Should businesses be actively using their Google+ pages?
I have been reading a lot of articles lately saying that Google+ is quickly surpassing other social media pages, such as Twitter, in terms of active users. How much is everyone using their G+ accounts and what have your experiences been with it?
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May 8, 2014
I don't use it. I just have it so I can list it on other social media sites like this one. Eventually, I will figure out how to use it to market my services but at the present time, it is not a high priority. I do list both my personal and business places Google+ page on my website.
Nov 10, 2013
Depends on what you want to achieve from being active with Google Plus, search phrase dominance or keyword optimizing perhaps? Want more traffic to your website using links posted on Google +? There are other platforms that can do that as well. However, Google is arguably the top search tool so it follows that any platform made by Google has a direct connection to global searches.
It won't hurt if you use other social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, SymbleUpon, Friendfeed, etc.
Nov 2, 2013
Most definitely Kimberly! It is essential for authorship etc which is key to the new google algorithm and im sure its been said before ; who are Google more like likely to index themselves or a third party?
Hope this helps (my 1st answer)
Regards
Matt
Nov 1, 2013
For your business's online presence Google+ is probably the best option because it helps your website's page rank in Google search and it helps increase traffic on your page, which is purely an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) asset and in today's day and age it's a must have.
Cheers,
Anam
Oct 31, 2013
To first answer the question, Yes; 1. Search Results Listing, 2.Gain Followers, Push Content and engage audience, 3. SEO Benefit (Local Search/Market Engagement), 4. Google Reviews and 5 Virtual Tours - Bird's Eye View. But if these aren't good enough, I wiill just say "It's Google!" #DotYeah Did I mention Google Authorship? The Coveted Right Hand Space and Virality "Google+ Ripples"
I must admit I was like "what the world?" when I first set up my page and business on Google+. It was like weaving through the Matrix but well worth the Madness.
Oct 30, 2013
Dear Kim,
As they say ‘Any publicity is good publicity [also there's no such thing as bad publicity]’, any Web-presence should be considered as long as you are committed to build your company’s identity, image and profile. Google, being the Expressway for the traffic on the Information Highway, certainly has better control, potential and hence prospects for publicizing your endeavor. Recently Google+ pages have started gaining popularity for their edge over other [cheap] popular Social Medias for obvious reasons of not having [or entertaining] futile stuff, like Mark has put it rightly!
All-in-all, along with professional networks like LinkedIn, Google Pages deserve to be your choice for SEO as well as SMO tools, Google itself being the major catalyst to the SEO. A word of caution though... it is never enough just to create your profile page on any of the social network for that matter. This is like bicycle riding; you need to keep paddling as long as you want to move ahead. The moment you stop paddling, you lose your balance and ought to fall... All the best!
Oct 30, 2013
We are in the domain of know-how. Information be it for marketing or strategic planning has become a perennial necessity. It has become one of the 24/7 factor that companies really have to invest in. You are not only procuring information but also advertising. Your presence indicates a business for others.
Oct 28, 2013
G+ is the fastest growing network ever.
The status updates you post on G+ get indexed quickly in search results.
The newly launched G+ community help customers to mingle and discuss about the products.
You can find people to add to your circles pretty easily based on your interest with Google’s search feature. Like Twitter, the odds are in yoshare content on Google+ur favor that if you add them to your Google+ circle, they will follow your account back. Doing so can increase your odds of exposure when you start sharing your content with the world!
Oct 28, 2013
Google plus appears to be getting more active. Although I am still posting the same things on my page as do on my facebook page. Google plus circles of followers, friends, colleagues makes google plus less effective.
Pininterest on the other hand is completely useless for both my business and venture. That social network definitely should carry the caveat use the social network that fits with your business. Google plus can compete with facebook and twitter. Its audience is the same as facebook. Twitter a little different and many forget twitter has always been about engaging with your followers not to be used for update and forget. Facebook and google plus about sharing information and only a little about engaging. Pininterest only useful for craft and jewellry businesses.
Oct 28, 2013
Hi Kimberly,
I think it depends on your business. While I work for a large corporation which benefits socially from platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, I also volunteer for a local carnival and find that Google+ works really well for us. Don't forget that Google is connected to YouTube - so promoting videos and/or Google+ hangouts could work well together!
Oct 24, 2013
Authorship proves a lot by influencing the content being posted. But then the creative options seem to be limited than other social signals like Facebook. One of the mesmerizing options "Events" appear to be a similar in both the Google Plus and the latter.
However I guess, conducting a business and to take over an edge will easily be made up with G+. And, yes the communication tool has still been raising up a debate among the communities with its weight in ranking a site.
Oct 24, 2013
Absolutely! Every time you post something "Public" on Google+, it gets indexed in the search engine immediately! Google has 67% of all global searches. Also, Google Maps and Google Places is merging into Google+ Local, so if the company is a local business with a brick-and-mortar location, it's imperative that they have a G+ page and they have it verified as a local business. It also integrate with YouTube (another Google product).
They also have free Google+ Hangouts - video conferencing where you can share your screen and have 15 people participating.
Giselle Aguiar
Oct 23, 2013
The short answer is: Probably.
If search and social are important for your business then it only makes sense to have a Google Plus Business Page. It's tied to your YouTube (or should be when properly set up) and your Google Local Page.
If your business is blogging then you can take advantage of Google Authorship and should increase your CTR (click through rate) on search engine results pages.
Google Plus activity is largely dependant on your target market as well. So it's good to look at demographics and where your market hangs out online.
There are tons of things to consider as far as strategy for building the fan base of your business page on Google Plus but at the minimum you should probably at least have one tied to your YouTube.
Oct 23, 2013
Like all marketing, it depends on your business, your goals and your target market. The big surge in Google+ came when they moved all Google Places accounts to Google+ which is an essential part of marketing for all local based businesses. So, if you want to get found in local business searches, then Google+ should be actively used because of the importance of setting up your local search listing through it. If you want to use it just for the social media part of it, then it depends on the importance you place on social media marketing for your business.
Oct 23, 2013
Hi Kimberly,
Since Google is the leader in search function, and Google Plus is their search engine, it is worth your while to use your Google Plus pages. Not sure what you are using for your Website Content Platform however there are lots of Google Plus sharing buttons for WordPress and other platforms so you can share your blogs, news releases, and other content.
Google Plus is quite easy to use and it doesn't seem to be as fraught with silly jokes, chain mail and the other "stuff" that is on Facebook.
If you find it difficult to share everything to all the various channels, try Buffer out which helps you share to multiple channels at once.
Hope that helps!
Mark