What is Google+?
Google+ is a social network developed by Google. If you have a Gmail address, then you already have a Google+ (often shortened to G+) profile. Your Google+ profile integrates with all of Google’s services – maps, YouTube, Gmail, Chrome etc…
Think of Google+ like a combination of Twitter and Facebook. The focus is on sharing content, conversations and ideas. Google+ is also very visual, unlike Twitter, so it is an excellent place to engage your audience with images.
You can ‘like’ or ‘favorite’ content via the ‘+1’ button. Google+ also allows you to group your friends and people you follow into various circles, which is great for relationship management.
What is a Google+ Business Page?
Similar to a Facebook brand page, a Google+ business page is your company’s home base on Google. You can engage your community, share content and rank higher in Google’s search engine.
In fact, that last point is the most important feature of Google+ and why you need a Google+ business page immediately.
A Google+ Business Page is Your Secret SEO Weapon
Because Google is the most popular search engine, Google+ profiles and all content shared or given a ‘+1’ via the social network receive extra weight in Google’s algorithms. Your Google+ business page and corresponding community can make all of the difference in whether or not you rank higher in search than your competition.
Google+ has a huge impact on local search. You can connect your Google+ business page with Google Places for Business, adding another layer of experience and interaction to your customers online experience. Your customers may see your Google+ profile before they see your website, so keep it up to date, engaging and loaded with relevant content.
Check out the infographic below for all of the benefits your business can reap from Google+ and then scroll down to find out how to set up your G+ business page.
Setting Up Your Google+ Page
Choose a Gmail account with which to create your page. It’s best not to use a personal account, so you may want to create a special email account just for this purpose.
Choose your company’s category:
- Local Business or Place
- Product or Brand
- Company, Institution or Organization
- Arts, Entertainment or Sports
- Other
If you’re confused about this, Social Media Examiner has a great explanation of company categories.
Fill in all of your basic information. You’ll see another selection for ‘category,’ this is more specific and refers to your industry and you can choose more than one.
Note that if you already have a Google Places entry, Google will match that entry with your Google+ business page. If you don’t already have a Google Places entry, Google will prompt you to create one.
Then, add a profile photo (usually your logo), a cover photo and a tagline. Your G+ cover photo should be 2120 x 1192 pixels. Also add your company’s other social media profiles to your page.
Through your page, you can follow other relevant G+ pages and people. Start by creating circles for relevant topics, customers, co-workers, other local businesses etc…
Don’t forget to tell everyone about your new G+ business page via your own Google+ profile and your other social media channels.
That’s it. You’re ready to start increasing your SEO and building a community with your Google+ business page.
Follow C-leveled on Google+ for more tips on how to leverage social media for your small business.