For Business - Boucher + Co.

B+C

a nyc-based digital strategy agency

A Boucher + Co. Publication

Using

For Business IN 10 PAGES OR LESS

By Gerard Boucher Inbound Marketing Expert

B+C

Using Google+ For Business


“Google+ lets business owners make pages and create relationships with customers.”

Many see Google+ as a challenger to Facebook’s social media presence. With a user base boasting over 40 million people, Google+ should definitely be considered a key player in online marketing.

Google+ lets business owners make pages and create relationships with customers. It allows users to interact with your business page as well as sharing content with everyone in their network. Users also have the ability to comment on photos as well as +1, which is equivalent to a Facebook’s “Like.” One thing that separates Google+ from other social networking sites is the element of video chatting.

Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn

B+C



“Google+ Pages cannot add someone to its circle without the page being mentioned.”

Here are some quick facts you should know about Google+ Pages: • Pages have the +1 button option. • Pages cannot +1 other pages. • You can have different layouts for your page. • Google+ Pages will automatically unfollow someone if they unfollow the page. • Pages do not receive email notifications on the Google bar. • The default privacy setting for your business page is set to public. • Google+ Pages cannot add someone to its circle without the page being mentioned or if the user adds the business page first. • Pages cannot share to “Extended Circles.” • The local pages have elements that help people search for your physical location.


B+C



The steps to creating a Google+ Page are not difficult. So let’s get started! The first step is choosing an accessible Gmail account. Take some time in choosing an account that is easily accessible to members of your marketing team. Avoid using personal Gmail accounts as well as old accounts you have lying around somewhere. When you start, there are 5 options you can choose: 1. Local Business or Place 2. Product or Brand 3. Company, Institution or Organization 4. Entertainment or Sports 5. Other Once you choose what type of Google+ Page you want, the next step is customization. Take some time to think of your tagline (your business pitch) and an image (ideally, your company logo).


B+C



“Always remember to share new content as we as engaging with your fans.”

Great! So far you have the foundations for your business page and Google+ will allow you to promote your page, but hold on. Think about it. What use is promoting a blank page? Just like how the “About” tab will promote your blog and website; promote Google+ on your website and blogs. Cross-promotion will help build a strong Google+ community Take some time to write some updates and customize your page even further. This way, it adds value to your page and helps persuade people into adding your business to their Circles. Although this is pretty much the gist of Google+ Pages, any marketer knows that you need to go above and beyond. Since Google+ is a social network, always remember to share new content as well as engaging with your fans.


B+C



“Google is easily able to detect which profiles are real and which ones are spammer accounts.”

The benefits of using Google+ in search: •Google’s Intelligence: Google continues to improve its intelligence. Google+ is able to see how you interact with everyone on closer levels. For example, Google is able to determine if you have a close group of friends who you interact frequently with as well as identifying broader networks that you communicate less with. •Quality of Search Results: Google is easily able to detect which profiles are real and which ones are spammer accounts. It is able to determine this by checking the profile to see if it is dominated merely by the +1s it has on its page. Google discounts the value of those pages that try to cheat the system.


B+C



“Website that use Google’s +1 button get 3.5 times more Google+ page visits.”

•Changing The Way You Get Traffic: Google allows you to embed the +1 button to your website. It is said that websites that use Google’s +1 button get 3.5 times more Google+ page visits. •Google+ Direct Connect: You are able to find a company’s Google+ page by adding the “+” symbol in front of the company name in Google.com search. In order to make use of this function, head over to the “Get Started” section and click on the “connect your website” link. Pick one of the six Google+ Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn

B+C



“Cross-promotion will help build a strong Google+ community.”

Now that you are aware of the benefits of using Google+ as well as how to create a Google+ Page, here are some ways to get the most out of your marketing efforts on Google+:

1.Lots and Lots of Photos This is a very important part of Google+ as you can see by scrolling through the newsfeed. Users upload photos frequently. Think about what images you can upload to spark a conversation, or better yet, make the content viral. 2.“About” Tab Adding links to your “About” tab helps you to direct your customers to your blog or your website. Make use of the space that is provided for you!


B+C



“Encourage your subscribers to share your post with their Circles.”

3.Promote Your Google+ Page Just like how the “About” tab will promote your blog and website; promote Google+ on your website and blogs. Cross-promotion will help build a strong Google+ community. 4.Share The Posts In twitter, this would be called retweeting. The same concept applies here. Encourage your subscribers to share your post with their Circles. Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn

B+C



“Segmenting the market is essential to organizing online marketing.”

Segmenting the market is essential to organizing online marketing. Google+ allows us to do with “Circles.” It lets you group people and create a label. People can be added to multiple circles. This helps when targeting specific messages to certain Circles you want to send the message out to. After reading this e-book, you are now aware of the impact Google+ can have for your business and your marketing strategies. Google will most likely continue to improve their functionality since it is competing with other social media platforms. Many people underestimate the potential of Google+ when it comes to their business, but it never hurts to try! Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn