My Local Business Online

Jan Kearney - Your Local Business Online Marketing Consultant - call me 07847 554418

Jan Kearney – My Local Business Online

Helping you get your business found online by LOCAL people

  • Home
  • Problems I Solve
    • I need a website that works
    • I need more online visibility for my local business
    • I want to start video marketing
    • My WordPress site baffles me
  • Why I Do It
    • Privacy
  • Toolbox
  • Contact Me
You are here: Home / Google / Important Service Area Business Google+ Local Change You Need To Know

Important Service Area Business Google+ Local Change You Need To Know

January 2, 2013 by Jan Kearney

Google+ Local mapIt’s the 2nd January, and back to the keyboard as usual with a business head on!  Just before the holidays, Google made this announcement on their Google and Your Business Forum

Are you a Service Area Business (SAB) that has created and verified/merged a social local Google+ page for your business? Read on!

If you do not accept customers at your location, then your address should be hidden. At this time, Google+ currently does not support hidden addresses. You should delete your social local Google+ page from within Google+ (Click on Pages on the ribbon on the left, go to the Settings of your page, and scroll to the bottom and click Delete page).

Don’t worry! You can still manage your business’ presence on Google. Here’s how:

If you’re a verified business owner in Google Places for Business…

Manage the listing via the Google Places for Business dashboard. Be sure to hide your address.

If not, but a listing for your business exists…

Find the listing for your business and become a verified business owner by clicking on Manage this page on the right-hand side.

Then, manage the page via the Google Places for Business dashboard

If no listing for your business exists…

Add it on Google Places for Business: places.google.com/local/add

We’ll share updates with you on this thread when we have them.

When I first saw this update before Christmas, I went and found a corner to quietly suck my thumb and rock.  My hair had already been torn out, and teeth are gnashed to the bone…

As a service area business with a merged Google+ Local and Google+ Local Business Page, I should now delete my G+ presence.  I’m not the most active of users, but what about my circles, my posts, my pics, my videos?

Quite frankly this is a joke.  Especially as my verified Google+ Local page doesn’t even show my address.

Rant over…

I haven’t seen any verified Google+ local pages from other service area businesses, so really can’t comment if my hidden address is somehow a glitch. 

What is a service area business?

The simplest case is if you only see customers at their premises then you are a service area business and should hide your address in the Google+ Local (Google Places) dashboard. 

If you work from a residential address, even if you accept customers there then it’s advised to say you are a service area business and hide your address.  If for any reason your listing is checked manually, the fact you are based in a residential area is enough to have your listing removed without warning.

So, if you are a service area business set up your Google+ Local via the Google Places dashboard.  Click the box for serving people at their locations and the one to hide your address.  If you do choose to set up a Google+ Business Page resist the temptation to click the blue verify button that merges the two pages (only Local business pages are eligible to verify).

The correct link to set up a Google Places listing is https://www.google.com/local/add  – Google couldn’t even get that right in the post…

Over to you…

I’d love to hear from you if are a service area business and have merged your listing.  What are your thoughts about this change? 

Important Service Area Business Google+ Local Change You Need To Know by Jan Kearney
Your Local Search Road Map
Download your FREE report and worksheet now

local search roadmapGrab your guide to local search and learn:

  • What elements are important on your website
  • How to set up your Google My Business Local Page
  • How Google Plus can help you zoom past your competitors
  • Two things you should not neglect if you want to rank in the local search pack
  • How to power past your competitors and dominate your area

Simply add your name and best email address in the box below and I'll whizz your report and worksheet straight over to you.

Don't worry, I hate spam too (probably more than you!)  I'll never trade, share, sell, exchange your email address or any other jiggery pokery.

Related Posts

  • Google+ Local (google Places) merge with Google+ business pages
    Merging Your Google+ Local and Google+ Business Page

    UPDATE This procedure is now redundant as Google has introduced Google My Business and all…

  • Google Local Business Tips - Getting the Most From Your Google Places Listing

    You've set up your Google local business listing and have activated your pin. What now?…

  • merged Google Places & Plus Business page
    Successful Google Places And Local Business Google+ Pages Merge?

    How to Merge Google Plus Local Page and Google Plus Brand Page Update June 2014.…

Filed Under: Google, Google Plus, local business internet marketing Tagged With: google local, google places, google places changes, Google Plus

About Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest

Comments

  1. Nanette Levin says

    January 2, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    I see Google+ continues to make things clear as mud. I think I’ll continue to let the dust settle on all this – then hire you if local still makes sense.

    • Jan Kearney says

      January 2, 2013 at 5:29 pm

      Hi Nanette. The problem with G+ Local is it isn’t particularly intuitive. It looks simple, but there is very little guidance, it’s easy for things to go wrong and not much help when it does. For local businesses with a physical address people can visit during opening hours – it’s a fabulous tool when it’s going right!

  2. Bonnie Gean says

    January 4, 2013 at 6:58 am

    I don’t accept customers at my residence, so this makes me a service area business that isn’t available to have a Google what?

    Damn them… for making this so annoyingly confusing!

    • Jan Kearney says

      January 4, 2013 at 11:17 pm

      Hi Bonnie – you can have a Google+ Local page (was Google Places) with your address hidden because you’re a service area business.
      You can have a Google+ Local Business Page created through the G+ dashboard, but this doesn’t allow addresses to be hidden. Therefore, you can’t merge the two (that’s clicking the blue verify button) for the full social/videos/events experience on your G+ Local page that appears in local search.
      Confused much?

Meet Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest or Discover More About My Local Business Online…

Also On The Blog…

7 Useful image optimisation tips for search and social media

7 Useful Image Optimisation Tips For Search And Social Media

A web page without an image is almost naked, missing something, a finishing touch. Basic image optimisation can transform your web pages, product … [Read More...]

50 Fabulously free stock photo sites to bling up your blog

50 Fabulously Free Stock Photo Sites To Bling Your Blog

Not all of us have photographic talent. Creating your own photo images for your website, social updates, blog or presentations is HARD.  When the … [Read More...]

Is your business website Google-worthy in 2016?

Is Your Business Website Google-Worthy In 2016?

Creating your own local business website is never an easy task, especially when the guidelines change regularly. As always online, the only thing you … [Read More...]

Jan Kearney
and My Local Business Online
Helps small business owners get to grips with the web and get found online.
2 Stanley Villas, Greenway Road, Runcorn, Cheshire
Phone: 07847 554418

You need to know

This website uses cookies. By continuing using the site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies. Info on the cookies used can be found in my privacy policy.

Jan Kearney is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.

More Info

  • Contact Me
  • About
  • Privacy

Copyright © 2022 · My Local Business Online · WordPress · Log in