Google+ for Business

[CsmBill]

Google+ has thrown a bit of a monkey wrench into my SEO plans. Over the last few weeks, Google+ listings started showing up in the SERPs for my money keywords. The good news is that once we launch our new site, we have a good chance of getting into the Google+ 7 packs. The bad news is that SEO on a national level just got tougher with the local Google+ listings crowding natural listings down the page.

Questions:

1. How does Google+ determine who goes into the 7 pack?
2. Is there always a 7 Pack? Can there only be a 4 pack?
3. I see Google+ listings for companies that don't have a Google+ page. How is that possible?
4. Through my keyword research, I have about 20 keywords that are triggering Google+ listings in the SERPs. Some SERPs are only showing  2-4 G+ listings. Is it safe to assume that this is because no one has put those keywords in their Google+ description, and hasn't optimized for those words on their site?

[Bryan_Loconto]

1. by authority, local citations, reviews, frequent updates, interaction as a brand (posting and interacting as the brand itself on Google +).

2. I've seen 7 and i've seen less I think it depends on the search query and device, mobile vs. pc etc...

3. Can you share a link?

4. No, because if you check the map it will show more results. Perhaps Google does not think others deserve to be there.