DigiTips
(Published in the Reno Tahoe Tonight magazine March, 2013)
-Amber Howland
Why Google+ Is Important To Your Business
As I work with businesses to create or increase their social media community, I always include Google+. However, most business owners I meet with don’t have a Google+ account and often don’t understand the importance of Google+. I’ve included some basic reasons why Google+ should be part of your social media plan.
Unlike Facebook fan pages, you don’t have to beg or buy “likes”. Once you create your page, you’re able to search for compatible businesses and consumers then add them to your circle. This allows you to share with them. If they like you, they will add you back.
Google+ circle organization is convenient and easy. As you add people to your circles, you can designate them by friends, followers, and even create custom circles. I organize my circles with my planned communication. Pictures of the baby go to family and friends, business tips go to customers and that crazy night in Vegas stays in the Vegas Circle.
Hangout allows people to video-chat in a group setting. No need to pay for Skype or purchase video conferencing software, Hangout is designed for video-chatting with a group of people anywhere there is an internet connection.
+1 is no longer used to merely RSVP. As you read articles online you might notice a “+1” button next to the Twitter and Facebook buttons. Utilizing your +1’s is a great way to grow your circles and your sphere of influence. Google has integrated +1 into all of their products so when you +1 on something, it lets your friends know that you like it and when others in your circle search for something that you’ve +1ed, it will remind them that you +1ed it which creates credibility for you and your opinion. In business, positive word of mouth is gold. Integrating +1 for your business is key because you can encourage your customers to +1 your business and services. Each time their circle searches for your business, they will know that their friends use and endorse your business.
SEO, SEO, SEO, is the digital equivalent to the tried and true business maxim – location, location, location. All forms of social media improve your Search Engine Optimization. The more active you are with social media and linking back to your website, the higher your website will rank in organization, and the better chance you’ll have of appearing on the first page of search results.
Google is the dominating search engine for the web. Let’s face it, most people use Google to search, and Google has the most sophisticated algorithms that decide which website is the most relevant to the keywords entered.
In doing so, Google ranks its own products high. Thus, the more +1’s you have, the higher you’ll rank on a Google search. Also, Google has done a great job of integrating all of their products like Gmail, blogger, Google+, Googlemaps and YouTube into one forum for easy access to the consumer.
When deciding which social media sites to include in your social media community, Google+ should be part of the plan. Google+ not only increases your social media influence, but also helps with search engine optimization and increases the likelihood of your business not just being found online, but being found first.
-Amber Howland
Dragonfly Media, Dragonflymedia.net, (775)746-4690
Amber Howland is General Manager of Dragonfly Media, based in Reno Nevada. Dragonfly Media works with small to medium size business to increase their digital influence through SEO/SEM, social media management, website/app development, and email marketing.