WTF- GOOGLE PLACES CHANGES AGAIN!!! how are you ORM 'rs and G placers surviving

So now its another story to leave reviews on google places since they changed it to google+ local. On a desktop its pretty simple just sign into your google plus account and so on... but leaving reviews through mobile handsets is a completely different story. I'm using a blackberry and can't even access the posting reviews page. After digging a little further it seems they changed it so that only android phones get that ease of simplicity ( http://www.google.com/mobile/places/ ) . I lost my iphone charger so i can't check on my iphone if its same story. I know iphone is coming out with their own local stuff anyway. I dont really have clients whose services revolve around leaving mobile reviews at the moment so I'm lucky for that but i want to know how those of you who have clients with review funneling services are doing with these changes...

also would like to network with one or two people who are open to discussing ORM and G places since I'm the only person i know doing this AT THE MOMENT!

We also specialize in Google places reviews and there isn't any change other than places to google + local. Have not got any client asking for mobile reviews though but yeah we optimize bunch of google + local pages for our clients.

I've started a Local SEO Group for to discuss issues like this one, and also to network and work cooperatively toward mutually beneficial results.

When the shift from Google Places to Google+ Local happened, Google ignored my well-developed places page and created a blank new one. I filled out all the extra new stuff for the Google+ Local and massaged it around to the best of my ability, but my rank on the Local results kept falling, even while my organic was rising (I'm #2 on both primary kw's, but page #2 on the Local Results.

Coincidentally, Google Marketing approached us and wanted to do a "Offer" (similar to Groupon, Social Living) and I pushed for it and during the conversation with the Marketing Rep I asked her to delete the "blank" listing that was created during the shift. I'd reported it, flagged it, used profane and threatening language and couldn't get rid of it. Somehow I think it was either watering-down the local results, or it was considered to be the "Primary" and whatever I had done on the other one was being ignored.

Marketing Rep for G got the blank one deleted for me, so there's yet another secondary benefit to doing a Google Offer (there are others). I'll report on any changes to my local position,and intended to do a full-blown article on the Google Offer experience. We go live in the last week in July.

dheer said:

We also specialize in Google places reviews and there isn't any change other than places to google + local. Have not got any client asking for mobile reviews though but yeah we optimize bunch of google + local pages for our clients.

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yea but the changes implemented are critical for anyone doing ORM- They dont use the 5 star rating system anymore which i would direct mail a snapshot of to an owner with bad reviews (and got me a couple of meetings).

now they switched it to a zagat 0/30 rating system which isn't as impacting.

and instead of just having a google account you have to have a google plus account which adds an extra step to the whole process.

mobile reviews are 10x more simple then desktop reviews- not sure why you dont have clients asking about it..

How do you get ahold of G representative ? Can you please share the contact info with us ? Many members would like to know that....

Keep me updated with that group, i'd like to be a part. that whole scenario sounds like a big headache. glad you got it fixed.

Renard said:

How do you get ahold of G representative ? Can you please share the contact info with us ? Many members would like to know that....

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I'll send an email tomorrow asking about a contact I can either post publicly or give to someone else. Right now our deal is "in process" and I'm not willing to risk it. My perception right now is that you don't call Google, Google calls you. If they wanted to be contacted they'd have a means to do that posted. Maybe they do, idk. My sense in general with all these companies is that they are putting effort into making themselves as inaccessible as possible. You might try finding some insight on the Google Product Forums.

productforums.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/webmasters

jonvital said:

Keep me updated with that group, i'd like to be a part. that whole scenario sounds like a big headache. glad you got it fixed.

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blackhatworld dot com/blackhat-seo/groups/local-seo-discussion.html

jonvital said:

yea but the changes implemented are critical for anyone doing ORM- They dont use the 5 star rating system anymore which i would direct mail a snapshot of to an owner with bad reviews (and got me a couple of meetings).

now they switched it to a zagat 0/30 rating system which isn't as impacting.

and instead of just having a google account you have to have a google plus account which adds an extra step to the whole process.

mobile reviews are 10x more simple then desktop reviews- not sure why you dont have clients asking about it..

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Yes this is true but what I think is they are going to update the whole system. They have recently merged it with google + so I think soon you will be able to send screen shot of Zagat review scores as well and get clients. Something like this:-



Although in my case as I don't directly approach to clients I just get SEO guys needing services for their clients.

The star system was much simpler for quality recognition, as the new x/30 system is probably a bit too mathematical for most people.

I optimize my ORM portals and systems for mobile if my clients want, but I make sure my clients know I have no control over the mobile friendliness of the actual review sites.

Regardless, my review building systems are not affected by rating or review interface changes, so updates don't worry me too much, as long as reviews play an important role in instilling customer confidence and helping local rank.

Feel free to contact me to chat about ORM.