Google’s new unified interface for business services [Smart Insights alert]

Google MyBusiness replaces Google Places for local businesses and provides a new Google+ admin page service for all businesses

Value/Importance: [rating=2]

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Announced on 12th June 2014, this has been touted as a major change, with an in-depth review by Search Engine Land for example. But we have rated it as relatively low in value and importance for marketers since it should’t be overhyped - it doesn’t involve new options for marketing, rather it is a new labelling to be aware of. It’s an attempt by Google at providing a more unified business offering from Google. It’s a good move since it aims to reduce the confusion between Google+ for Business and Google Places which it replaces.

What you need to know / do

• 1. If you or your clients are looking to register a local business within Google, e.g. to be visible in Google Maps, you now need to go to Google My Business rather than Google Places which is replaced.
• 2.Information including reviews and photos are now available as part of a company Google+ page, so it’s important to improve the quality of these to show satisfaction and credibility with the business.
• 3. Businesses can choose their type and information provided and displayed for consumers depends on this - the essential choice is retail, local or brand/company.

• 4. A new Admin interface for business owners accessible from the Google+ page combines editing of Google+ with Insights (limited Google+ page Analytics which were already available) , reviews and where relevant AdWords and Analytics.

• 5. Google My Business is part of a wider service called Business Solutions which offers services for advertisers and agencies too.