“While our ratings and reviews were always available in guidebooks and to paid digital subscribers, a few months ago, we announced our integration into Google+ Local to help more people easily access Zagat scores, editorial reviews and recommendations,’ says Zagat Managing Director Bernardo Hernandex. “Now, we’re making the mobile app experience more consistent with the one you’re already accustomed to across Google+ Local, Google Search and Google Maps.”

“Through our app you can browse thousands of restaurants in the world’s top destinations and refine your search with more than 100 filters and special features that matter to you, like whether the place has outdoor seating, or is child-friendly,” he adds. “Simply sign-in to Google+ to get the most from the app and to share your experiences with the Google+ community.”

The app (unlike the old Zagat app) is free. Here’s what it looks like:

Google has also adjusted the ratings system for Google+ Local on the desktop to reflect recent changes made to Google Maps for Android, offering a users a simplified rating system, which Google then uses to calculate its 30-point scores.

Google has also added a Local section to user profiles, which link to the users’ reviews they have written for Google.

Google’s Megan Stevenson posted the following to Google+ on Wednesday:

Megan Stevenson18 hours ago

Update to the Reviewing Scale on Google+ Local

Today it’s easier than ever to write accurate, useful reviews on Google+ Local, thanks to the updated rating scale we rolled out. If you want to rate the food at a restaurant, or the quality of a mechanic, just choose "poor – fair," “good,” “very good,” or "excellent". Behind the scenes, we’ll convert your ratings into numbers and factor them into the business' precise 30-point score that shows up in Google+, Search and Maps. 

Give it a try! Click on the Google+ Local icon in the left navigation bar, search for a local spot and click "Write a review.” Happy reviewing!

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When Google announced the Android changes, it also launched “favorite” stars on the desktop experience (or brought them back rather).

Google’s ratings system, since the implementation of Google+ Local (taking the place of the old Google Places) has been the subject of some controversy with local businesses. Some claimed to be losing clicks, and others have had issues with reviews being deleted.

According to All Things D, the deal is “not a huge one,” since Wiley had put Frommer’s up for sale some time ago. Wiley announced on March 7 of this year that Frommer’s, Webster’s New World, CliffsNotes, and other publishing assets were up for sale, as they “No loger align with the company’s long-term business strategy.” Wiley said in a statement today that proceeds from the Frommer’s sale will go to support its global education business, as well as its trade, scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publications.

A Google spokesperson told All Things D that the Frommer’s brand and content will be added to Zagat, a restaurant review website that Google acquired late last year. Frommer’s staff will also be incorporated into Zagat.

Zagat reviews were implemented into Google Maps and Google+ Local pages earlier this year. It’s easy to see why Google would consider decades of Frommer’s travel guides and reviews a good addition to their products, particularly considering its more localized search focus in recent years.

Frommer’s publishing began in 1957, when Arthur Frommer adapted a European guidebook he had written for American soldiers. The civilian version of the book, Europe on $5 a Day, proved popular and Frommer continued to self-publish guidebooks. Frommer’s now has over 300 regularly updated guidebooks and the Frommers.com travel website.

Follow @GoogleBoston

Google Boston
@GoogleBoston

We’re searching for the Ryan Gosling of bathrooms. Tweet us @GoogleBoston if you’ve come across any #SexyBathrooms in #Boston worth noting.

 Reply  ·  Retweet  ·  Favorite
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Several questions immediately come to mind. For one, what is the Ryan Gosling of bathrooms? Secondly, why is Google+ Local searching for it? Why are they using a hashtag called #SexyBathrooms? What makes a bathroom sexy? Has anyone that isn’t associated with Google ever used the #SexyBathrooms hashtag?

If you follow the hashtag, some of your questions are answered. Google+ Local is promoting a Zagat post: 9 Sexy Bathrooms From Restaurants Around the U.S.

I don’t know what your’e supposed to do with any of this information, but apparently Google+ Local finds Ryan Gosling and bathrooms both to be sexy.

Having viewed the Zagat slideshow, I’m afraid that I did not find myself aroused by any of the imagery they’ve produced. I guess that’s why they’re still searching.

Do you like Google’s new approach to local business ratings? Let us know in the comments.

Last month, Google revealed what appears to be the primary reason it acquired Zagat, when it announced Google+ Local, effectively replacing Google Places with Google+ infused local results and Zagat scores.

“Each place you see in Google+ Local will now be scored using Zagat’s 30-point scale, which tells you all about the various aspects of a place so you can make the best decisions,” Google explained, when Google+ Local was announced. “For example, a restaurant that has great food but not great decor might be 4 stars, but with Zagat you’d see a 26 in Food and an 8 in Decor, and know that it might not be the best place for date night.”

Some businesses claim to be losing traffic because Google replaced its ratings system with Zagat’s scoring system. Barry Schwartz at Search Engine Roundtable points to an interesting thread in the Google Product Forums.

There, Dr. Rodney McKay writes, “I know for a fact that I am not the only one that feels this way as I have talked to others who have also experienced the same problem. Everything about Google+ seems to be fine if not better than Google Places except for the removal of the stars. Ever since they removed the star ratings, my actions or clicks went from 30 – 60 or more a day to 0 – 5. I am still on the first page of Google for relevant search terms and in most cases I am also the first listing, I am also receiving the same amount of impressions as before, but the absence of the stars has caused an obvious hit on my Google Business Listing effectiveness. Injunction with that, I have seen a drastic decline in business. Is there not a way to compromise and use the Zagat reviews as well as the stars?”

Some have suggested that Zagat scores are more suited to restaurants, and aren’t so great for other kinds of businesses. There’s no question that Zagat has historically been restaurant-focused. Even now, if you go to Zagat.com, it’s all about restaurants. The welcome message says:

ZAGAT.com, the world’s original provider of user-generated content, provides trusted and accurate restaurant ratings and curated restaurant reviews for thousands of top restaurants worldwide. Our robust restaurant search and rich free features help diners easily find the best restaurant for every occasion, every time – from New York to Los Angeles, London to Tokyo, Paris to Beijing and everywhere in between; from the most elegant restaurants for fine dining to casual, inexpensive spots for family meals, you’ll find it all on ZAGAT.com.

Yet Google has thrust the Zagat system across the much broader local business search space. I don’t see why the system couldn’t actually help some businesses, as Zagat is a pretty well known restaurant guide. However, it might be less helpful in other industries. Currently, you can search for shoe stores, for example, and still get the new scoring system, rather than the starred reviews:

It’s a somewhat confusing system, given the food element of Zagat. When you click to “learn more about our scores and reviews,” Google explains that you may see scores depicted in one of two ways: “Scores with multiple aspects” or “Overall scores”.

As we see in the case of the shoe store above, Google shows the overall. That way it doesn’t have to show the “food” element.

“When we don’t have enough user ratings on different aspects, we will just show an overall score,” Google explains. “An overall score is comparable to a score in the primary aspect for a location, like food for restaurants.”

Perhaps the system will get better in time for more than just restaurants, as it’s used more.

The new system is definitely much broader than the previous star system, given its larger scale. 17 out of 30 doesn’t sound incredibly great but if you look at the scale, 16-20 represents “good to very good”. 0- 30 is pretty wide range to cover the four individual ratings Google goes by:

3 Excellent
2 Very Good
1 Good
0 Poor to Fair

Google takes the average, and multiplies it by ten to come up with averaged scores.

One person comment on Schwartz’s article, “People understand star ratings. Any kind of visual rating (progress bars, stars, thumbs-ups) just works. They don’t understand numbers. And when higher ratings are in red… it’s even worse. Numbers in red usually mean danger. Anything in red means danger unless it’s properly used to grab attention and visibly labeled as a call to action. It’s freaking common sense.”

It would be interesting to know the local SEO effects of Googe’s move to the Zagat system. Survey results released this week indicate that many of the top ranking factors are directly related to reviews. Here are how a few of them ranked, according to that (out of the top 90):

7. Quantity of Native Google Places Reviews (w/text) (REVIEWS)
18. Product/Service Keywords in Reviews (REVIEWS)
24. Quantity of Third-Party Traditional Reviews (REVIEWS)
26. Location Keywords in Reviews (REVIEWS)
31. Velocity of Native Google Places Reviews (REVIEWS)
34. Quantity of Reviews by Authority Reviewers (e.g.Yelp Elite, Multiple Places Reviewers, etc) (REVIEWS)
46. High Numerical Ratings by Authority Reviewers (e.g.Yelp Elite, Multiple Places Reviewers, etc) (REVIEWS)
49. Overall Velocity of Reviews (Native + Third-Party) (REVIEWS)
50. Quantity of Third-Party Unstructured Reviews (REVIEWS)
52. Quantity of Native Google Places Ratings (no text) (REVIEWS)
53. High Numerical Ratings of Place by Google Users (e.g. 4-5) (REVIEWS)
62. Velocity of Third-Party Reviews (REVIEWS)
69. High Numerical Third-Party Ratings (e.g. 4-5) (REVIEWS)
74. Positive Sentiment in Reviews (REVIEWS)

Of course, these are all based on survey responses from before Google announced Google+ Local.

What do you think about Google’s new ratings system? Do you like it better or worse? Let us know in the comments.

Google is finally revealing just what it’s going to do with it’s Zagat acquisition, as Google+ Local features Zagat scores, as well as recommendations from Google+ connections. “Since Zagat joined the Google family last fall, our teams have been working together to improve the way you find great local information,” says Director of Product Management, Avni Shah. “Zagat has offered high-quality reviews, based on user-written submissions and surveys, of tens of thousands of places for more than three decades. All of Zagat’s accurate scores and summaries are now highlighted on Google+ local pages. ”

Google+ Local is also integrated into search, Google Maps and mobile (Android…iOS is on the way). Inside Google+, it has its own tab. When you use that tab, you can search for specific places or browse non-specific ones. When you click on a place, you’ll go to a local Google+ page with photos, Zagat scores, summaries, reviews from friends and other info, like hours of operation, address, etc. Google will show you the same info if your’e using Search or Maps, it says.

Here’s what it looks like on Google+:

Maps:

Google+ Local on mobile:

“Each place you see in Google+ Local will now be scored using Zagat’s 30-point scale, which tells you all about the various aspects of a place so you can make the best decisions,” says Shah. “For example, a restaurant that has great food but not great decor might be 4 stars, but with Zagat you’d see a 26 in Food and an 8 in Decor, and know that it might not be the best place for date night.”

Users can share their opinions and photos of places, of course, which will help feed the personalization of your friends’ results.

Here are a few videos about Google+ Local:

For Businesses

Business owners will be able to continue managing their local listings the same way, using Google Places for Business. Businesses can still verify their basic listing data, make updates, and respond to reviews. If you use AdWords Express, Google says your ads will operate as normal, and will automatically redirect customers to the destination you selected, or your current listing.

Businesses will have to get used to a new layout and design for their listings.

“All your basic business information is still available,” notes Jen Fitzpatrick, VP Engineering. “And by streamlining the layout and putting more focus on photos and reviews, we hope to help you highlight what makes your business truly unique.”

“With these updates, we’re connecting the millions of people on Google+ to local businesses around the world,” adds Fitzpatrick. “With one listing, your business can now be found across Google search, maps, mobile and Google+, and your customers can easily recommend your business to their friends, or tell the world about it with a review.”

Google posted the following to its Google+ Your Business Page:

Google+ Your Business” width=”50″ />

Google+ Your Business   21 minutes ago Posted by +Vanessa Schneider

Manage a Google Places page? That listing just got a simpler, cleaner look with the introduction of Google+ Local, a new way to discover businesses across Google.

With Google+ Local, customers can now easily recommend your business to their friends, or tell the world about it with a review. We’ve added +Zagat reviews and updated our scoring system to their 30-point scale, allowing customers to better share what makes your business unique. Google+ Local is integrated into Search, Maps, mobile and as a new tab in Google+ (just look for “Local” along the left to get started). We are rolling out today, so if you don’t see it now, you’ll see it soon.

Read more about what this means for you as a business owner over on the Google and Your Business Blog (http://goo.gl/bVi9Q), or check out our quick guide to what’s new (http://goo.gl/p1dni).

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Google says this is just a first step, that we’ll see more updates in the upcoming months, and that it will soon make it easier to manage listings on Google and take full advantage of the social features of Google+ pages, such as Hangouts, and sharing photos/videos/posts.

Google has already given a handful of businesses access to such functionality. Check out The Meatball Shop for an example.

Pulse Local has partnered with Patch, and affords users access to local knowledge in hundreds of communities. It also include CBS Local News, keeping users current on breaking news, sports, traffic and weather. Flavorpill keeps local events organized.

As for Local’s new “deals” category, Pulse has partnered with Groupon, Living Social and Gilt City. For all things sports, Local includes feeds from SBNation, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports and others. Zagat covers local food offerings.

As of last week, BBC News content is also available with Pulse, and is currently in its Featured Section.

According to the Pulse website, the company was “founded in May 2010 by Ankit Gupta and Akshay Kothari, two Stanford graduate students as part of a course at the Institute of Design. The inspiration for Pulse was borne out of their frustration with the news reading experience on mobile devices. Pulse has been selected as one of 50 apps in Apple’s App Store Hall of Fame and named one of TIME’s top 50 iPhone apps of 2011.”

However, the crew over at 9to5Google are more dedicated Google readers than I am and, from the document, tallied up that Google added 79 companies to their empire for the everyday low price of $2 billion. Some of the companies you might recognize: Motorola (this one’s still pending approval), ITA Software, AdMob, On2 Technologies, and a new office building in NYC (that’s kind of an unofficial acquisition, right?). In the document, Google claims that “These acquisitions generally enhance the breadth and depth of our expertise in engineering and other functional areas, our technologies, and our product offerings.”

The 9to5Google folks pointed out some other acquisitions that I didn’t find in the document: Zagat, DailyDeal, Dealmap, and Admeld.

With all those acquisitions happening, they’re not just gonna run themselves, are they? No, they’re not, so Google brought some more hands on deck in 2011 – over 32,000 pairs of hands, in fact, that were connected to 32,000 new employees.

And if you think this is big, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet because Google was clear about their plans for this year:

Our plans to continue to invest in systems, facilities, and infrastructure, increase our hiring, provide competitive compensation programs, and continue our current pace of acquisitions.

Place your bets now on which company will be carrying the Google banner by this time next year.

The averages, Zagat (recently acquired by Google) says, are based on results from their 2011 holiday tipping survey, which it ran a couple weeks ago.

“And, most of you are giving money to those you plan to tip, a cash gift ranked above a gift certificate, bottle of wine or baked goods as the number one lay out to thank the folks who serve you throughout the year,” Zagat’s James Mulcahy says. “But, you won’t be stuffing a little more into their envelope – a 79% majority of survey respondents said that they will tip the same as last year, with only 15% saying that they will tip more. “

What do you think of the results? Agree? Disagree?

As big a fan as I am of the snarky comment, however, this one doesn’t ring true for me.  I totally understand how Yelp reviews are very important and I see why Google went after them first, but I am left wondering whether Google ended up far better off than people think, perhaps even better off than if they had bought Yelp.

First, regardless of whether they bought Yelp or Zagat, Google has desperately wanted to have its own reviews to add to its local offerings and now they have them. What’s more, I believe that Zagat reviews have a better brand image than Yelp’s. Whatever advantage Yelp might have had in cachet over Zagat was that Zagat might have seemed old school, but now that Google owns them, you can bet they can overcome any dowdy image that might have dogged them. How long before you see a Zagat app on Android that allows you not only to search for restaurants but to be one of the raters yourself?

Then, there is the question of the price. That same TechCrunch article linked above pegs the price at somewhere below $66 million, because there is no government review needed for acquisitions under that price. Contrast that to the half-billion dollars reportedly rejected by Yelp. Even if you print money the way Google does, having an extra $400+ million to spend on other things can’t hurt. They could buy six more content companies the size of Zagat, for example and still have some change left over.

But people who criticize this deal are missing something else. Zagat is not like Encyclopedia Britannica, because Zagat reviews are not written by one person based on one opinion. Zagat’s has a system that uses hundreds of thousands of surveys to combine for their restaurant ratings. Their system is full of fact checkers and other checks and balances to make sure that the reviews are accurate.

Now, think about that. Suppose you take that systematic process that Zagat has painstakingly worked out over the years and you hand it to Google. Google could very easily start with Zagat reviews and then add a social media ratings and review component that allows Zagat’s to scale their reviews way higher than they do now. And fact checking of reviews is woefully missing from ratings systems today and sorely needed. Even simple things like, “Is the restaurant still open?” or “Is that phone number still accurate?” would be a major improvement to Google’s local offerings, because Google just doesn’t keep data up to date today.

So, stay with me here. On top of what Google bought that everyone knows they bought–Zagat’s restaurant ratings–is it possible that Zagat’s system of collecting and curating ratings could be applied to other businesses, too? All of these rating systems have developed the Yelp way, aggregating many ratings of unknown quality. Google, for all of its love of technology, was the first one to implement a search ranking system based on links, allowing the human element to affect search quality–permanently for the better. It wouldn’t shock me if Google wanted to use humans in a scalable process that improved ratings quality.

But even if this deal is about nothing more than buying a set of restaurant ratings, it is still a very good deal for Google. Expect to see these ratings incorporated into Google forthwith, which is a major improvement for all restaurant searches.

Check out Biznology for more articles by Mike Moran