Google+ Local, Places, Maps… Whatever.

I love Google, I really do.

I have to tell myself that whenever I feel the Hulk rage building inside of me. Then I remember what Bruce Banner says right before completely crushing a large otherworldly beast, very dryly, in the latest installment of the Avengers, “My secret? I’m always angry.”

Hulk Smashes Loki, like I wanta smash Google sometimes…

I am always angry, in particularly, at Google for changing things that don’t really need to be changed. In a pretty recent post about Google Places becoming Google+ Local, I discussed the issues involving small businesses (and large businesses for that matter) as it relates to Google Maps. Well, guess what? Now we are in the process of merging Google+ Local with Google+ Pages.

Furthermore, if I am reading Jade Wang’s Google Product Form post correctly, we will have to confirm locations all over again in Google+. Even if we, webmasters and business owners, don’t have to reconfirm, what do we do with all the duplicate listings that are currently in existence and the ones Google is sure to produce with this fourth, fifth, or whatever merger of Maps/Places/Local/Page listings?

Google, Goo-Gle, GOOOOOOGLE!!!

Jade W

Aug 16 (1 day ago)

What you should do during the upgrade to local Google+ pages?

Should I verify?

• Storefront business with a page in Google+ (under the local business/place category) who are using it regularly: request verification. You will need to get a postcard sent to your business address and enter the PIN. Then, manage this page using the Google+ pages admin. Do not use the Google Places for Business to edit after verifying in Google+.
• Verified owner in the Google Places for Business: continue to manage your information from the Google Places for Business dashboard and please wait for further instructions. We are working on a smooth upgrade process for everyone.
• New storefront businesses: (not verified on Google Places for Business) you may create a page in Google+ (under the local business/place category) and go through the verification process. Then, manage your page through the Google+ pages admin.

What if I’m a …

• Service area business with address correctly hidden: the upgraded (merged) local Google+ pages are not currently supporting service area businesses. Please continue to manage it via Google Places for Business and hide your address as necessary, detailed in the quality guidelines.
• Big brand or business with multiple locations: There is no way to link a single brand page to multiple local Google+ pages. Continue to manage your brand page in Google+, if you already have on. To manage your locations, continue to use use the Google Places for Business dashboard.

I have a sticky situation…

• Created a page in Google+ in a category other than local business/place? Only +pages in the local business/place category can be verified and merged with a Google-generated local Google+ page. There is no way to change the category of +pages. You may create a page in the local business/place category and verify that if you’re not currently verified in Google Places for Business. We will not be able to move your followers or content.
• Data issues? continue to use Edit business details to resolve these issues. Please do not attempt to merge or verify a page with data issues.
• Someone else verified your social local Google+ page? Please make sure it isn’t a Google-generated page. If you’re sure it’s a social page, you can learn more about admin rights here.
• Someone else verified your Google-generated page? You can also request verification. Any Google-generated pages can be verified by any account in Google Places for Business. If you suspect that someone else is adding incorrect information to your Google-generated page, use this troubleshooter.—

  I’ll update this as we get more news. Hope it helps! – Jade W.

  The Wrapper

  Sounds like we have our work ahead of us. There will be a new round of confirmations and duplications but in the end we have to have faith that Google has a plan, and that plan won’t utterly destroy the work businesses have done to make sure the information displayed for them is accurate, useful and beneficial to the user experience on the search giant. Only time will tell.