Google Places have been entirely replaced by new Google+

[Elchanan]

Read this!

http://searchengineland.com/google-places-is-over-company-makes-google-the-center-of-gravity-for-local-search-122770

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/review-google-adds-zagat-reviews-local-article-1.1086985

• Any ideas?
• How's your Google+ circle look like?
• What will happened to our SEO ranking?
• IS Rogger MOZ is ready for that change?
• What about SEOmoz will give us some Local/Pages/Google+ tools?

[ZacharyRussell]

I think this change has been coming for a long time. When you think about this, when you want to market something locally, focusing on a social aspect could be really helpful to gain more customers. When you look at a new local page, you can see the local "buzz" of what the page's circle is saying; for example, a restaurant:

"There is a friendly atmostphere"

"excellent Servers"

"Clean, fast food"

I think the whole social aspect can really make local advertizing much more effective.

[JFritton]

The new indexing may be a huge advantage for local-oriented businesses over national online-only competitors that might have stronger link profiles/SEO but no local presence.

Facebook-type, regularly updated Google+ local pages that are well optimized might end up dominating local SERP.

[josh-riley]

I also think it's a strategic way for Google to push G+ when there's been a significant drop off of engagement. People sign up but don't use it often/regularly (I mean, most people) so this is a good way to give rationale and expand beyond the original "Facebook killer" assumption.