Like always, just when you were starting to master the reins of Google+, the avant-garde web engineers have to go and create an addition that is more integrated, more cohesive, more social, and ok- totally smart and user-friendly. We'll give it to "em, over at Google. They may be the intimidating internet juggernaut but the people certainly know what they're doing. Their newest addition is Google+ Local, and it's replacing the apparently outdated Google Places. According to Google's official blog, Google+ Local is "a simple way to discover and share local information featuring Zagat scores and recommendations from people you trust in Google+".

The newest addition, like all Google features, aims to integrate the internet experience for a user; it integrates Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Mobile, and it appears as a new tab in the Google+ vertical navigation. Now if you were to use the Local tab, you can search a specific destination or some keywords like "restaurant in Shadyside, Pittsburgh", and you will be directed towards a list of several Google pages. By clicking on a Local listing, it will direct you to a Google+ page that includes Zagat scores and reviews from pleased (and displeased!) customers and consumers. Google purchased Zagat last Fall, and-well-this is why!

What this means for business owners: If you have a Google Places for Business search result, don't fret! You can still manage that result in Google Places (note: this will most likely change in time, but we'll leave it to Google to make it a seamless transition for you). Google also looks to "extend social experiences to more local Google+ pages in the weeks and months ahead". What does this mean? They will likely add features such as the "about" section like you see on the regular Google+ Pages. According to Google, it is quite simple to move your Google Places content to your Google+ Local page. When you go to upload photos onto your Google+ local page, they will ask you what you would like to do with your old reviews and photos. You can then either "move all of your content and attribute it to your Google+ name" or "keep all or some of your content private".