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 major part of the functioning of other services. All the heavy lifting in terms of code is already complete. If that’s the case then there really is no reason to have a couple thousand more programmers and web analysts looking through the code to spot bugs that aren’t there. In my mind, having a small but dedicated bug-fix team is where Google sees it at with this new iteration of Google+. This means that more people will be shunted out of the G+ workforce and into other parts of the Googleplex to work on new ideas. To many it might look like Google’s downsizing their G+ department even further and it will probably spawn another round of “G+ is dead” articles from many who take such movement at face value. I think that Google is smarter than most tech gurus give them credit for and they’ve still got a ton of surprises up their voluminous sleeves.
Google+ Will Change Its Focus. Yes, we know that Google+ is a social media platform: it works through sharing things you like with your friends in order to stimulate discussion and drive traffic. But you ever wonder why there wasn’t a massive influx of advertising and marketing on G+ as there was on Facebook and Twitter? Social media networks are like the sugar to the flies of advertising and an active social media network means that there is more chance for a user to see things that they are more likely to click on based on their already-saved user preferences. It boils down internet marketing to a very concentrated bombardment of a target audience with a number of ads that focus on the things that said demographic would like to see. Facebook and Twitter do it by promoting ads by companies that pay them either per-click or per-conversion. With Google’s sheer amount of users, it can provide a formidable opponent to other social media giants if it opened its doors to internet marketers and allowed them to run amok, targeting their users and farming the Google servers for information that would result in them increasing the amount of conversions they get through their advertising. To date, there are not many add-ons for social media advertisers on G+ and many companies overlook G+ as a location for users simply because Google has made it difficult to target them. It is possible that in the coming year, Google will merge their AdSense data with G+ to provide a viable marketing platform to companies so that they can start spreading their brand awareness across G+. The advantage Google has over its competitors here is that Google’s information on a user is not just limited to their G+ information but on any information that they exchange through Google services. Although it could save G+ it could mean a serious challenge to Google’s “Don’t Be Evil” motto.
Google+ Will See Some Major Version Changes. G+ as it is right now is clunky. It’s got an old-school vibe that just isn’t doing it in this day and age. If it wants to survive it will have to change. In the coming year I can see G+ having a complete overhaul in the looks department and make a push towards a sleeker interface with better options for sharing than what currently exists. Based on what we know about Google’s current development of G+, there are rumors circulating that a brand new version of G+ is in the works. In keeping with the previous prediction, this new version of G+ will incorporate new methods of advertising that caters to pages and companies to expose them to users that would be best inclined to purchase their products or services. It’s likely that Google will have researched the things that Facebook and Twitter did before in order to curb abuse of their resources and implement these in the new version as well. Google has always been big on personalization and by giving users the option of a fully customizable interface they allow their users to express themselves. With the uproar Facebook has with its interface changes (that happen frequently enough), G+ can give users the option of keeping a layout scheme even though the actual interface may change technically. It’s very likely that this single adaptation would see more users moving away from Facebook and towards G+ in the coming year.
There is Likely to be a Major Adoption of G+ in the Coming Year. This prediction certainly goes out on a limb. However, if Google does decide to change the direction that G+ is currently going in, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility. Google+ in its current form is a social media failure: this much is true. However, just because it’s a failure now, doesn’t mean that it has to remain a failure for as long as it exists. Google’s integration of G+ into its core system means that Google sees some potential in the platform. The platform has access to untold resources, vast volumes of users and information that would be any internet marketer’s dream to have. The power of G+ lies in the things it can do and the people it can influence, but in order to have any power at all, people need to start using it more. And that’s where this prediction comes in. If Google has hopes of making G+ into a viable platform for social interaction (which is where turning a profit on G+ lies) then they need to figure out how to market G+ properly. Clearly, giving it the title of “Facebook-Killer” won’t work. They need to go back to basics and redesign the interface, then subject it to rigorous user testing in order to perfect their user interface problems. They need to find some way to make G+ more attractive. But, when you come right down to it, isn’t that the most important thing that they have to do?
Moving Forward: The Future of Google+
Google’s obsession with G+ can end badly if they just decide to let it fester. It’s not so deeply integrated into Google’s system that it can’t be ripped out. Doing so would mean admitting defeat and Google doesn’t admit defeat lightly. There are far too many things Google can to salvage the situation but the most important thing that it needs to do is to make it viable for the average user. They need to pull a regular user and give him something that he doesn’t only enjoy using but looks forward to logging on to. Facebook managed to do this, and so did Twitter, but they rely heavily upon the presence of popular people. In anything that runs on social interaction as a foundation, popular people are the highest valued currency. It’s about time G+ started investing in some of those. Of course, these predictions only apply if Google’s aiming to save the slowly shambling corpse of G+ by giving it a makeover.
The question remains: If G+ was more popular, could you see yourself using it?
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.
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.
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 active users are younger, which makes the network an important resource if your business is looking to target the teen and young adult demographics. Google Plus is also highly mobile with 26 percent of mobile users accessing G+ for social reasons from their mobile devices, according Courtney-Brown.
Hot Hardware concludes that “like Facebook, Google+ is what you make of it.” And this is the hard truth of ALL social media platforms. They are only as useful as you make them, and you will only get out as much as you put in. With that in mind, how should you use G+?
How to Best Use G+
Google Plus can be overwhelming to use. The site itself is huge, and it seems like features are being added before you have a chance to master what’s already there—hey, it’s Google, what did we expect? Google is always innovating, and G+ is no exception. So, just how can you best use this social media platform? First, let’s establish its primary uses:
To meet new people
To connect with prospective customers
To deepen relationships with your consumers
Now, let’s talk about how you can use G+ productively. Lucky us, there are a lot of “geeks” out there who have discovered the ins and outs of this platform. And their efforts have resulted in this list of the top 10 tips for getting the most out of Google Plus:
1. Tag people. One of the best ways to get noticed on G+ is to tag people. Tagging can accomplish two things. First, it ensures the person tagged sees your post. Second, it can prompt them to interact with you. Every time you tag a person, they receive a notification (unless they’ve disabled notifications). Tagging is a prime means of being seen.
2. Set up Google Authorship. This is also known as using the “rel=author tag” on your blog. Thanks to Google Authorship, you will see your photo beside your published content in Google search results. Not only does this feature mesh perfectly with Google+, but it’s also extremely important for search engine optimization. You should use the rel=author tag on your guest posts as well.
3. Post on Community pages. This is a tip easily overlooked by a lot of G+ users. According to Blog Tyrant tips on Google+ “You don’t get a lot of traction from just posting ‘public’ unless you already have a lot of followers.” The trick to gaining traction is posting valuable content in relevant communities. Communities are populated by people who have topic specific interests. By posting valuable content to these communities, you can tap into an audience you might otherwise have not realized existed.
4. Cross post to G+. If a topic is trending as popular on Facebook and Twitter, cross post it to your G+ account for those followers who are exclusive to your Google Plus network. Don’t cross post everything, though. You’ll likely have some diehard followers who follow you across all three networks, and they won’t want to see the same content three times over all of the time. Instead, pick and choose the really prime content to cross post.
5. Use Google+ Events to launch products. Google+ Events will automatically e-mail your social circles about a scheduled launch while simultaneously adding the event to any user’s calendar who accepts the event invitation.
6. Use G+ to write long messages, and then tweet the link via Twitter. One of the most irritating things to most people is the character limit instituted by Twitter. One workaround is to use G+ to write a long message, and then tweet the link out via your Twitter account. Not only does this allow you to share more, but it lets your Twitter following know that you’re actively using Google Plus.
7. Incorporate keywords. In 2014, keyword optimization has seen some massive evolution in SEO. But keywords still have a place on G+. You can use keywords in your profile page, which is uniquely effective should you want to be associated with them for either your business or blog.
8. Use images. Images are a great way to generate greater attention. Some of the “geeks” recommend uploading the image separately because it comes up bigger and generates more attention. Create a new title, and subsequently tag the person from the original post for maximum exposure.
9. Use bold and italic text styles. One of the exciting features that sets Google Plus apart from other social media networks is the capability of posting with bold, italic and strike through text. These styles can make your posts stand out while also making them impactful. Take advantage of these capabilities. This image from Blog Tyrant shows you how:
10. Emphasize G+ on your website or blog. G+ is a massively growing social media platform, but a lot of people don’t realize just who is using it! You can show you’re actively using it by emphasizing it on your website or blog. Do this by displaying the +1 button on your posts and pages, and actively promoting your G+ profile link.
The Future of G+
Will G+ overtake Facebook? If we’re looking at sheer numbers, it’s very possibly that by 2016 (or earlier), G+ will statistically overtake the mega social network of Facebook. Fast growth is certainly in Google’s favor, and the resources at this companies disposal makes almost any goal they decide to set attainable.
Is G+ the future of social media? According to QUARTZ, “Google sincerely thinks that Google+ is the future of Google.” Unlike other social media platforms, Google isn’t solely dependent on social media to grow. Says QUARTZ, “Google is turning into a platform on which the rest of Google’s web service are evolving—something that has the effect of making people use Google+ by default.”
G+ is gearing up to be HUGE. QUARTZ reports that “in a revealing interview with the Indian business newspaper Mint, Steve Grove, a Google+ exec who inks deals with content providers and influential figures, makes it clear that this is just the beginning. Grove tells Mint that ‘the reason for that is that Google+ is kind of like the next version of Google’.”
There is no doubt that the future will be an adventurous battle for control of the number one spot in social media. Will Google Plus overtake Facebook and claim the spot? Time will tell.
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 connected with you through one of your own circles. So, say you share a “How To Debug Your Computer” infographic with your extended circles. Suddenly, people in your circles circles’ may see the content. Exciting, no? While this blurb has a ponderous amount of the word “circle,” rest assured that the further reach your content has the better. So, thank you, Google+!
+1s: This powerful social action is similar to a Facebook Like. When someone +1s one of your posts, people in their circles will see it on their streams and in their Google+ search. As an added bonus, each +1 creates another link to your site, directly boosting your organic search results.
Hangouts: This feature is a great chance to facilitate a little long distance networking. This highly social option will allow you to video chat with up to 10 other users at a time. You can even record a Google+ hangout with a colleague, industry expert or VIP customer and share the conversation later.
For even more key Google+ terms, check out this great post.
Tips for Google+ Success
So how do you put this basic knowledge to the test? Here are 4 tips for starting Google+ for your business. 1. Create Your Perfect Profile:
Custom Information: Step 1; make sure your profile sounds like it was written by a human for human. Keywords, especially industry and location-specific ones, are encouraged, but as always don’t bog down meaning to get one too many keywords in there. It is also key to give your followers good insight into what you’re all about and to help you build your Google Authorship. So use a similar tone as your website. When people go from your Google+ page to your site, you want it to be as seamless a transition as possible.
Vanity URL: Put professional polish on your profile by claiming your custom Google+ URL. This savvy move will elevate your page above inactive users and keep your presence fresh. It will also give you a pretty link to share in emails and on other social media, which will lead to…more followers!
Visually Engaging: Make sure you follow all imagery guidelines for your profile and cover image. Remember to use an image (your logo, perhaps) that will instantly brand your business and build recognition for your readers.
Correct Information: If you go the location page route, make sure to put in the extra effort and verify your address, hours, and contact information.
Connected: Finally, linking your webpage to your Google+ page will help you quickly connect with customers, and it will help Google determine your site’s relevancy – thus boosting your search engine results. You can also take the time to link to your other social media profiles to give people even more ways to follow and connect with your business.
2. Switch up Your Posting Habits:
Fresh Posts: If you’re not currently updating your Google+ page a couple times a day, you are probably not harnessing the community’s full potential. So our first posting tip should be easy: start posting.
Longer-Form Posts: While jokes and quick status updates are always welcome, longer, information-rich posts are also popular on Google+. So, it’s time to play around with this type of content. If you’re ready, make sure to add source links, an image, and an interesting angle (like a how-to article, perhaps?) for the best results.
Bigger Pictures: In an article on how to grow your Google engagement,Social Media examiner shares a cool pro tip from Guy Kawasa. Kawasa, who boasts over 5 million Google+ followers, suggests deleting Google’s default thumbnail and then replacing it with your own larger screenshot. With a host of image tools built in, Google+ is a great place to play with your images to create the most compelling post possible.
3. Build Engagement:
Hashtags: This handy little punctuation mark isn’t just for Twitter. Google+ also uses hashtags to organize hot conversation topics. So add a hashtag to your post to get your content in there with other trending posts. Once people find your posts through your hashtag, BOOM, you’ve got another follower to interact with.
Tagging: Get an industry leader’s attention by tagging them in your post. With the simple addition of a “+” or “@” and then their name, you’re bringing someone else into the conversation. How very chatty of you.
Ask Questions: When posting your own content or commenting on someone else’s, ask questions to keep the conversation going. Again, with Google+’s more discussion-based audience, chances are, someone will weigh in.
Community: As Google+ so eloquently puts it, Communities are groups where you can “Talk about the stuff you’re into with people who love it too.” HubSpot calls these pages “gold mines for engaging, learning, and sharing helpful, relevant resources.” So join a few communities to find like-minded people out there. Here’s the list, browse away!
Change Your Perspective: In an interview with Search Engine Watch, wildly successful Google+ user and blogger Fraser Cain of Universe Today talks about how to create a Google following and says businesses should shift their focus from “How many followers can I get” to “What can I do to make Google+ better?” Some examples of how he and his team did just that:
○ Adding Something Fresh and Fun: To give their Google+ followers something fun to connect with within Google+, they host a live stargazing hangout so people can check out what’s in the night sky. Yes, this will eventually lead people to their site, but they are also taking the time — and the risk — to build something within the social media. How could you apply a similar idea to your industry?
○ Making Introductions: He also helps people get to know each other by sharing his science-centric circle with people he finds posting about science. So take the time to curate niche circles for your industry and share the love! Introducing people to quality content is kind. They will notice and be more willing to interact with you in the future.
Optimization Tips:
Google Badge: Help people connect with you on Google+ directly from your site or blog by adding a Google+ badge.
+1 Button: Make it easy for people to +1 your content directly from your post. Again, this will help boost your SERP. Maybe they should call them +:)s ?
The best way to achieve Google+ success is to get out there and try it. Remember, it’s not about who you know, it’s about what you’re interested in. Find groups of like-minded fans and colleagues and get social!
