#google-plus-local

Unless you don’t get out in cyber space that often, as a business owner, you are aware that your online reputation is more important now than ever. An ever increasing number of consumers are diligently looking at Google Plus Local reviews (among others) before deciding who to invest their money with. The problem for most G+ listings is that they do not have an adequate number of reviews to compel any consideration at all. And for those that have negative reviews… unless they take action fast they are dead in the water.

oogle Plus Local Q&A - How To Make The Most Out Of Your Google+ Local Listing. As you know Google Plus Local has taken the place of Google Places. This is an excerpt from our most recent webinar on Google Plus Local: How To Turn Your Google+ Local Page Into A Magnet For New Customers. Setting up and optimizing your Google Plus Local page is one of the best ways to steer high-quality local search engine traffic right to your door.

Setting up and optimizing your Google+ Local page is one of the best ways to steer high-quality local search engine traffic right to your door. Here’s why: Every single day, people and companies search Google for nearby vendors to do business with. So the question is, does your business show up? And if so, how well does your listing reflect your business and serve your goals?

Need Help with your Google Plus Local Business Listing? I am in the process of putting together a killer DIY Google Plus Local Optimization Package. Its going to include a new website equipped with a powerful social media plugin that will enable a business owner to make a G+ viral promotion where their customers can get a discount, special offer, coupon, whatever, just by clicking a G+ button.

While most of the citation stuff and basic optimization is still valid, because at this time the back office is still Google Places, Google has altered their algorithm so that those companies with more high quality reviews (from registered G+ users) and Google Plus Local discussions will be rewarded with better rank. Of course Zagat now plays a role.

While citations and common sense optimization still plays a role, G+ Local is in fact becoming a popularity contest for local businesses. Or maybe its better to call it an experiment in social engineering. A business will benefit greatly by engineering their social standing on Google Plus.

One of the first strategies for jumping ahead of the pack, for a local business, at least, is to find (or create) Google Plus super users. These are users who now only like to rate local pages but also get their reviews liked by other users. These Super Users ratings will simple carry more weight in the Google algorithms.