to be gamed. They know where you are really from and everything you review!

Today I went to Zipcar's Google+ Local page, and my Yelp review for them from a year ago was on the Google+ Local page with my name on it! I did not leave this review on Google Places. But it's on there. Actually it was on the example that Google showed me for the privacy statement how my Google name would look like on the public reviews. I was like wtf! I still don't know how this happened. Did Google buy Yelp, or how do they access Yelp's user data, in this case my name has been shared, and my Yelp account info was tied automatically to my G+ account! This is scary stuff guys!!

If you are a dentist from Miami, and you get bunch of people with out of town area codes leaving reviews, obviously that's just going to raise a flag. It's much different case than a hotel or a cruise company. I actually tested this system, so I can say they already had pretty decent fake review detection system, they just didn't get posted.

But we are talking about getting ranked. In order to beat your competition, there are social popularity factors are in effect now, it's not hard to see. Don't be naive that it's easy as having more reviews, having more citations, and having an optimized page, those just don't cut it in moderate to higher competitive markets.

And with this integration, I can say that it's not the best industry to be in promising top Google+ Local ranking to small businesses.

"Nothing changes in how local results are ranked" is partially true. Some of these ranking factors I have listed here were in effect already and more has been added now. For example 'how many people looked up for driving directions' were a factor, but 'checkins' were not as it's a new feature. And many people overlooked these factors I have listed here because most popular Google maps courses teach are page optimization, reviews and citations. I am trying to raise awareness that it's just not that simple and there are other factors.

EXACTLY! Ranking is still 70% blended algo - which is based on organic ranking factors and 30% old pack style algo - which is based mainly on NAP integrity, citations, reviews and Place page optimization.

Nothing changed with ranking at all YET. I mean the algo is always in flux, but notthing changed specific to this update.

I just posted a video on my blog direct from the horse's mouth. Vanessa the Places community manager confirmed nothing changed with ranking in this update. I mean, like she explained the algo is always being tweaked but not specific to this update.

I was in a big conference with upper management at Google today re all the changes and current issues. We are in a major transition right now and it may be a bumpy ride for a bit. But where they are heading with this will ultimately get rid of some old chronic Places problems and make quite a few things easier.

I was a little anti the changes at 1st cuz DAMN I rank #1 for Google Places Optimization, it's all over my site, all my Advanced training materials are about Places Optimization, tools, EVERYTHING needs to change, so I was kinda ticked about the re-branding. But after my meeting with Google I'm pretty excited about what's coming!

True but rolling with the punches is the name of the game when you play in Google's sand box!. :p