Google My Business, Google Places, Google+ Local: let’s clear things up!

Google My Business, Google Places, Google+ Local, and Google+ Business are undoubtedly features that are widely discussed.

Let’s shed some light on this topic, as an increasing number of clients are asking us for information about it. Keep reading this article if you want to discover the latest updates on Google My Business and its related tools.

From the old to the new Google My Business

In the latest updates, the Google My Business platform has been significantly enhanced by combining Google Places (Maps) and Google+ Business and Google+ Local Social Pages into a single Dashboard.

This consolidation has made it much easier for businesses to retrieve and update their information, as well as interact with people. This significant change has brought some order and improved the user-friendliness of one of the most complex parts of Google’s business-focused world.

Regarding the layout, not much has changed. Once you access the Google My Business Dashboard, you immediately have access to the associated services, such as:

• updating business information displayed in search, Maps, and Google+.
• adding photos of your business that users can comment on through reviews.
• monitoring the activity of connected social pages.
• interacting through your integrated Google+ Page (previously, it needed to be created separately).
• additionally, at the top right, you can access all the apps dedicated to your Local Business.

In short, it’s a complete and entirely free package to try out right away.

Tell me about your business, and I’ll tell you which Google+ Page you are

When you open your new Google My Business account, you may wonder about the nature of the integrated Google+ Page. Is it a Google+ Business Page or a Google+ Local Page? What’s the difference?

The new pages created automatically through Google My Business are all Google+ Local pages. Their key characteristic is that, unlike the old Google+ Business Pages, they are directly linked to the physical location of a commercial activity. Local pages include all the essential details, such as the map location, address, opening hours, and phone number.

For the rest, the Google+ Local Page retains all the functionalities of the old Google+ pages, such as creating and managing circles, starting and participating in Hangouts, and sharing content, such as posts or photos.

For all businesses, it is recommended to have a Google+ Local Page. However, for some, a Google+ Business Page might be more suitable.

Here’s how to choose the right page based on your business activity:

Choose the Google+ Local Page if you are:

→ Storefront: select this option if you serve customers at your business location and want them to find you on Google Maps.
Examples: restaurants, hotels, shops.

→ Service area: select this option if you serve customers within a specified service area and want your customers to find that area on Google Maps.
Examples: plumbers, taxi services, pizza delivery to homes.

Choose the Google+ Business Page if you are:

→ Brand: brands, organizations, artists, and other groups or individuals can create Google+ pages to reach followers, fans, and customers on Google. Brand, organization, or artist pages do not include an address or other physical location information that appears on Google Maps.

If you are interested in a consultation or want to delve deeper into this topic, we can discuss it together, with no obligation.