Google Plus - Express Writers

Four Predictions On The Future of G+ In 2015

December 31, 2020January 30, 2015 by Adam Oakley

There have been a number of conflicting reports surrounding G+ in 2015. A handful of writers claim that Google+ is seeing its last days as a valid product and that Google is moving to shelf it. Many of us in the tech world know that the driving force behind Google+, Vic Gundotra, has left the company and ever since that departure, G+ has seen less of a prominent place in Google’s limelight, some claiming that Google is actively moving to hide it from the average user. The thing is, as there are more and more users that lean towards social media platforms as a means of communication and keeping up to date with the happenings of the world, there will always be a need for competition. As it stands right now, G+ is not something the world really wants as much as the world needs options in social media. Why G+ is Important in the 21st Century A lot of people have put Google+ down as the walking dead or a failed attempt at social networking. While G+ isn’t a competitor to Facebook and Twitter in the traditional sense (it doesn’t sell its users to advertisers, for example), it still presents a place for users to share their ideas and the things that they like across a social platform that integrates with their email and other facets of their life that they already use Google’s services for. The key reason that G+ is important, according to former Google employee Chris Messina (in this rant that is decidedly expletive-laden), is that G+ provides an alternative to the juggernauts that make up social media in the twenty first century today. America has realized how monopolies are bad (any cursory glance at American economic history will reveal this) and the rest of the world should also be wary of putting their eggs in one basket. However, as the wizard behind the curtain in Gundotra departed, G+ has come up short in its drive to be something new, innovative and fresh. It’s because of this failed initiative that many social media gurus are announcing the death of G+, even if not acknowledged as yet by Google. A Bleak Future for Google+? Google+ is decidedly one of the important gears in the machine that is Google’s digital identity in the twenty first century. Google has managed to link it with some of their more popular utilities (such as Google Hangouts) in an effort to drive more users to utilize it as a social media device. Although many users resented it (and many still do) it showed that Google wasn’t about to give up on Google+ just yet. In fact, with so many Google users simply having a G+ account (whether or not they use it) it means that G+ has one of the largest potential outreaches of any social media in existence. It’s like a sleeping giant, and although it’s unlikely that it will be a Facebook-killer, it is still well poised to do so much more. Google’s developmental teams have been shuffled around as of late and many tech and social media gurus see is as a sign that G+ is dying. I’m personally not so sure. As it sits right now, the coming year could make or break G+ in terms of being a major part of Google’s integrated system. Is G+ Another One of Google’s Failed Ideas? Investment in G+ from Google to such an extent means that Google has (or at least had) great plans for the system. The thing is, this isn’t the only project they’ve had over the years that started off with a bang and ended up with a whimper. I am reminded of Authorship: a push by Google to introduce author tags into web content so as to give Authors more visibility on search engine rankings. Well, Google tried that for a while and realized it wasn’t working so they ditched it. However, they never put as much time and effort integrating Authorship with other Google utilities as they have G+. The interwoven tapestry of a Google account means that a G+ account grants you access to your Gmail, your Hangouts, even your cloud storage. Your Google account is not your G+ account, and like a lost puppy it follows you around wherever you go. Integrating G+ into Gmail has had its share of troubles by opening up the door to unwanted spam emails from people you don’t even know. After potential fiascos like that one you can start to understand why Google might be better off leaving G+ to die. Four Predictions for the Future of G+ in 2015 2015 presents a unique turning point in G+’s development, one that could see it as another innovative result of Google’s tinkering with social media or as another spent, broken shell on Google’s idea scrap-heap. Google has a lot of decisions to make in the coming year regarding G+ and as much as it seems as though G+ is dead, Google has managed to do miracles before. Resurrecting a nearly-dead social media idea might be right up their alley. Based on what we’ve seen from Google in the last couple months towards the end of 2015, we can extrapolate pretty handily what the state of G+ will be in the coming year and if Google’s actually taking steps to make it into a better place to visit than it is currently. As I stare into my crystal ball I can make a few guesses as to what the future of G+ will look like in the coming twelve months: Google Will Further Shrink the Dedicated Workforce on Google+ This seems counterproductive if you think that Google’s trying to salvage G+ but it’s actually not a bad idea. Google firmly subscribes to the idea that “too many cooks spoil the broth” and in this case they might be well warranted. Google+ already has a deeply designed interface that shares information seamlessly with other Google services and is a … Read more

It’s Official: The Death Of Google Authorship

December 31, 2020September 15, 2014 by Adam Oakley

We’ve really had the run-around on Authorship, thanks to Google’s ever-changing brain. Just when we thought all that hype was only that, we hear that Google has killed it. Completely. In terms of Authorship, this should be your thought now: nada. I can hear the sound of flags being lowered to half-mast across the globe. Perhaps writers are stirring their lattes sadly, with a teary expression on their face. At times like this, it’s right to spend a moment in reflection. Right, reflection time is over. Let’s have a look at the death of Google Authorship, its causes, and the implication it has for content writers. Was Google Authorship A Step Too Far? When Google announced its Authorship plans, it sounded too good to be true. Writers, through the use of rel=author tags, could use their articles, blogs and general brilliance to make themselves more visible, and increase their rankings on search engines. All the writer had to do was to mark up their content on their Google+ account, and leave the search engine wizards to do the rest. That’s easy, huh? Well, for many it wasn’t easy enough, and that’s why Authorship was doomed to fail. The fact is that many writers are happiest when they’re tapping away at their computer keyboards, letting their fiendish brains take them on flights of fancy, sharing their wisdom with a waiting world. They want to complete their work, put it out there in cyberspace, and then forget about it. Anything that seems too ‘techy’ can see them run screaming to the hills. The Google+ mark up scheme was simple to implement, but it was still too involved for some authors. As reported in Search Engine Land, a recent study by Stone Temple Consulting found that a remarkable 70% of authors made no attempt to mark their authorship on the content they were producing, and that many of them complained that the rel=author mark up system was too complex or time-consuming. Why Did Google Create Authorship? Believe it or not, there’s nothing that Google loves more than connecting its users with the content they want. They don’t spend their days trying to find new ways to move their parameters, or looking for new ways to make things more difficult for bloggers and writers. That’s just a by-product. Google has said time and again that they want to promote high quality content, and they saw the Authorship scheme as a way to do this. If a writer consistently produces exciting and informative content, and had a track record of writing blogs and articles for leading sources, then it’s only right that they should be connected with the public. Google Authorship would reward writers who consistently created content that people wanted to read. That reward came in the form of enhanced search visibility, rather than a maxi-sized blueberry muffin, but it was still good. Is that the only reason that Authorship was created, or was there another underlying cause? Some cynics may imagine that Google wanted to find another way to add value to its Google+ channel. Since its launch in 2011, Google+ has failed to slay the giant that is Facebook. If authors could increase their search rankings by using G+ more fully, then surely they’d interact with it more often, right? What do they say about the best laid plans of mice and men? That cheese has well and truly moved. The Death of Google Authorship The announcement was made to a less than shocked world on August 28th, when John Mueller of Google Webmaster Tools announced that Google Authorship was no more, it had ceased to be. It was an ex-scheme. So why did they carry out this technological infanticide? Put simply, it wasn’t providing the advantage to searchers or writers that Google had hoped, because of the low take up. Google had attempted to address the problem by auto-attributing work, but this in itself caused problems when work was incorrectly attributed. Famously, they attributed a work to Truman Capote that was written nearly three decades after his death. Capote wouldn’t mind, he did, after all, often claim authorship of his friend Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, but it was symptomatic of the problems besetting Google Authorship. The Importance of Blogging, Post-Authorship It’s a fact that Authorship wasn’t used as much as it should have been, but to those who did use it, it was very helpful indeed. It was like getting a free popsicle from Google at the end of every day, and now they’ve snatched it away. So what can writers do to ensure that their content is still getting the attention it deserves on the SERP merry-go-round? We all know that it’s impossible to second guess Google, or decipher their ever elusive algorithms. What we can, and must do, however, is to listen to what they’ve been sating to us over and over again. They want high quality content, not content that consists of meaningless backlinks with a few words to flesh them out. We’ve lost the magic trick that was the Google Authorship program, but by concentrating on turning out informative and content rich blogs and articles, we can still maintain our content authority and reach a wide audience. Rest In Peace, Google Authorship, you’ll be sadly missed. But only by 30% of writers.

SEO for Google Plus: How to Optimize Your G+ Profile

January 1, 2021May 8, 2014 by Adam Oakley

If you want to explore the full potential of some of the most influential social media platforms, you cannot afford to ignore G+ (Google Plus), with its ever-growing popularity or its plentitude of amazing marketing opportunities. Facebook and Twitter may be trending these days, but keep in mind that they aren’t the only channels that you should focus on when it comes to creating and applying a successful set of off-page SEO strategies. Why Use G+? As a matter of fact, according to a Moz blog on how to use Google+ for SEO, Facebook and Twitter actually stop Google from accessing and utilizing a great percentage of their data. On the other hand, G+ doesn’t keep any secrets. This is only one good reason why you should work around the clock to boost your Google Plus optimization efforts as soon as possible. How to Make the Most of Google Plus in Less than 10 Minutes Obviously, workingaround the clock is a metaphor. According to the SEO experts from Moz, you don’t need to invest more than 10 minutes in your Google Plus optimization strategies on a daily basis. The key is to create healthy, productive habits that could soon become a part of your daily routine. In a matter of a few minutes you can: a) add a +1 button to your website, to encourage your visitors to recommend your posts on Google Search, while also distributing it on Google Plus. The good news is that the +1 button is 100% customizable, so you can change the load technique and the size of the button and make it meet your actual needs. b) comment, re-share and engage c) circle amazing people who share similar interest d) make it easier for influential individuals to circle you e) start a hangout or create an event Creating a Winning Strategy for Google Plus in 5 Easy Steps 1) Optimize Your Profile and Profit from Limitless Editing Power. Start by optimizing your Google Plus profile. This means that you have to complete all fields (profile image, website URL, business details and so on). All in all, your profile should be a mirror of your interests, capabilities, goals, vision, mission and purpose in business. Getting your Google Plus page verified by the mighty Google also helps, since it allows you to build credibility and trust. You should know that Google Plus allows you to erase and rewind. Unlike Facebook and Twitter, this platform offers you the chance to profit from limitless editing power. Therefore, you can go back to your old posts and fully edit them, anytime, anywhere. 2) Make Sure Your G Plus Title Tags Are Optimized. The very first sentence of your G plus posts becomes a part of your title tag; therefore it can impact your rankings and maximize your click-through rates. Opt for the most relevant keywords and note that the title is the first thing that people analyze before reading your post. Your title tags should be short (around 65-75 characters), compelling and concise. 3) Get in Touch with Influencers. Be sociable and always give people something to talk about. Make new connections. Add new people to your circle; ask other users to add you to their circle, share a post with a few influencers, tag them in a photo, mention them in posts, start meaningful conversations, invite them to an event and so on; just make sure you don’t cross the line. Strangers who are a tad too friendly on Google Plus are often cataloged as spammers and get banned till the end of times. 4) Count on a Killer Author Pic. Cyrus Shepard from Moz has conducted an experiment with his Google Plus profile pic. The results were amazing and predictable to some extent: in a world in which looks are extremely important, your profile pic says a lot about you and your competencies. A perfect (real), professional-looking picture of yourself taken in a very flattering light can boost your website traffic. 5) Stay Active. Whatever you do, do something. Inactivity is one of the capital sins when it comes to social media marketing strategies. You don’t want to be one of the many inactive users that have a Google Plus account, but refuse to put it to good use for one reason or another. Give your readers at least one good reason to use the 1 button. According to Business2Community, you can accomplish this goal by simply: Posting quality content on a regular basis Creating and updating content based on the needs, interests and expectations of your audience Connecting Google Plus to your website and all your social extensions Last, but definitely not least, don’t forget to connect your web content to your Google Plus profile via Google Authorship. This is the simplest method to reaffirm your authority, increase your influence and enable readers to identify your content in no time.

Google Plus to Overtake Facebook: Prediction or Fiction?

January 1, 2021March 12, 2014 by Adam Oakley

Marketers across the web are starting to ask a big question. Is Google Plus (G+) the future of social media? Opinions are split. Let’s begin by taking a look at what the facts say. In 2013, Social Media Today published an article starting that Google Plus (G+) was the “one (social media platform) to watch.” While Facebook and Twitter had already established themselves as “go to” social media brands, G+ appeared to be a wild card in the mix as sources across the Internet contemplated just what Google’s social media experiment would accomplish. Mashable pointed out that, according to research, although Google+ boasts 20 million users or more, they weren’t spending a lot of time on the site. Social Media Today went onto say, “It’s all well and good having masses of members, but it means nothing if they are hardly using the network.” The Google Plus To Facebook Comparison The question is: can we accurately compare Facebook to G+? It’s important to note that the G+ platform is different from the platforms of Facebook and Twitter. According to Social Media Today, the G+ platform is a “different type of platform, with a different target audience.” As such, a fine line exists between social media made for socializing and social media made for business. The biggest Google Plus benefits are for the business users because this is the target audience. It isn’t your typical feed, where you see what type of cookies your sister baked and when. It instead allows you to connect powerfully with a world that could return your ROI—customers, employees, colleagues and peers. AND friends. (We’ll put them last. Not really, but you get the idea!) Express Writers has seen a huge impact from Google Plus, and it’s the platform type that makes all the difference. We recently connected with Rand Fishkin in a Google Hangout. This wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the existence of G+. Will Google Plus overtake Facebook? One argument, extrapolated from the Social Media Today article we referenced at the outset, is that one cannot truly overtake the other because of the platform differences: Facebook is an avenue for joking with your customers and running competitions or giveaway. It’s a place to build a “cult following.” Twitter is prime real estate for getting personal and talking directly to your customers. G+ is a professional landscape, geared toward connecting businesses and professionals with each other, and opening the door to engaging with individuals outside of your usual social circles. It’s like comparing apples to oranges. But statistically, Google Plus just might have a shot at trumping Facebook. Facebook’s Response to a G+ Social Media Takeover Talk about Google’s social media experiment overtaking Facebook goes all the way back to 2010. Facebook published an interesting response to the question, “Are you worried Google will overtake Facebook?” In essence, Facebook pointed out that although Google had repeatedly attempted to build a viable social network, they were continually unsuccessful. However, since the publication of this response, we’ve seen Google Plus grow in leaps and bounds. As of June 2013, G+ turned 2 years old. And according to Marketing Land, G+ “has seen both solid growth and criticism during these years.” G+ managed to hit 135 million “in stream” users, and although it trails behind the well-established Facebook network, it is undeniably growing and growing substantially. G+ To Overtake Facebook by 2016? As Google Plus turned 2 years old, a new study hit with a shocking prediction. Although the two platforms can be dramatically different in terms of target audience and content, a new study predicts a G+ takeover of Facebook by 2016. According to Real Wire, sharing of online content by Google+ users “is set to surpass sharing by Facebook users by February 2016 according to a new US study from search and social analytics specialist, Searchmetrics.” According to the latest data published by eMarketer, Facebook is the most popular social network. Approximately 51 percent of global Internet users log into Facebook at least once per month. With 26 percent of Internet users’ worldwide, logging into G+, Google comes in second! There’s no doubt that with each passing year Google grows stronger and bigger. But is it enough to overtake the current social media giant? According to the case study reviewed by Real Wire, “Facebook is growing from its extremely large base to something larger, and is therefore slower.” Although the blue mega network is continually growing, which is remarkable, the “data shows Google+ can catch it if growth rates for sharing activity continue as they are.” As of 2013, “the absolute number of shares for Facebook was over 29 billion compared with just over 2 billion plus ones for Google+.” The News as Of 2014 In February of 2014, Hot Hardware published an update on Google Plus statistics, revealing that Google+ now has over 1 billion users and is building to overtake Facebook. Popular opinion has it that G+ is a ghost town, hardly frequented by members. Facebook, on the other hand, seems to be a constant buzz of activity. Just why do people think of Google Plus as a ghost town? It’s primarily due to the platform and target audience difference. For folks who prefer the lighthearted interaction of who’s baking what and when, Facebook will immediately appear much more active than G+. But for businesses and professionals, G+ is bustling with professional activity promoting growth and connectivity with allies and the competition. As of February 2014, Google Plus houses over 1 billion registered users. Facebook has 1.19 billion. Says Hot Hardware, “It’s true that Google+’s stats are somewhat artificially inflated due to Google integrating accounts for its various services. However, Courtney-Brown [at SiteProNews] says over 540 million Google+ users visit their profiles every month to share photos, update their statuses, post comments, and more. And that +1 button? It’s being clicked over 5 billion times a day across the web.” Many of G+’s … Read more

A Guide To Google+ The Stats, Beginner Terms, and Keys for Success

January 1, 2021February 1, 2014 by Adam Oakley

We’ve shared this stat before, but it bears repeating. A Moz blog on Google Plus reported that “after Page Authority, a URL’s number of Google +1s is more highly correlated with search rankings than any other factor.” Translation: Your business needs to get social on Google+. Now. As if you needed more numbers and facts to convince you of this social network’s power after that statement, we gathered a few anyway. A Closer Look at Google+: The Numbers, the Demographics & the Unique Experience The Power in Numbers As of mid-2013, Business Insider revealed that Google+ had overtaken Twitter as the second most-used social media platform with “359 million active users.” Ignore the naysayers claiming Google+ is defunct. While it can’t quite boast Facebook’s billion, that’s quite a few users, folks. The Personality & The Action Demographics are always an important factor when deciding which social media platforms to really spend your marketing time on. And yes, as you recall, our advice is overwhelmingly, “Go for it!” when it comes to Google+. But we wanted to offer you a closer look at the type of people who help make up that 359 million-strong active community. Because it is also always important to know your audience, too. Google+ users are: predominantly male, with the menfolk making up 68% of the community interested in more professional or tech-centered industries mature but hip with an average age of ripe old 28 What are their primary social actions? Sharing both longer, text-rich posts and shorter status updates Sharing visually engaging posts like pictures and videos Good news side note: if you’ve been following our advice to create killer content, you and your authoritative, industry-specific posts will fit right in. One more thing, how do Google+ fans describe the experience? In his second installment of his three-post series on Getting Around Google+, JR Raphael, Computer World contributing editor, describes the platform like this, Google+ “is a thriving and active community… who regularly comment on posts, follow links and reshare material — a presence that can be valuable both for personal and professional interaction.” Business Insider caught up with photographer Trey Ratcliff, who has claimed nearly five million followers with his picture-showcasing profile. Similarly, the Google+ pro states, “It’s nice to pop into Google+ to discover new things. Facebook is pretty good, but it’s harder to discover new people or have more in-depth discussions around passions.” Bottom Line Google+ has a captive audience in the millions Google+ users are educated and ready to discuss niche topics Google+ is great for business because it is less about high school sweethearts and your great aunt’s cats than great content. You don’t have to know everyone in your circles. That’s the beauty. In the end, Google+ is really about meeting people with common interests and having in-depth discussions. Google+ 101: Important Terms Ok, you know about the users, their behaviors, and their experience. You have everything you need to know to jump in? Right? Ok. If you’re unsure about how to get started, connect with the right people, and optimize your posts and profiles, we’re here to help with your Google+ success. First things first, let’s define a few terms: Stream: This is your Google+ homepage. Once you start connecting with folks – this is where you can go to see and interact with all the status updates and posts of the people you follow. Don’t worry, if you’ve used another social platform before, the stream’s functionality should feel pretty intuitive. Just start +1-ing your favorite content. Location Page: With all the same features as a Google+ company page, the location page option is great for building local business. After you complete the necessary verification of your location via postcard or phone, and you’re ready to reap the benefits of Google+ with the added bonus of location-based marketing. Creating your local Google+ page is a great way to find and network with people in your community. You’ll also have access to the Google+ insights feature. Using this awesome tool, you’ll be able to see how many times your business came up in a local search, as well as how many comments and +1s your posts have received. Circle: This is where Google+ gets interesting. Circles give you a way to network strategically. How? By allowing you to organize the people you follow and the people who follow you into different groups. This unique arrangement allows you to pick and choose which groups — circles — you want to share certain content with. Let’s break it down with an example, shall we? You’re a computer repair shop owner. Congratulations! When you created a Google+ business page, you also created four default circles: Team Members: You would add all of your repairmen, customer service reps and admin support staff to this circle. If you have any benefit updates, inclement weather announcements, or Christmas party details, you could share it here without cluttering your customer-focused content. VIPs: If you want to listen closely to a tight knit group of top customers and colleagues, this would be the circle. We love how this group should also allow you to respond to any requests or complaints quickly and personally. Customers: Collect customers here and share quality content to build your computer-repair authority. You can tap into the location-based marketing trend by creating separate circles of customers based on their neighborhood, state, or city. Following: This is a general circle where you can group people who you don’t know, but who post interesting, industry-related content. In your case, you may want to rename this circle “Mac Experts” and create other similar circles like “Microsoft Gurus,” “Dell Repair” and more. Caveat: If you share something with a specific circle, it will not show up in search engine results. You have to share publicly for full search engine benefits. Extended Circles: Extended Circles are great because they get your content to people you aren’t directly … Read more

10 of the Best Social Media Writing Tips

December 31, 2020April 20, 2013 by Adam Oakley

Social media is all around us. What started out as a way for college students to stay connected with one another has now consumed the business world. Most businesses that have an online presence typically have at least one social media profile, and an expert to help them with their social media writing. Social media has opened the door for many businesses to connect to a wider audience. So naturally web writing, when it comes to social media, needs to be specific. Social media encompasses a wide variety of networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and more. Social media is an extension of your overall communication strategy. Social Media Writing 101: 10 Tips for Best Results In order to effectively write for social media you need to keep in mind the following ten tips: 1. Know and Understand Your Target Audience In order to do social media writing effectively, you need to have a clear understanding of who your target audience is. It does you no good to write about hair care products in your posts if your audience is members of the construction field. 2. Know Your Objective What do you want to achieve with your social media posts? What is the main point you want your audience to know? When your objective is clear; your writing can be more focused 3. Write Using Plain Language Sometimes, in writing, it is easy to go off on a tangent and write what is clearly playing in your head. The problem is that when you write in that manner, your audience may not have a clue what you’re talking about. You want to write in plain language that gets your point across but is also easily understandable. Never use jargon or slang 4. Talk In An Active Voice. Writing in an active voice means you’re taking control of the conversation. The verbs you use are the action. Example: This supplement took our client to the next level in her quest for health. The word “took” is the active word. It shows the action 5. Keep Your Messages Short Social media is about getting the facts in a short and simple way. Remember, with social media you don’t want to write a novel. Keeping it short is also going to cause you to be more specific about what you say. Because the posts, tweets, etc. are short, you have to get to the main point and fast 6. Go Sparingly When It Comes to Acronyms Remember, people may not know an acronym right away. It is recommended that you use them sparingly. If you have to use an acronym, be sure to spell out what it stands for “before” the acronym itself. Even if an acronym may seem obvious to you, it may not be so obvious to someone else. 7. Numbers Can Help Make Your Point Clear Numbers can often get to the point for you. However, you need to use them in the right way. So instead of saying “25% of the people” say something like “1 in 4 people”. People tend to relate more to number when they make content easy to understand. 8. Focus On The Positives It’s easy to point out why someone shouldn’t do something. You get more from your message and your readers, however, by focusing on the positives of anything. 9. Encourage Your Readers With A Call To Action A call to action gets your readers to do something. Whether it’s clicking on a link or making a change in their life; get them to act. 10. Make the Content Relevant and Relatable People read and respond to what they feel relates to them and their life. If they can relate to it; make a connection with your post, than you are ahead of the game. By utilizing these ten tips, your social media writing will be more effective, grab your reader’s attention and get them to act upon it. Social media is about being sociable. So make sure your writing reaches your audience the way you intended it to. Use these tips and you’ll be on your way to social media success. Got great social media? If you need help, we offer managed social media packages. Check it out in the Content Shop.