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Google+ Local is DEAD, Seriously… It’s Dead

I hate how people are always saying certain things are dead. Traditional marketing is dead, SEO is dead, Facebook is dead, and everything else is dead. I guess it’s good for click bait and getting attention. However, when I say Google+ Local is dead, it really is dead. It’s not longer there.

What I’m talking about, is the local search feature through Google+.

Here is an example below:

Courtesy of Darren Shaw from www.whitespark.ca

Courtesy of Darren Shaw from www.whitespark.ca

As you can see, Local is no longer an option in Google+ today, and it won’t be ever again, it is officially declared dead.

What Does This Mean For Local SEO?

Pretty much nothing. Local SEO is alive and well, this change only effects the Google+ social network. A lot of people referred to Local SEO as Google+ Local SEO, or Google+ Local Optimization but if you’ve been doing SEO for any period of time, I’m sure you’re familiar with the changes Google makes.

It used to be Google Places, then Google+ Local, now it’s Google My Business. Despite the name changes, which are really just a victim of what Google thinks is better for branding and marketing, Local SEO is healthy and not going anywhere anytime soon.

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This Post Is More About The Future of Google+

Those of you that have been following me and the content on this blog, probably know that I’m not a news blogger. I’m not one of those people that feels the need to blog about news that you can find on other sites. So of course, mixing the news with a little bit of opinion and prediction seems to be fitting.

I think that this move by Google isn’t really about user experience, it’s more about Google trying to repackage Google+ once again. The social network existed, in order to bring multiple features under one roof, which makes sense. However, that is all changing.

Instead of it being an “all in one” social network, or social experience, they have split off multiple things. Photos & Streams are there own separate pieces. Local is gone.

What does this mean for the future of Google+?

I think Google+ will die out. I’ve never been a fan of the platform, and personally never really used it until recently to promote blog content in the Google+ communities. I think communities offer a great chance to connect, gain readership, and network. My traffic on this blog has increased since implementing Google+ communities as part of my content promotion/syndication plan.

However, it’s only a matter of time until Google cuts the chord. This wouldn’t be the first time Google has pulled the plug on its’ social attempts. It would definitely be a very large failure in comparison to the ones in the past.

The decline (was there ever a rise?) of Google+ is just another example of how important it is to control your own properties, and diversify your marketing efforts.

Maybe the problem they have is that 2/3rds of the user base happen to be men, without any of the great female Instagram action with #yogapants. Kidding. Kind of.

Anyway, that wraps this one up… Mainly I posted this so when Google+ dissolves or evaporates into thin air, I can link back to this post with a big fat “told ya so” and I can convince people I am the internet’s Nostradamus.

What are your thoughts? Is this another sign of the ghost town Google+ is in comparison to the other major networks? Is Google+ going to survive and thrive? Will features be better off as standalone products of Google?

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