It is now common knowledge that a Google Places listing is tantamount to the successful development of a strong web presence. What you may not know is that Google recently completely changed the face of Google Places. As a matter of fact, it is no longer Google Places. It is now Google Plus Local – a drastic overhaul of the previous Google Places platform. You might be surprised to find that the more you learn about Google Plus Local, the more excited you are to use it, and this is your perfect starting point for learning more... Take advantage of everything Google Places has to offer by enlisting the help of competent professionals like us, SPANCEPT. Contact Us Today! http://spancept.com/ consult@spancept.com

1. What Local
Businesses Should
Know about the
New Google Plus
Local

2. Introduction
It is now common knowledge that a Google Places listing is tantamount
to the successful development of a strong web presence. What you
may not know is that Google recently completely changed the face of
Google Places. As a matter of fact, it is no longer Google Places. It is
now Google Plus Local – a drastic overhaul of the previous Google
Places platform. While it is only natural for businesses to stress over
sudden changes that force a very swift response (and an even faster
learning curve), the good news is that Google Plus Local has the power
to completely revolutionize the way you are used to interacting with
customers via Google Places. You might be surprised to find that the
more you learn about Google Plus Local, the more excited you are to
use it, and this is your perfect starting point for learning more. Here is a
guide to what local businesses should know about the new Google Plus
Local:

3. Social Networking.
Google Plus Local is a major upgrade from the previous yellow-pages
concept of Google Places. In order to claim your Google Plus Local
page, you must first create a Google Plus account. This means you are
automatically linked in to the entire Google Plus social network – a vast
community of businesses, customers, and potential customers that you
can interact with in a variety of ways, from posts to private messages.

4. The new review format
One of the primary focuses of Google Plus Local is customer reviews;
however, Google Plus Local reviews are more advanced than what you
might be used to. Fortunately for you, they also come with some great
advantages. Customers who leave reviews on your page must be logged
in to their Google Plus accounts; this means there are no more anonymous
reviews, which in turn means you are less likely to receive malicious or
spam reviews. You can also communicate with reviewers directly.

5. User ratings.
Additionally, reviewers will have the opportunity to rate your business
more thoroughly and accurately, using the new Zagat scale (as
opposed to the previous 5-star scale). The Zagat scale asks that
customers rate your business from 0 to 3, in a number of categories
related to your business, in order to calculate an overall rating of 0 to
30. This system is much more telling for potential customers, and
much more revealing for businesses looking to improve.

6. What happens to your Google
Places listing?
Google makes the process of switching over to Google Plus fast and
simple, by allowing you to transfer your Google Places listing
information over to your Google Plus Local account.

7. Take advantage of everything Google Plus has to offer your
business by enlisting the help of competent
professionals like us, SPANCEPT.
We can be reached via
email: consult@spancept.com
Or
visit us at: www.spancept.com.