Confusion and Issues With Google Places + Google Plus for Business
-
Hi all,
I'm currently dealing with the frustration between our Google Places page and Google Plus for Business. I know, it's not an uncommon issue, so I'm hoping there's an easy fix to mine!
I am currently dealing with 2 Google accounts and 2 businesses. Each business has 2 locations. Each account has 1 location of each business. Obviously this isn't ideal.
A few questions:
1. Each account has already been setup with a personal Google Plus page. Will this interfere or cause any issue when I claim the existing Google Places businesses for a Google Plus for Business?
2. Once I have verified the Google Plus for Business page, I can then merge it with our standard Google Places page, correct?
3. Is the merging only for control/login and dashboard settings? Will there still be 2 separate pages/URLs?
4. If someone +1's our Google Places page, does this reflect on our Plus page, or vice/versa?
5. Is there a way to assign these listings to different accounts/logins without deleting the listing and creating them fresh again? I'm assuming no, but would love to hear of a solution!
Thanks a lot!
-
I had a problem with Google Places a while back, I ended up calling them and they were actually really helpful. UK number 0800 169 0409
Sounds like your problem may now be fixed, if not hope this helps!
-
Thanks for the link Miriam. I talked to Google support and after reviewing a few things, it looks like it was confusion from the way our account was setup and not us needing to verify again.
The business in question is a house cleaning company, so our business is done by going to clients homes. We had this selected. However, we have the old dashboard which doesn't make it easy to understand you HAVE to select "hide my full address from map" or face deletion.
They apparently called our number and someone from our company told them we only serve clients through the phone which isn't true at all. The Google rep was understanding of this and has filed a reconsideration request for us to have our account unsuspended and reinstated. Let's hope so since we're a legitimate business with many online reviews throughout the web!
Edit: And they also said we'll be migrated to the new dashboard soon. Our account has been in queue since June of last year!
-
This is the most helpful post that I have read so far on this issue. Much better than the info even Google's Places forum is offering. Thanks for posting this Miriam!
-
Hi Kermiliux,
The 404 error issue is an ongoing one. Go to http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!searchin/business/404$20error and read some of the threads there. Hope this helps!
-
Miriam,
I posted the question there and they said that Google is going to merge the dashboards for Google Local into Google Plus for Business in the near future anyway and I should wait for that.
I still have no idea why my other Google+ vanished, so perhaps I should just call their support? Do you have any ideas?
Thanks again!
-
Okay, thanks. I'll ask about that.
RE: Dead URL
-I edited the ZIP code. It listed the ZIP from the next town over and was off by a single digit.
-I get a 404.
In the dashboard it says it needs to be verified. It's been verified for years and I didn't think it'd get removed from the SERPs and return a 404 if it went back into pending. Ughhh.
-
Hi Kirmeliux
I believe you can use the same email address for both the personal and the business page, but I am not 100% sure on that. You might want to double check on this by starting a thread at the Google And Your Business Forum. There may have been a policy change on this, thus my not being 100% sure. Here is the forum link:
http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!forum/business
Regarding the dead URL:
-
What did you edit on the listing?
-
What error message do you get on the old URL (the dead one)?
-
-
Thanks for the help, Miriam. I guess what I have been stuck on is actually creating the Google+ For Business page for the business. If I go to Google Plus for Business and "sign in" with the Email associated with my Google Places listing, it logs me into that emails personal page. So I guess I need to register and re-verify the listing again to get setup with that.
So this email will control both the personal page and the new business page I'm verifying again now it looks like?
Also, unrelated, but I edited a verified listing of ours the other day and it is making me re-verify. I've noticed the listing URL is dead now and it doesn't show up in searches anymore. Is this... normal until it's verified? It's pretty worrying.
-
Hi Kirmeliux,
That's correct - Google+ Local pages are automatically created for local businesses and it's good that you've claimed them.
While it's possible to have as many social-type G+ pages as you want, per Mike's post, it's not possible to merge them unless they are of the same type (like accidentally having two Google+ Local pages, in which case, you'll likely need to contact support to get help merging the two).
Regarding having both a Google+ personal account and a Google+ business page, check this out:
http://keystoneclick.com/blogs/lori-highby/steps-creating-google-account
However, the issue remains that you are unlikely to be able to merge these items and will have to maintain them separately if you choose to create them. That's why I linked to the Mike Blumenthal article - it provides good suggestions for how to manage multiple types of pages.
-
Hi Miriam,
Thanks for the link. It helped a bit, but I'm still confused.
Google+ for Local = standard, automatically created listing for businesses. We have claimed and verified these. Google+ for Business = more social listing which you can add people to circles, create posts, etc.
The accounts which our standard listings are associated with already have Google+ accounts, but they're personal ones. I am unsure how to create a Google+ for Business account for our actual businesses in the account when a personal account is already there.
I think #1 and #5 are the ones still confusing me from the original post.
-
Hi Kirmeliux,
I recommend this excellent post by Mike Blumenthal on what is and isn't possible at this point in the G+ environment:
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Business listing verification for multiple locations
Hi there I have been asked to help with a business which has multiple locations (5 to be precise). I haven't really worked with a business on that scale before so I am a little bit out of my depth.
Local Listings | | coolhandluc
I had a look at their business listing in the moz local business listing checker and their profile seems very messy. I can see several of their branches listed, some verified, some not verified. When I look at the listing for each branch in detail they are all incomplete but at different levels (ranges from 17% to 46%). Some have a Facebook page and some haven't, same for google my business etc...
My understanding when it comes to multiple locations is that, in an ideal world, Â each branch should have its own google my business page, Facebook page, a Bing places for business page etc...
Can anyone confirm what the best approach is to deal with multilocations businesses and their business listing and/or point me to some online resource that could help me.Â
Would I also need to create multiple accounts for listing their business in directories such as Yelp, Yell etc... Thanks so much for all the help I can receive0 -
Local citations - domain or business name
I have a bit of a tricky situation with a client where there is some history with old domains.  But this is the current situation which I need to stick to: Business name (all made up) is Acme Print 2 live websites - acme-niche(dot)com  and productsandservices(dot)com Third website acmeprint(dot)com is live and owned by an old partner, different NAP. acme-niche(dot)com  and productsandservices(dot)com share the same NAP.  Not much traffic and a bit of a poor domain profile for acme-niche(dot)com, so suggest just using productsandservices(dot)com.  Also acme-niche(dot)com would be a bit misleading for use for the whole business in any case. However, all content for productsandservices(dot)com refers to Acme Print.  Because of all the confusion should we keep the productsandservices(dot)com referring to Acme Print throughout, or update with new productsandservices(dot)com logo, mention that it is a trading name of Acme Print and refer to the trading domain name throughout the content. I want to know the best option for listings and citations - the trading name which is a domain name or Acme Print?  I've not worked with a local site where domain name and business name and a separate business with domain are mixed up.
Local Listings | | MickEdwards0 -
What is the ideal length of a business description for citations?
I am trying to write a business description for building citations. What is the ideal length or word count for this? I am using Yext to help get them listed, did a lot of searching for an answer and was unable to come up with a definite answer. Any help would be great! The business I am working on for this is James River Church, they have 2 locations. So I am trying to write a unique description for both locations.
Local Listings | | chris.oursbourn0 -
Local citations from business directories in other countries
Hi all, I normally work for clients in my home county (The Netherlands) and with local citation building I focus on Dutch websites or well know .com websites in the Netherlands. My rule of thumb kinda was, if it’s not known in the Netherlands it isn’t worth getting mentioned there. Since The Netherlands are pretty small and I think Google ain’t perfect I was wondering if it makes sense to list a Dutch business on any .com business listings that are internationally big, but aren’t well known in the Netherlands. Two reasons that got me thinking this direction: A big well known Dutch company offers a service such as Moz local and did integrate their service with several international business listing websites that I never heard off, since these business directories focus themselves on other parts of the world. Google ain’t perfect and I think they got more budget to identify trustworthy business directories with an international focus or a focus on America then with a focus on The Netherlands. So I’m wondering if it makes any sense to list a Dutch business on let’s say the top 20 international business directories (although these directories don’t have any brand recognition in The Netherlands).
Local Listings | | Bob_van_Biezen0 -
What To Do With Two Business Having The Same Name?
Hi friends, We have a client who is in a peculiar predicament... essentially his business and his biggest competitor share the same name. Officially on their business licenses they are differentiated by the year they were each established, but in all their marketing, on their website, and in the community they are both known by the exact same name. When the company name is searched for, the competitor shows up #1 organically with the map pin as well as in the knowledge graph, and our site shows up number 2 without any any map pin or Google+ page site link or anything. We thought we could differentiate ourselves by changing his Google+ page name to his official business name (with the date) and building a bunch of really good citations with that official business name, but we still haven't made a dent for his branded keyword, and our Google+ page site links aren't even showing up. Has anyone run into a situation like this and any suggestions?
Local Listings | | localtrifecta_im0 -
Google Local listing variations
Hi Moz People, I sometimes receive rich snippets (relating to my services) with my Google Local listing and other times I do not. Specifically, if I search my company name ("Marketing Implementation Clinic" as per Google+ Page name) I see the a list of services with the local listing (see the picture attached). However, if I search a derivation (say "Marketing Clinic Melbourne"") I see a very simple local listing without the services snippets. Are there explicit guidelines on when these snippets would be returned? LPk6tmq.png?1
Local Listings | | luke-hamilton0 -
What is the process to add multiple locations to our Google My Business Account?
We have a business that has expanded into multiple cities across Canada. What is the process to add these to our Google My Business account. Our existing locations business pages were set up by a previous SEO agency and now we are handling this in-house. I've tried to search step by step guides but was unable to find any solutions.
Local Listings | | Lorne_Marr0 -
How can I add another Google Places listing to my existing business?
Hey there, Does anyone know how I can add another Google Places listing to the following account? The company now has two stores so I'd like to get both listed. https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/107389046695957843430/+FinsahomeCoUk/posts I've tried using https://www.google.com/local/manage but that only appears to let you add a minimum of 10 locations?
Local Listings | | Webrevolve0