The squeeze to make everyone using Google create a Google Plus account continues... Google has now merged Zagat data into Google Places and requires you to have a Google+ account to leave reviews, upload images etc. More info on it: http://searchengineland.com/google-...the-center-of-gravity-for-local-search-122770 http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/google-to-use-zagat-to-refine-local-search/ http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/100...local-with-zagat-content-makes-zagat-com-free Google - do you really think forcing +1 on everyone will make them want to actually use it?
It seems like they really are going all in. I just read about the leaked document that showed Google Calendar integration with Google Plus. I suppose it's inevitable, at this rate maybe Google Plus will eventually catch on.
I'm having an issue.... My google place listing disappeared... And no google local... Anyone else had this issue??? Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
People are way over reacting to this and spreading misinformation. This isn't any different from how it worked before. You always needed a google account to leave a review. Also Zagat only applies to businesses that are actually in the food&beverage industry. Other local places dont use Zagat and are just rated on a 30 point scale. The places page also looks much nicer and neater now. Integration with google plus opened up new SEO possibilities, whether its whitehat (building an entire social Google+ profile revolving around your buisness) or just blackhatting your way up the local SERPs by just buying +1's. I don't quite see what everyone is mad about.
This is only Zagat & Restaurants. Normale Places are still in Place. I wouldn't want to have Restaurants as clients in anyway. To much headache.
Yes, beforehand you needed a Google Account - so if you had a gmail account you were good to go to leave a review. Now you need to go the extra step to be able to have a review by setting up a G+ account. Now the issue with that is from a whitehat point of view... it is even harder to get genuine customer reviews as you are asking them to set up a G+ account to leave you a review - something a lot of customers won't want to do in the industries I am dealing with. From a blackhat point of view I agree, it will be interesting to see how much difference buying some +1s now makes! My annoyance is that Google is forcing Google+ on everyone because they are so desperate to get social data.
First note: Be careful with buying +1's. Yes it's a big deal with google, but because it's their service it's a big deal if you BS them. There are plenty of ways to get real +1's from people with real accounts they just don't cost $0.0001 each LOL. Restaurants have it the hardest right now, but google will and is already gearing up to pull in niche 3rd party data for other industries. Most of the same principles apply to rank in slot as as before with the exception of a few changes/modifications. I can still create listings with no addresses so PM me for that. Map optimization and citation packs available at reseller prices. Slot A, top 3, and top 7 packages available.
Google is trying to get everyone to use +1 accounts even if you have places accounts for the simple reason so they can even more accurately track data of sites and rank what they want according to the algorithm which takes social media, and places accounts into consideration.
This is the best of three long webinars I've watched on the changes to Google Places to Google+ local. Jeff Schwerdt is knowledgeable and presents well. There is chart that you can download that can be presented to clients without scaring them with details. The first video runs 79 minutes; the others are shorter. leadtoolsale dot com/google-local-training/
Two methods to create a listing without an address: 1) Go into mapmaker and create a location with the business info. Within 48 hours you'll get a message from a moderator saying you need to submit it to google + local if you're a business owner. Just reply back that you're not a business owner. Or if they took down the listing, resubmit it again. Once it's in the database, you can "claim" your listing. 2) Bulk upload 10+ locations at a time Both methods have worked in the past month. No post card verification required. If you have any questions just PM me.
