Google+ Local (Google Places)

Google+ Local (originally Google Places) was Google's earlier system for listing businesses on Maps and in local search. It has since been renamed and rebuilt twice — into Google My Business and then Google Business Profile — but the underlying goal never changed: connect nearby searchers to real-world businesses.

A short naming history

The lineage trips a lot of people up:

• Google Places (2010) — the original business-listing product.
• Google+ Local (2012) — folded listings into the Google+ social network.
• Google My Business (2014) — unified Places, Maps, and reviews under one dashboard.
• Google Business Profile (2021-present) — the current name, now managed directly in Search and Maps.

If you find old guides referencing "Google+ Local," treat them as historical — the features live on under Business Profile.

What it means for local visibility today

The product name changed; the ranking logic matured. A well-optimised Business Profile — accurate categories, consistent NAP, photos, and a steady flow of reviews — is still the single biggest driver of showing up in the Map Pack. For a Toronto dental clinic, choosing the precise primary category "Dentist" over a vague "Medical clinic," and gathering neighbourhood-specific reviews, often moves it into the three-pack for "dentist near me" faster than any on-site change.

Managing that presence well is the heart of local SEO; the modern replacement for this listing is covered under Google My Business.