Is the new local 3-pack the death of Google+ as factor?

[masonrj]

So now we have the new 3-pack local results, which obviously cut the listings Google+ link from the results.

What I find strange is that is now even when searching the business name alone, there is no sign of the associated Google+ page in the results.  I still get other local third party listings like Facebook, Yellowpages, and Yelp – but no link anywhere for the Google+ page.

I noticed this today when I wanted to verify something on a client’s page. There was nothing I could do search wise to bring up this business Google+ page.  I finally got it by clicking the link through Moz local.

After exploring this with some other clients, when I do get a Google+ page in the search results some have produced a 500 error when clicked on.

If Google wasn’t killing off Google+, why would they completely omit the pages from their own search results?

Another extremely strange thing, the majority of my clients are independent local businesses inside a large national company.  Their Google+ listings have always been managed corporately using a bulk listing feed. We could never gain access to these pages and would always manage our listings to match that of the corp. controlled page.  Well the last week of July they announced they were giving us the option to take control of the page.  This happened with two different companies, MAJOR national competitors in the same industry, within a couple days of each other. They now treat it just like another version of social media, instead of a major factor within search.  I find it hard to believe that something isn’t going on…

[GPainter]

no, the same reason people keep shouting the sky is falling that link building is dead, they are just trying something different to best help users, they may revert in a few months or not. Google plus might be going away at some point but its not now just because a page didn't appear in a new layout. Google plus reviews are still part of the local pack. I might agree that Google may start to use Google local data more, but just because you can't see something in search doesn't mean its not part of their algorithm.

[masonrj]

Hey Chris,

I understand that Google+ will stay in some form because that is the primary way Google collects and verify listings.  With out Google+ where would the local result info come from.

What I'm interested in is why the pages themselves, with the about, shared info, and photos are now more difficult to find.

Thanks for your input.

[GPainter]

I'd assume from Google local or Google maps in short a system similar to that which is what "my business" part of Google does anyway really it would just perhaps have less social aspects associated with it in my opinion, will have to wait and see though.  I don't see G+ going any where any time soon.

[MiriamEllis]

Hey Richard,

I'm sorry I didn't see this until today. Yes, Google definitely seems to be demoting Google+ in a big way. Recommended reading:

http://blumenthals.com/blog/2015/08/07/thoughts-about-the-new-local-stack-display/

http://blumenthals.com/blog/2015/08/06/7-pack-becoming-3-pack-with-mobile-like-snak-pack-rollout/

I'm not sure I'm totally following your last paragraph about the national agencies. Are you saying they no longer seem to feel G+ is as important as they used to? Sorry, not quite sure that's what you're explaining, but I can see why people would feel that way, given that G+ links have become so invisible. Nevertheless, the Google My Business dash remains as important as ever as the main source for the data now featured in the new Local Stacks/Local Finder and the other types of Snack-Pack style results. So, the dashboard is still important, but the front-end display represents a genuine departure from what we'd grown accustomed to. Many Local SEOs feel the Local Stack is a step toward a paid inclusion model and this could certainly be true.

Glad you used my favorite little trick - looking up the business on Moz Local to get to the Google+ page. Works like a charm every time

Thanks for starting a good discussion!