Google+ Local Changes - Frequently Asked Questions for Plumbers & HVAC Contractors

Google Places has merged with Google+ Local. Several of the plumbing & HVAC Contracts have posed the sames questions. I have addressed the most common ones below:

Does this mean I have to get more involved in Google+?

Yes. If you don’t already have a Google Places page, you’ll need a Google+ profile in order to create a page in Google+ Local.

I thought Google+ was a bust … why should  I invest in it?

As a distinct social network, yes, Google+ has received mixed reviews from social media watchers, and it certainly hasn’t dented Facebook’s armor. But as Google continues to roll up its various products into one seamless entity, Google+’s popularity as a distinct social network matters less and less … More to the point: going forward, if you want to have a presence on Google at all— namely in search—you’re wise to embrace Google+.

I want someone else to manage my page, but I don’t want to give them my personal  Google+ login info … what can I do?

Add a manager to your page. There are two types of admins in Google+ page world: owners and managers. Each page can only have one owner, but can have up to 50 managers. All managers have the same rights—managers don’t possess different “ranks.” Adding managers allows you to share control of your page with multiple people without having to share your personal login information. Also: The names of the owner and managers aren’t visible to the public or to those in the page’s circles.

How can I make the most of my local listing on Google+? We’ve already covered the basics, but I’ll review them anyway, because repetition is the mother of learning and the father of excellence.

•     Make sure your listing is complete. More than that, make sure you’ve taken every opportunity to go above and beyond the bare minimum.

•     Add a bunch of photos and take time to write a compelling company description.

•     Create listings in other directories, making sure to include the exact same information in each one.

•     Encourage your happy customers to write positive reviews.

What if I get a bad review? Can I take it down?

The bad new is, you can’t take it down unless it violates Google’s terms of use, and that’s a very tough case to make. It’s going to require a really egregious situation to convince Google to remove a review. They will look for any reason to leave the comment in place. That’s not because they’re heartless and don’t care about your reputation, but because they need to maintain their own reputation as a fair and neutral party.

But you can always attempt to diffuse bad reviews by responding publicly. In some cases, this can end up being a PR victory for your business, because it shows the public that you take customer complaints seriously and are committed to excellent service.

Why is there already a listing for my business?

It’s pretty simple: Google spiders can crawl the web and assemble a page automatically, using the information they find from other domains. Additionally, new listings can be created by … anyone! Which brings us to the last question …

Why do I need to claim my listing?

Claiming your listing has several benefits. The first and most important is that it “locks” your listing to everyone else. You now own it and the majority of its contents. (Excluding the customer reviews, of course.)

Another benefit is that claiming your listing provides information on who is viewing it. You can see how many times your listing has shown up in searches, how many people viewed it, even how many people asked for directions!

Can I hire someone to submit  positive reviews to Google+ Local?

No. Well, you can, but it’s a bad idea. This practice—widely considered a form of spamming—violates the terms of most web directories, Google included. Even if the reviews are legitimate—maybe they came from surveys or comment cards or something—even then, you’re not supposed to submit them on behalf of the original author, according to Google policy. And if you get caught, Google can pull your listing. In short, it’s not worth it, let alone ethical,  to submit fake reviews.

What if I don’t have a store or office?  Can I still create a listing?

Yes, you certainly can, but you still need to submit a mailing address to Google to create your listing. If you work from home or you are a mobile business you can specify a “service area” in the signup process and opt to hide your address.

Does Google+ Local replace Google Places?

Some of you may already have a Google Places page and you might be wondering if it’s true that Google+ Local is replacing Google Places. The answer is … yes and no.

The user-facing part of Google Places is going away, but the backend admin panel that businesses use to manage their existing Google Places pages is staying (for the time being); it will be the dashboard for the new Google+ Local pages until Google gets around to folding it into Google+. For businesses that don’t have a Google Places page, Google+ Local is a total replacement.

Current Google Places user?

Get updates from Google when changes are made to Google Places: http://support.google.com/places/bin/request.py?contact_type=verification_ address_collection&

What’s different about Google+ Local (compared  to Google Places)?

Perhaps the biggest difference is cosmetic. Imagery plays a much bigger role in the new local pages. Google: “[By] streamlining the layout and putting more focus on photos and reviews, we hope to help you highlight what makes your business truly unique.”

Social search integration

Now, if your customers are on Google+ and they search for local businesses using Search, Maps, they may see reviews of your businesses from people they know from their circles (such reviews are displayed prominently next to your business name).

Customer  interaction

With Google+ Local, merchants can develop followers and message them, and have the kinds of social interactions now available on Facebook and Twitter. They can also group their followers into circles (e.g. current customers, prospects, customers of the month, etc.).

Search engine optimization

There’s a ton of SEO potential here. Most notably, unlike Google Places pages, these new Google+ Local pages will be indexed.

Higher barriers  to post reviews

Users need a verified Google+ account (verified with a phone call or text) to write a review, and that review will be associated with their Google+ identity and made public.

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