Google is constantly changing the game to keep users’ search experience fresh, accurate and beyond all, helpful. However, when those updates include changes to Google “products”, such as Google+ Pages, Google Local, Google Places, Google My Business, the search giant doesn’t always provide the means necessary to optimize.
When Google Local / Places / Plus all merged into one with Google My Business, you most likely logged into Google and found that you now owned multiple pages – most likely a Google+ company page with a verified URL, and a separate page with your verified local listing. Now what?
First, identify the verified local listing page and Google+ page. You’re local listing page will likely have minimal followers, as your company posts were more likely made to your company’s Plus page.
Choose Pages on the left navigation, and select the page that has the least amount of followers (most likely your local listing page). Be sure to choose the one with the verified tick, and click Manage this page.
When you select to connect your page to another, window labeled “Link a different page to this location” will open, with a list of all of your Google+ pages, complete with the follower count. The page that has the higher number of followers should be on this list for you to choose. Select the page, review to ensure you are linking the listing page to the page with more followers, and select “Next”.
When you select to connect your page to another, window labeled “Link a different page to this location” will open, with a list of all of your Google+ pages, complete with the follower count. The page that has the higher number of followers should be on this list for you to choose. Select the page, review to ensure you are linking the listing page to the page with more followers, and select “Next”.
Upon clicking “Next”, you will be asked to confirm he changes and merge the two pages into one. You should see that your Google+ page will be now be connected to Google Maps, displaying a verified listing badge and all the valuable, rich data from your listing page (reviews, hours, phone number, etc.). Once you have verified these details, select confirm.
You’re Google+ page and verified listing will now be merged into a consolidated company page, featuring your site’s URL, page followers, posts, and now verified location details to improve how your company information is displayed in Google natural search results.
You will now see your old verified listing page clearly labeled as a backup in your library of Google+ pages, so your team will know not to publish posts or make updates to this location.