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Major Google Places Update Coming (Google+ Local)

by Catalyst eMarketing
14 replies
Surprised no one here is talking about the big Google Places update here yet. (Yes I called it Places because it's still branded Places on the business owner side.)

What do you guys think? I know no one likes change and this is going to be a BIG ONE!
But I think it's all good!

Google gave me a test account in advance of the announcement so I could test it out, do screenshots and be prepared to help with the launch PR. I can see how this new unified interface is going to solve a lot of legacy problems we've all had to struggle with for years.

The update is rolling out VERY slowly in small waves, so no one is seeing it yet. Could take weeks before it hits everyone. But they are starting with new listings, so if you set up a new client, there's a change you'll see it before the rest of the folks will.

The data pipeline was improved so updates will happen faster as well. So MANY things are changing and being improved.

If anyone missed the announcement or has questions about it you can get to the official announcement on the home page of my blog at link in sig. There you will find links to all the different Google announcements, new help docs, articles from around the web about the changes, a big FAQ and lots more.

(Mods hope you don't mind me saying that - didn't do a direct link out. I normally would not even say read my blog, but this is a really big deal and is causing lots of confusion and many are jumping to the wrong conclusions, so I'm helping Google try to spread the word about all the changes that are coming.)
#coming #google #local #major #places #update
  • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
    Coming from you, I better scoot over to your blog to see the "goings on", thanks for posting,

    Eva
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    • Profile picture of the author Rob Richards
      Here in San Diego, the new changes have been live for a few days.

      I am seeing a ton of reviews that have been dropped from the Goo+ Local page. Any idea why?
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      • Profile picture of the author pbarnhart
        Also seeing a lot of citation sites - citysearch, yelp, etc - ranking incredibly higher and the actual websites ranking lower or dropping entirely.
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        • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
          Originally Posted by pbarnhart View Post

          Also seeing a lot of citation sites - citysearch, yelp, etc - ranking incredibly higher and the actual websites ranking lower or dropping entirely.
          Not sure that is really a local issue. The citations seem to have less power in most of my clients case. Seems to be coming down to a lot of on page optimization. In my opinion, domain trust is a huge factor in organic. Of course, the more citations you have, the higher domain trust you can get, and that would definitely help with local listings.

          As for the changes, it doesn't seem like this really effects anything with rank, just the user experience side of things.

          I still haven't merged the majority of my clients with Google+ and they seem to be doing just fine.
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          • Profile picture of the author Dialady
            Linda,
            I'm anxious to see how this plays out. I went into my client Google+Local accounts and requested to be one of first to make the change over. So far, nothing. Seems like another waiting game. Been waiting to merge Google+Local and Google+ Pages for my clients. Looking forward to the change at last!

            Theresa 8-)
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            • Profile picture of the author Catalyst eMarketing
              Originally Posted by Rob Richards View Post

              Here in San Diego, the new changes have been live for a few days.
              REALLY? The new dashboard changes? Just like in the screenshots I've shown? Because so far the only folks to see it, are in Canada.

              When I told Joel Headley the head honcho from Google, sitings of the new dashboard had been reported at my forum, he had not even seen them and wanted examples. No one at the local search forum has reported seeing on US accounts yet.

              Google is watching that thread at my forum and Joel just replied there last night. So if you care to share a link Google would like to know as things roll out.

              ALSO I have a family medical emergency and am madly trying to leave town to go to my Dad in the hospital. So Google employees, Mike Blumenthal and other Google Top Contributors are helping in that thread and answering questions.

              SOOOOO I won't be able to stop here to answer Qs. Crazed trying to arrange nursing home care for Dad etc. So if you hit BUGs or have Qs, ask there and someone will help you!

              Originally Posted by Rob Richards View Post

              I am seeing a ton of reviews that have been dropped from the Goo+ Local page. Any idea why?
              That's a new bug or that old super tight review spam filter is back again. We reported to Google yesterday.
              I got email from them last night that they are looking into it. But they don't work much weekends so may be Monday before we know anything.

              Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

              As for the changes, it doesn't seem like this really effects anything with rank, just the user experience side of things.

              I still haven't merged the majority of my clients with Google+ and they seem to be doing just fine.
              Yes exactly. It should not affect ranking. But a few other important things.

              1) Better interface and unified/integrated.

              2) Faster updates. (The back end data pipeline was improved - but images are still really slow. However they are working on that.)

              3) No more dual claimed listings and all the problems that can cause. One of my posts go into that part in detail cuz it's a BIG deal on a couple levels.

              4) Lots of changes in the works for Service area businesses and all the hide your address problems. Some improvement re this in the new dash. Others coming soon.

              Originally Posted by Dialady View Post

              Linda,
              I'm anxious to see how this plays out. I went into my client Google+Local accounts and requested to be one of first to make the change over. So far, nothing. Seems like another waiting game. Been waiting to merge Google+Local and Google+ Pages for my clients. Looking forward to the change at last!
              KEEP WAITING and don't merge yet (AKA verify your G+ biz page). Just hang tight on that part.

              Requesting early update - good if you like beta testing. Could be a few bugs at 1st, but my test account seems great and it's nice to get in ahead so you know what's up to deal with the rest of your clients.

              SLLLLOOOOOOOOWWWWW roll out. As I said could be weeks before it rolls out to everyone.

              Again I can't stop here much. Just wanted to be sure everyone knew about the changes. Google and Top Contributors will answer Qs at my place while I'm gone because I'll be in the boonies on Lake Michigan with no or limited Internet access.
              Signature

              Linda Buquet :: Google+ Local Specialist and Google Top Contributor
              ADVANCED Google+ Local Training :: Also offering White Label Local SEO
              Latest Google Local News, Tips & Tricks

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              • Profile picture of the author Rob Richards
                No, not the dashboard changes, just the changes on the Goo+ reviews area.

                1. Huge # of reviews removed
                2. No more score showing on many reviews
                3. No mention of date of review

                Strange happenings...

                Rob

                Originally Posted by Catalyst eMarketing View Post

                REALLY? The new dashboard changes? Just like in the screenshots I've shown? Because so far the only folks to see it, are in Canada.
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  • Profile picture of the author WeavingThoughts
    About time for it.
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  • Profile picture of the author RedShifted
    I'm curious if this will have an impact on rankings.

    I haven't lost any reviews but I noticed I lost rank for 5 different keywords today. Was grabbing a lot of traffic on them and I haven't seen these keywords off page 1 in a couple of months.

    Maybe its just coincidence but I'll wait a few days and see if anything changes.

    -Red
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  • Profile picture of the author wcroz99
    I might have been blind for the last few months but I was looking through my google+ page settings yesterday and noticed what I think is a new 'category' section which I hadn't seen before.

    This is where you pick categories that best suits you business. So I filled in the services my business provides and my google+ page is now ranking much better. One particular service was ranking #297 (its quite a new page) in the serps but now my google+ page is showing at #5 for that particular keyword.

    Is this a new feature or is it just something I have missed previously?
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    • Profile picture of the author Catalyst eMarketing
      Originally Posted by Rob Richards View Post

      No, not the dashboard changes, just the changes on the Goo+ reviews area.

      1. Huge # of reviews removed
      2. No more score showing on many reviews
      3. No mention of date of review
      Oh well I announced the dashboard update and you said you'd been seeing for a few days.

      All 3 things you mentioned are review issues, totally separate from this dashboard update. (Reviews are even kept in totally separate database.)

      2 and 3 are connected and is due to a bug. I reported to Google over a week ago I think. Re #1 Google has not told us yet if that's a bug, the old filter or some new filter.

      Originally Posted by wcroz99 View Post

      I might have been blind for the last few months but I was looking through my google+ page settings yesterday and noticed what I think is a new 'category' section which I hadn't seen before.

      This is where you pick categories that best suits you business. So I filled in the services my business provides and my google+ page is now ranking much better. One particular service was ranking #297 (its quite a new page) in the serps but now my google+ page is showing at #5 for that particular keyword.

      Is this a new feature or is it just something I have missed previously?
      Not sure because based on explanation don't know what you are seeing. Old dash, new dash or G+ dash.

      But cats have always been in the old dash and it's one of the most important things you can set up right on the G+ page itself that can affect ranking.

      BUT custom cats are going away with the new dashboard.
      Signature

      Linda Buquet :: Google+ Local Specialist and Google Top Contributor
      ADVANCED Google+ Local Training :: Also offering White Label Local SEO
      Latest Google Local News, Tips & Tricks

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  • Profile picture of the author RedShifted
    Ok, there go 5 of my reviews, have 3 left now.

    THIS IS WHAT GOOGLE CONSIDERS "INNOVATION".

    Increase the "legitimacy" of reviews and make it better for users by removing legitimate reviews and putting companies out of business.

    Thanks google.

    This would be equivalent to a cop throwing someone in jail for doing the speed limit.

    If there are no legitimate rules .. there is no incentive to follow rules in the first place.

    Thanks google, you stupid assholes.

    -Red
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob Richards
    I'm seeing on the goo groups that a TON of others are seeing all or a lot of their reviews have been removed.

    Are others seeing the same thing here on WF?
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