Why should your business be on Google+?

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Why should your business be on Google+?

What is Google+?

Launched in June 2011 by Google, it was positioned as a real challenger to Facebook and a simple extension to Google, but it wasn’t really taken seriously. Similarly to Facebook, you post content and status updates, but you can follow anyone, you don’t need to send or accept a friend request. It took a year for us to see it catch up with Facebook, in terms of sharing buttons and the +1 button, but now they appear right next to each other.

When signing up to Google+, you don’t just get access to Google+! You get a Google account, where you can talk, chat, share, schedule, organise, collaborate, discover and create using one single log in but having access to the multitude of Google products. Or if you have a Google account already you just need to add on Google+, using the same details.

Getting Started?

It couldn’t be any easier to sign up. If you have Google account, (which most of us do) within a couple of clicks you are ready to set up your profile. The structure is simple to understand but what does Google+ really offer? It comprises of circles, hangouts, pages and ripples. Letting users create personal connections and organise those connections by group of identities. You can share as much or as little as you want, by selecting who you share with and who you follow. The main features are:

• Google+ Circles, create your own circles to organise your friends, acquaintances, family, and work colleagues.
• Google+ Pages, if you are looking for the latest information on products from your favourite companies, brands or other groups of interest.
• Hangouts, connect with those in your circles by having a video or audio conference.
• Ripples, are an interactive graphic of shares of any of your public posts, it lets you see roughly how your post has been shared.

So why should your business be on Google+?

Google announced in the first 6 months, over a million brand pages were created. Recent statistics show that this is growing, so why should you be on Goolge+?

• Get found! We all know how important Google search is, and Google+ is integrated into these results, as well as Google Local & Google Maps. Maintaining your Google+ Page will add valuable content to these results. Google even indexes your updates directly in search results, so think about what you post.
• Create a profile for your experts. Google+ profiles can be linked to website and blog content. Not only does this give your company a face, but these posts really stand out and have a higher click through rate.
• Get closer to your customers. Google+ lets you connect with your customers and even have a Hangout session with them. Find out directly from your customers what they are thinking and engage with your customers in a meaningful way.

Your business can use Google+ to get noticed socially and enhance how you are currently connecting with your customers.