“Once you have a public Google+ profile it becomes your online identity. It is important that you make a ‘digital brand’ that you are proud of.”
Google+ is Google’s social media platform and is the second largest social media network. Attendees of the Google+ for Small Business webinar learned all they needed to know about the social networking site and its potential as a marketing platform. Webinar speaker Melinda Samson, owner of Click-Winning Content, provided a clever and informative guide for business owners looking to utilise Google+ as part of a social media strategy. Apart from the usual benefits of social media as a marketing tool, Google+ is particularly appealing for businesses because it attracts web traffic from Google. Attendees left the webinar session fully equipped with the skills to set up both personal and professional pages, create engaging posts and manage unique features like Circles and Communities.
General features
When compared to other social networking sites, Google+ is ahead of the curve. The site allows for high-quality visual content and there is no in-stream advertising. Although the experience of Google+ is most comparable to Facebook, Google+ is also similar to Twitter as it allows you to add anyone to your Circles. By using Circles and Communities, you can pick and choose who you receive updates from. These features mean that it is easy to control the connections you make.
Features for businesses
Most importantly for businesses, Google+ improves your organic search results. The personalised search results mean you have an avatar image and a by-line beside any Google+ posts. Another important feature is the Google My Business component, meaning your business will show up on Google Maps. Google+ is best conceptualised as a social layer extending across all Google platforms. Once a profile is created, it appears consistently across all Google products and acts like a “digital brand.” Melinda Samson makes a convincing case for Google+ as a social media platform for small businesses. Visit Melinda’s website for more Google+ training.
