Although Google+ is still in its infancy, it may be wise to hop on the bandwagon before you miss opportunities.
It is the fastest growing social networking site, having attracted 20 million users within the first 3 weeks of it being launched, and since then has grown to 540 million monthly active users – an audience your business cannot ignore.
So how can you use the features of google+ to your advantage?
Segment with circles
Circles is used by Google+ to help group people together. You can create as many circles as you want and name them accordingly to the different demographics your business targets. This effectively divides up your audience enabling you to advertise to a specific target market. For instance, if you’re having a sale on men’s bow ties, you can send a message only to men (if that is a chosen circle) and create a message which appeals to them.
However it must be noted that your business page cannot place someone in a circle until they have added the page, so therefore it is very important to make your page enticing for people to follow, with a lively stream of relevant posts and frequent conversations for them to engage with.
+1 Button
Similar to Facebook’s Like button, Google+ has a ‘+1’ button to allow people to recommend sites and parts of sites they found insightful, amusing or just wanted to share amongst their friends. There is positive correlation between the amount of +1s a website has and its Google search ranking.
So to bump yourself up on Google’s organic search list, get posting and commenting with relevant information to attract and entice users to press the +1 button on your page – give them a +1 and often they will reciprocate.
Google Authorship
Once you link your Google+ profile with other content you have written and published, that content is given a Google authorship mark-up. This means that when it is searched in Google, the result will display your Google+ profile picture. Chances are users will be drawn to the search result displaying your picture – even if it isn’t the number 1 result.
Increasing traffic to your website and also potentially leading to users adding you to their Google+ circles so they can comment on your posts or further enquire on your business.
Integration with other platforms
Linking with your other social media profiles such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin etc. helps to boost your google authority and essentially opens up more routes for potential consumers to reach your website.
Get face-to-face with consumers
Hangouts are a unique feature which allow a free live video stream of up to 10 people. You can stream and record conversations for playback later using Hangouts On Air.
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Question and Answer
Through a live question and answer session, you can engage and inform consumers in a unique and fun way. Also finding out what they love and what they think you can improve upon, whilst generating further interest and stimulating conversation.
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Crowdsourcing
Another way Google+ Hangouts can be utilised is through crowdsourcing, as it is an ideal forum to share ideas for new products, services, and even your own knowledge to a wider audience. Providing expert and valuable advice to potential customers often leads them to becoming actual customers. A community of users discussing their interest in your product and the experience they have had using it could potentially be formed. This will most certainly increase the number of users adding your business page.
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Behind the scenes
Help make customers feel like they are apart of your business and get the full experience by pulling back the curtains, show them what happens behind the scenes and provide them with more information about how your company runs.
So jump on the bandwagon and start building relationships now – while you can still be easily heard.
By Lucy Bone