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

2. Introduction It is now common knowledge that a Google Places listing is a key part of successfully developing a strong web presence. What you may not know is that Google recently completely changed the face of Google Places. It is now Google+ Local. Google+ Local has the power to completely revolutionise the way you are used to interacting with customers. This is a guide to what local businesses should know about the new Google+ Local:

3. Social Networking. Google+ Local is a major upgrade from the previous yellow-pages concept of Google Places. In order to claim your Google+ Local page, you must first create a Google+ account. This automatically links you to the entire Google+ 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 A primary focus of Google+ Local is customer reviews. Google+ Local comes with some great advantages. Customers who leave reviews on your page must be logged in to their Google+ accounts; this means there are no 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 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 useful for businesses looking to improve.

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

7. Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer your business by enlisting the help of competent professionals like us, MegaCam Limited. We can be reached by phone, at (NZ) 07-808-0411, or via email: admin@megacam.co.nz