Google is always up to something, and this past week has been no different. Disappointing savvy lawyer-marketers across the nation, Google announced that the new Google+ is now primarily focused on collections and communities. In other words, the new Google+ is no longer focused on businesses. Do not despair however, Google+ is still as important as ever for local SEO.
So how is the new G+ different?
If you go to your law firm’s Google+ page, you will see that a few things are missing, including:
- reviews,
- descriptions,
- categories, and
- photos
While the latest update is even more mobile-friendly (read more about the importance of a mobile friendly marketing campaign here), it certainly isn’t as friendly for local law firms.
What do I need to know about the latest Google+ update? 
When it comes to the new Google+, the biggest change for many law firms will be that customers can no longer leave reviews on your Google+ page. Yes, you read that right. Your happy clients will have to look to other sources (such as Avvo, Yelp, and LinkedIn) to leave your glowing testimonial. Not only can a client no longer leave a review, but eventually, Google says that reviews will gone from your page. You can still have clients leave reviews for your law firm (and leave reviews for other businesses) on Google Maps. Google Maps profiles are not indexed in search, so the value of reviews appears to have diminished.
Google My Business is still invaluable for SEO!
Yes, these changes to Google+ are significant in some aspects. However, as we shared above, these changes do not mean it is time to forget your Google My Business page in your SEO efforts. By setting up and claiming these listings, you can still provide accurate information that includes a consistent name, address, phone number, a specific business category, and more.
For more information on what the Google+ update means for your law firm or your legal marketing plan, contact the online legal marketing experts at WebPresence, Esq today.
