Google has made yet another impactful change to the Google+ world. Unfortunately, yet again it isn’t anything that seems helpful or conducive to making things better and easier to navigate. Google+’s redesign really affects local businesses because they decided to remove the display of reviews, addresses, phone numbers, and even the hours of operation. Why they did this is beyond me? I don’t think it’s helpful nor is the new design any more aesthetic.
The Google Community Manager Elizabeth Powers said, “Reviews will no longer be shown on Google+ Pages in the new Google+ design.” Reviews still can be seen when you do a Google Search or look in the Maps section.
When searching on your Smart Phone Google has made it easier to navigate and leave reviews. If you look below you can see how it is easier to Click on the Stars and to write a review.
You do get at least the Hours of Operation and P
hone Number as well but nothing else.
So, on a Desktop the below Image is what you see if you are not Logged into Google:
We’ve been having conflicting results when you do Sign In? Some people can go to the Google Page and some go absolutely no where? We’re assuming Google is still in the process of updating and changing things. Obviously, the main priority and objective is to ensure that potential Clients can read Reviews and Go to your Website.
We have been experimenting and changing the Google Review Button on Websites so that Visitors will go to a Page Like the one you see below. It basically takes you to where you can Read and Write a Review. We strive to make it easiest as possible for your Clients to Write A Review – the more time they spend trying to figure it out the more likely it is they will just give up and not leave a Review at all.
We have a feeling that Google isn’t finished with this redesign. We’re not too sure on where they will end up going with the Google Business Pages either. They have for sure made certain things more difficult when using a desk top, however when you’re on your phone things seem a little easier to navigate. So, I’m assuming the mobile world is the direction they are going in the future – concentrating on mobile devices seems to be a priority with Google, just think of Mobilegeddon. Google not only wants businesses to have responsive mobile sites but they seem to be changing Google Business Pages to a more user friendly design as well and that makes me wonder if we will see further changes to even their search platform? I guess it will be an interesting year with Google, it’s just unfortunate that we don’t get much of a notice when these changes happen.
