{"id":195,"date":"2012-05-30T23:49:59","date_gmt":"2012-05-31T04:49:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/advancedpracticemanagementblog.wordpress.com\/?p=195"},"modified":"2012-05-30T23:49:59","modified_gmt":"2012-05-31T04:49:59","slug":"google-places-google-the-new-google-local","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.advancedpracticemanagement.com\/blog\/google-places-google-the-new-google-local\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Places + Google+ = The New Google+ Local"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dental<\/a>For most dentists, keeping up with Google and ranking on Page One in local search<\/a>\u00a0are focal aspects of their marketing efforts for attracting new patients.<\/p>\n

You know the drill.\u00a0Claim your listing. Verify it with a PIN number. Follow\u00a0Google’s guidelines<\/a> to a T. Try to consolidate\u00a0duplicates. Check back regularly to make sure things are in good standing. And, try like heck to encourage happy patients to submit reviews so you keep little gold stars next to your name.<\/p>\n

This may seem like a lot of busy work, but the truth is that web searchers and potential patients perceive value in having gold stars next to your listing and are influenced by the reviews they read. Also, it’s the single greatest common denominator we’re seeing to help dentists “get found” on line. Let’s face it, Google reviews are your modern day “word of mouth referral from a friend.”<\/p>\n

Well, Today The Game Changed Again. Introducing Google+ Local.<\/h2>\n

A better word might be “evolved.” If you checked out your Google\u00a0Places page today, it may have looked a little different to you. This morning, Google announced that the merge of Google Places and Google + into the new Google+ Local<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Dentist<\/p>\n

But, don’t worry.\u00a0Despite getting used to a new format, this next evolution of Google’s local program is considered to be an improvement by the early feedback of local search experts such as Linda Buquet<\/a>\u00a0and Mike Blumenthal<\/a>. And, this is certain not to be the last trick that Google has up it’s sleeve so the game continues.<\/p>\n

What we do know\u00a0at this point is:<\/p>\n