Helping Or Hurting: The Debate Over Google+ Local

[djbaxter]

Helping Or Hurting: The Debate Over Google+ Local
by Jordan Kasteler, SearchEngineLand
Jul 31, 2012

It’s been two months now since Google replaced Google Places with Google+ Local. The reactions thus far have been mixed: SEOs hailed it as a revelation for small businesses, while consumers were left scratching their heads over the new Zagat system.

Google+ Local has the potential to be everything this column is about: the intersection of search (indexed local search listings) and social (integrated Google+ business pages).

It’s a major update from the number-one player in the local search game: 97% of consumers say they research local businesses before making a decision, and Google is still the undisputed king when it comes to local search.

In theory, Google+ Local is nearly everything a small business owner could want: a place where businesses can easily get found by new customers, interact with existing customers, and promote their business at the same time. It’s an SEO, customer service, and marketing tool all rolled into one site.

In practice, however, G+ Local can be glitchy, unreliable, and confusing for both business owners and consumers. So two months later, it’s time to ask: is G+ Local really helping Google push G+? And more importantly: is it really helping small businesses?

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[Linda Buquet]

Thanks David. Been trying to get over to read this all day. Thanks for posting!