Trying to Merge Google + Local and Google Business Page _ How to?

[AllieMc]

Hi I have been reading so many posts about merging Google Plus + (Places) accounts and the new Google + Business Pages.  I am working with a business who has a verified account in both.  How ( and in fact should we try and merge).  The old Places page has a  review the newly create Business Page does not but is better optimized. Any help would be gratefully received as my head is spinning/  PS based in New Zealand

[Branagan]

This answer might help: http://www.seomoz.org/q/trying-to-de-mystify-google-places-google-local-google-plus

[AllieMc]

I did see this post thanks - but it refers to a situation before the Google+ Business Page has been verified - thsi has already been done - save contacting Google and them actually bothering t o respond I am at a loss.

[MiriamEllis]

Hi AllieMc,

Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure what the status of the rollout of the new dashboard is at this point in New Zealand. In the United States, the top Local SEOs have been advising against merging for some time because the outcomes could be so wonky. Not sure if that is the same in NZ. Now, however, Google has rolled out a completely new Places for Business Dashboard. They way this will work will be that you can either just have a local-type page or you can upgrade the page to have the social features. Mike Blumenthal explains this well (http://blumenthals.com/blog/2013/04/02/google-local-rolling-out-places-for-business-upgrade/)

"Once an account is transitioned the dashboard account will be automatically redirected to the new interface. If that account has a Plus account the option to edit the Google+ page will appear in the interface. But a G+ profile is not required to interact with the business profile. All that is needed is the existing Google ID/email. The business will be required to obtain a G+ personal profile if they want to add the additional features (social stream, videos) of a full G+ Local page.

When this rollout is complete there will be only two types of local pages: verified and unverified. Each business can decide whether they need the social and video features or not."

I'm not sure if this has rolled out in NZ yet, but if not, you might want to wait until it does to make any changes. Here is another good post by Mike explaining some of the features of the new dashboard, so you can be prepared:

http://blumenthals.com/blog/2013/04/02/analysis-google-places-for-business-or-g-pages-lite/