This is a guest post by guest author Vern Marker. While GrowMap encourages our readers to support small businesses whenever possible, we still recommend you use services such as Google+ to attract customers to your business. Read on for a Google+ Video Overview and Tips for Using G+.
In this age of mobile technology, business capabilities are evolving rapidly due to a metamorphosis spurred forward by Internet on the go and Online Reputation Management (ORM). Developing a presence online is a marketing necessity. Companies from Amazon to Netflix have fostered and capitalized on a web-based consumer following. Brand loyalty is the survival mechanism of the current professional terrain.
No other Internet business entity is as brand-synonymous as Google. What started as a search engine quickly became a household name. The company built on that reputation through collaborations and expanding into new markets with YouTube, Google Earth, Android, and others. Now, this promotional marketing giant is offering the same opportunity to other businesses through a social network called Google+.
In this video, you’ll learn the basics of Google Plus and how you can use this social networking platform. Google Plus was launched on June 28th 2011. SocialRank will be posting more information and videos about Google Plus.
via Google+ Video Overview for Getting Started | Online Tutorial Series.
In response to the rising tide of social media use, Google added an integrated networking layer to their online platform called Google+. Many analysts heralded it as a late bloomer in the social media craze, but this prediction may prove premature. Cosmetically it is similar to Facebook, but Google+ is a different animal altogether.
It wasn’t developed strictly for social purposes. With the introduction of Brand Pages last November, it is changing the landscape of e-commerce. The goal is to create a real-time focused, multi-faceted digital marketing environment. It offers businesses opportunities to reach new prospects and test the market with various forms of customer engagement.
Google Plus helps companies create a brand, then market it.
This unique twist on marketing takes advantage of the accessibility of Internet on the go providers and Google’s well established reputation as a leader in driving organic traffic. Over 50 million users have created a Brand Page since the option launched.
Google’s reputation is only part of the attraction. Businesses create pages through a separate tool within Google+. The pages are categorized under five headings: local business, product / brand, company /organization, arts / entertainment and sports or other. There are several functions and theme-related choices. Most importantly, Brand Pages can be hyperlinked to outside websites and promoted by Google.
Chris Brogan / BlueGlass Infographic: Google + for Business excerpt:
The power of the “open web search” feature comes with a challenge. Although it helps companies access a larger promotional field, how can the tool be put to its most effective use? Here are the top five tips for using Google+ in business.
Google+ Tips
- A primary function of this tool is to increase SEO and ORM simultaneously. To get the most bang for the least buck, keep the profile updated. Review the Brand Page content at least every 90 days and refresh Meta Tags to improve ranking results. Google+ auto-corrects page revisions Internet-wide.
- Take advantage of the +One Button option to integrate Brand Pages into the Social and Open Graph Formats. This will add the content to open web searches and increase visitor traffic. Using the +One Button and the Share Bubble Feature together will build up recommendations and establish reputation.
- In today’s business culture, Internet on the go makes accessible marketing a must. Visitors want to know what they are getting without being bombarded by it. Give the company website a clean, professional, and consistent look. Avoid loud graphics and vague text. Engage customers with a well constructed user-friendly site.
- Install the Direct Connect Code on the website to expand SEO Options through Google. Direct Connect helps publicize Brand Pages and offers users customized direct routes through Google+ features to improve ranking and web traffic. Only businesses that install the code on their websites are eligible for this option.
- A little self promotion never hurts. Google+ has made business marketing easier, but don’t rely on the fruits of their labor alone. Post on blogs and other social networks, use the G+ Follow Button on outside content, start topic circles and leverage hangouts.
Use Google+ and self-promotion in tandem to get the most out of the experience. Marketing in an Internet on the go culture is always trend driven. A savvy business owner looks at what the industry leaders are doing and emulates it. Google+ gives companies a chance to become marketing understudies. It makes the tools that build a successful name brand company available to everyone. With that kind of opportunity knocking it’s no wonder business owners are eager to answer the door.
Google Plus for Business Tips
- Sly Marketing: Google Plus Business Pages are Changing Everything (Feb 29, 2012)
- Paradux Media: Google Plus And Small Business Owners (Feb 27, 2012)
- Right Mix Marketing: Why Are Marketers and Businesses Ignoring Google Plus? (Jan 15, 2012)
- Hot Blog Tips: Multiple Admins For Google Plus Business Pages (Dec 20, 2011)
- Blueglass: Content Promotion On Google+
VernMarker
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google is the best way to gain customers for nowadays. nice article anyway… every online bussiness target is to be in page one at google for their targeted keywords
Thanks for the great tips. I’ve been trying to figure out Google + for a while now and i’m sure i’ll master it soon with these great tips you posted. I love the video too. Thanks
Though I understand the practicalities of Google+, I feel like the examples of its use as seen here are inflated or at least not as effective as it appears. Many gmail users are almost forced to interact with G+ because of automatic updates and reminders sent to their email, as well as the link at gmail’s homepage. People choose to visit and interact with Facebook and twitter more than Google+. In addition, many users sign up with G+, but rarely return. I want Google+ to succeed, but at this point I do not think it is possible!
I think Google plus is increasing day by day and Google is also doing a lot of things to improve it. How ever you have found a great info graphics which tells the complete story. 🙂
Your main 5 points are just revolving around SEO but still you have done a great job.
Thanks
Your post is really very informative. It’s another plus to use Google+ for business. But I’m a little bit scared because of a number of social networks which are must have things for business companies. Google+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter… brrrrrrr
The growth of Google plus is quite unbelievable in the competitive arena of social media sites. I really like the +1 feature of G+ and some how thinks it has got a viral potential and can easily win over the like feature of facebook and tweet button of twitter. And, it really got a good potential for business purposes. After all, it’s a Google product and hence have a high chance that the G+ post can easily creep in the results of search engine giant easily than it competitors like Facebook and Twitter.
Very informative post Vern, Google has leveraged it’s social network into a “must have” tool and it can really effect our position in the serps, especially with the personalized results now. Thank you for including our post, that was very cool. 🙂
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Thank you so much for this post on G+. I have just started a website that I hope produces some cash flow for me, but was struggling with social media. I have never used Google +, so I appreciate the primer.
facebook is also a good plateform
Nice tips, Google plus is a good platform to promote a business. I also using it. The tips you mentioned is great.
Thanks.
You well explained the 5 tips for using google + for business.I think at present it is an important part of online marketing world.Thanks for sharing this post with us.
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I really like the tips and this post is very helpful.You well explained the topic with the help of video.
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I never really GOT Google+. All other Google products are different, but I just can’t see their USP :S
Thanks for the tips. Even though g+ is not doing as expected. One cannot underestimate its importance. I hope it will bypass Facebook soon.
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Google plus is really a great hero when it comes for business. It can move mountains and make the ice break. Really great!
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Very useful insight from Vern on Google+. I regularly update my blog and first step that I take to promote my content, I publish my post link to Google+ and share it with public and to my circle.
Thanks for the post Vern Marker. I believe Google plus just like other social media sites, is really a very helpful tool to improve business.
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I’ve been looking for a good explanation of Google+ and I’ve finally found it! Thanks for the in-depth overview of how to use and benefit from it’s many features.
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I think Google + is starting to really pick up recently and within time will probably be a facebook beater. I remember a time when it was all about myspace. No one had even heard of this facebook. I believe google + will do the same.
I have just started my first ever blog and im going to try to incorporate google + into it somehow.
I admit that Google + is completely different animal from the facebook and it very helpful for SEO purposes. It also has some other versatile features.
Social media plays very important role in the success of on-line business. Google+ is becoming more popular day by day. Great platform for marketing, advertising, connecting with people and in promotion of your brand.
Great tips indeed!G+ is a formidable force when it comes to brand visibility!I am currently working on a project to improve uptake of my product and the tips herein have inspired me to consider G+ as an option.Thanks alot.
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Google+ is a great tool for promoting your brand in the internet in few hours like all other social network. This is recently launched so it will take some time to be famous. Still this is good for SEO persons.
i think face book is the very most popular now a days and google+ can never come near to the point fb has reached today
Google + sort of intimidated me at first because it seemed like just another way for Google to have control of your information, but it has lots of advantages too (as you pointed out)!
The good thing about Google + is that it lets you interact with so many other forms of social media. I can connect everything in one place: emails, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr etc.
The other thing about Google + is that it is a more professional platform than, say, Facebook or Twitter. And it of course, helps that Google recognizes your page. Great post!
Thanks for all of your feedback on my post. Although we all know Google+ hasn’t reached it’s potential yet, I think we all can agree that it is a necessity and will grow as time goes on.
Certainly, google+ is a great tool for promoting your brand in the internet. It also helps in strengthening your SEO strategy.
Google+’s usefulness is dependent upon the community within it. That is about the gist of it. It is a good idea to have a well set up presence on G+ in the event of a large scale migration, but otherwise it is essentially dependent on whether or not people get on board with the service.
There is no privacy in this information age. That is the downside!
As for advantages, Google + allows for far more interaction than other forms of social media. I have 3 times the interaction with the 228 G+ users who have circled me as I so with Twitter and my 10.6K followers.
Google+ is interactive, allows a business to maintain a professional air, and is wildly popular—a simple way to reach the public.
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no doubt your post on g+ is awesome….but i want share some more points to grow your business like we should set up our profile on the basis of your business community. smake your brand page to promote your brand & attract new customers. grow your g+ circle as u can.& at last the most important thing Set your privacy on your personal G+ to optimized search engine indexing for best SEO result.
[I know you keep commenting here, but I know of no way to determine whether your site is legal or going to bring the copyright authorities down on you like a ton of bricks. Any blogger who is aware of what is going on in that area is going to be reluctant to link to your site – and the name and email address you care using doesn’t help your credibility any.]
I am considering making an account in Google+ after reading this blog post. You persuaded me. I love the way how it vastly helps you to get what you need. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t know, I see G+ as simply a better way to profile and track users, something I’m not comfortable with at all. And I’ve heard people unable to delete that app from their smartphones unless they don’t wanna use those services anymore. As much as I’ll probably close my account if I’ll ever be able to do it and also my email as soon as I activate my own on my website. For the same reasons I took out +1 from my website as well as every link to FB. Maybe I’m too much privacy concerned but I hate when someone forces me to do something or looks at everything I do.
And as soon as I get CrankyAds working I’m going to close both Adsense and Analytics. No Big Brother on my website. 🙂
Hi Andrea,
You’re right – it is. I can’t speak to the smart phone issue because I don’t have any intention of ever having one. In fact I’m not happy that any cell phone is a listening and tracking device unless you unplug the battery. I need to research which is worse – a landline or a cell phone.
While I know I could probably make hundreds by having blogger welfare (AdSense) on this site I just couldn’t bring myself to do that. My old static horse site made $400+ every month years ago.
Did you notice I just got CrankyAds working on GrowMap last night? I saw Ana’s CrankyAds banner ads Review and then Yaro answered a bunch of questions I had about it and I’ll be writing up what I found out as soon as I can make the time.
It is a brilliant solution and in less than an hour I now have two more ad placements I’ve been wanting to get for years, the capability of rotating affiliate banners in them, and an easy way for people to buy them BUT how the paying and canceling works is NOT what I expected. That is why all the questions and the need for a post about that.
Do you know about Piwik alternative to Google Analytics and Phil Hollow’s FeedBlitz alternative to Feedburner?
I want to get alternatives on and Google Borg off. Have you seen my massive posts about Google Evil and their plan to limit our freedom of choice and take traffic away from small brands because their CEO announced that Google Favors Big Brands – and they REALLY do and we’ll be seeing much more of that continue.
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Hi Gail, thanks for the answer. I didn’t know about Piwik but I’ll check them out. I’ve seen CrankyAds here and I’m a great fan of it, not that I’m having sponsor for now but it’s a great tool made by a blogger for bloggers. Yaro did a very good thing as CrankyAds keeps the money where it should go, in the hand of the blogger and not of the third man. But I just can’t wait to read your take on it. 🙂
I’m using Adsense mainly because all other networks require bigger traffic and also because there isn’t a fixed amount of money to earn but I’m ready to leave the wagon as soon as I can. For now I have to stay there. Also given the raise of mobile traffic and the fact that mobile users usually do not comment or click on ads plus all those ad blocking extensions I think that Adsense will come to an end soon unless they go from CPC to CPM. We’ll see.
While Big G for now is a necessary evil and being a corporation they are just interested in pleasing-collaborating with bigger businesses while eating smaller ones I’m trying to use its services less than possible. For searches now I’m using either Ixquick.com or Startpage.com, they are very keen on privacy and their results are better than the G ones, can we ask for more?
G is not interested in customers, it is interested in minions and in having people to do what it want without answering to none and writing its own rules, but luckily for now it can’t do it in Europe due to stricter rules and laws. But is FB so much different? Or Pinterest with its TOS?
Also let me add, even if you surely already know it, that corporations everywhere are killing smaller business, just look what happens every day in agriculture. They can have the laws they want, the rules they want, and can pay everyone to do everything. Semms like we can’t stop the Cyberpunk world from coming. Or can we?
Have a great day! Or night on the other part of the Ocean. 😉
And where is the “google+” button here? 😀
Honestly I’m not a real big fan of Google although I do accept that at least for now businesses must use their services. There is only room for so many buttons at the top of each post and my favorite social network is Twitter. I will be rethinking which buttons belong there again soon.
G+ is primarily used by early adopters and those who know it is important for SEO reasons. StumbleUpon strangled the life out of why I used to love it – probably so people would move to pinterest. Many of my readers are bloggers who have their own methods of sharing, but I will be updating those buttons again before too long.
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I too am not a big supporter of G+…I don’t think it will ever have the public appeal that Facebook and Twitter has. I think in the future we will see Facebook and Twitter continue to be dominant and we will see more single service networks such as Foursquare, Tumblr, Flickr, etc. all be embedded within Facebook and Twitter. In my opinion, G+ doesn’t offer anything that Facebook can’t provide…except for an extremely dull community.
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Social networking becomes very important source for online business.but peoples doesn’t know how to use a social networking sites for online business.google+ is one of the best social networking sites.search engine gives prefference in it.
Most people probably don’t know how good google+ can be for their business, and many don’t realize how effective it is in some ways. Without a way of measuring the success of google+ they are blindly using that form of communication without realizing the effect it has with their customers.
good point but with the everything out there, not everyone wants to have to dig into something else and figure it out. It should be more simple and less complicated, facebook has that pegged.
I’ve seen some really decent traffic spikes from article on my blog that have been heavily +1’d. Google is definitely pushing traffic or at least the traffic of your connections to sites with more +1 power.
I still haven’t completely wrapped my brain around how to direct more people to click the +1 button. But the results are there if you can harness them.
Thanks!!
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Have to agree Ryan, I have seen similar traffic spikes since adding a Google+ page.
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Just don’t start counting on it. Google giveth – and Google taketh away!
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