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Home » The Famous Blog » Is Creating A Google+ Brand Page Worth Your Time?

Is Creating A Google+ Brand Page Worth Your Time?

December 30, 2011 - Last Modified: December 30, 2011 by Kostas Chiotis 1,264

Google Plus Pages

Social networking is quickly becoming one of the most popular platforms for business advertisement, because it is one of the most effective. Some businesses are eager to jump on every new network available. However, it can become a logistical nightmare to manage several social accounts; keeping them up-to-date, relevant, and effective.

Therefore, many are not eager at all to join yet another social network. So, is Google+ Pages worth your time?

Google+ Pages SEO Benefits

Anyone who has ever tried to SEO a website knows how much businesses need Google. That simple fact tops the list of reasons why businesses need a Google+ Page. It’s not just another social network – it’s social networking done Google style.

There has been no official information indicating that Google+ Pages will increase page rank, however that is the speculation of industry analysts. It is expected that the popularity of a business’s page will be factored into the page rank of the linked website – the more +1s the page have, the higher it will rank.

According to Search Engine Land’s Danny Sullivan, Google+ is already helping search engine rankings. Anyone who performs a Google search while signed into Google+ will see content from their friends rank higher in the search results. Sullivan’s independent tests have shown that this applies to businesses as well. Your website will come up higher on the searches of anyone in your Google circles.

Sullivan also says that in his test searches, Google provided enhanced content results for businesses he is connected to via Google+. Additionally they have made it easy for searchers looking for Google+ Pages. The + operator in a search term now searches for Google+ pages. The previous required content functionality was disabled some time ago.

Social Media Marketing

While the number one benefit to businesses using Google+ Pages seems to be the increase of search visibility, there remains the fact that it’s yet another social network. There has been much speculation about this network’s ability to compete with the social media giant Facebook.

According to social media expert Jeff Bullas, only 13% of US internet users use Google+. This number may be small in comparison to Facebook’s estimated 71.2%, however 13% of internet users is 13% of potential traffic to your website or blog – and the number continues to grow.

Google+ Pages Features

If you are experienced in social media marketing, many of the features in Google+ will seem familiar. The +1 button is very similar to Facebook’s like button, and posts on your page appear in a format much like Facebook’s wall. It allows commenting, link-sharing, and posting of media.

Circles in Business Pages

Contacts on Google+ are organized into circles. In the individual user version, the idea was to mimic real-world social circles such as friends, family, and co-workers. People can restrict posts and profile information to specific circles.

For business Pages this allows for targeted marketing. You can arrange your connections, for example, according to ‘sales associates’, ‘established customers’, and ‘prospects’. Pages are not allowed to add individual people to circles without that person first adding the Page or at least mentioning it. Although this eliminates the follow-back strategy of gaining connections, it ensures that your connections are only people with a valid interest in your business.

Google+ Hangouts

One rather unique feature of Google+ is hangouts. This is a group video chat, originally intended for friends to virtually hangout together online. This is one of the most promising features for business use. When beginning a hangout, you can invite anyone from your circles. Participants can invite people from their circles. Other users who see on their update stream that a friend is hanging out can click to join the hangout.

Google+ hangouts can offer an easy way to host live product demonstrations, lectures, or announcements. While all of these could be done via a webcam video feed posted to your website it would lack interactivity. With hangouts you can see and hear the reaction to your presentation.

This can also be used for unofficial focus groups, with a company representative chatting with product users about current offerings or new ideas. The best insights and often the best ideas come from actual users. Another way to take advantage of this feature is by inviting eager customers to hangout and discuss a new product launch, event or business opening. This helps build anticipation and interest.

So is it really worth it?

The bottom line is, as long as internet users continue flocking to new social networks, businesses need to do the same. The old adage ‘location, location, location’ still holds true in the virtual market. Businesses need to be wherever the customers are. In the current marketplace that is social networks – and no other network offers the SEO opportunities of Google+ Pages.

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Filed Under: Google Plus, Social Media

About Kostas Chiotis

Follow @irissignals

Kostas Chiotis is an economist and entrepreneur both in the online and offline world. You can find his blog at OpportunitiesPlanet.com where you will discover everything you need to know about blogging, freelancing, internet marketing, online opportunities and much more by subscribing to OpportunitiesPlanet.com RSS Feeds...

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{ 40 Responses }

  1. Steve Noriega says:
    Great article Kosta. I think many of us agreed a year ago when this was written that Google has not even came close to hitting it's full potential when it comes to the world of social networks. Now enters Google Communities which has already done fairly well since launched so again, we will wait and see but I'm sure there is much more to come.
    • Kostas says:
      Thanks for your comment Steve, especially for bloggers google+ can be a great weapon with the use of AuthorRank...
  2. jigar doshi says:
    thanks for detailed information :) but i guess as of now, everyone still relies on facebook and twitter.. google+ pages will take some time to lure people..
  3. Abhi Balani says:
    I made G+ page for my website but I am not using it so much. I know the importance of even +1 buttons, but thanks for detailed information of this.
    • Kostas says:
      Thanks for your comment Abhi...
  4. rahul says:
    I have heard a lots of complain from business owners that their fan base lives on facebook and twitter my question to them is how can you grow your fan base without boosting your seo?
    • Kostas says:
      Sure the masses use facebook and twitter but Google+ has huge potential and masses will certainly follow... Thanks for your comment rahul...
  5. Jamie Northrup says:
    Google + is a must for the SEO opportunities alone, as for the actual networking opportunities, right now they are limited, specially for niches that aren't tech related, but that will probably change down the line.
    • Kostas says:
      Hi Jamie, It's true that most people use facebook to stay in touch with friends and even network but it seems that Google is hungry to get a bigger piece of the market pie of social media and it certainly has the resources and power to make this happen...
  6. Mansi Bharat says:
    When i got an invitation from my friend to open Google+ account, i was not interested because i came to know you are the alone person and G+ is boring.I was with my friends on facebook, but i was wrong.After learning about G+ search engine benefits i created my page and using it, i am still addicted to facebook. Google+ has Wonderful Features from where we will get traffic.SEO market is already there on Google+ and we should be there. Thanks for Sharing.
    • Kostas says:
      Thanks for stopping by and leave a comment Mansi, there are a lot of potentials for Google+ especially with the new "Search, plus your world" of Google...
  7. John says:
    At this early stage, Google + hasn't fully tapped into its potential, but once it does and people really see the value this type of network has over others, it'll be really effective for marketing. I'm really hoping that Google + links will turn into a good way to develop higher page ranked sites. Good article.
    • Kostas Chiotis says:
      Hi John, Google+ has a lot of potentials to grow since everyone uses google, it just needs some time, thanks for your comment!
  8. Hooker says:
    I have thrown this questions around in my mind for a while now. My biggest audience is on Facebook, so I wonder how I can build another social media presence until it is for an intirely different business. I had the same problem with Twitter. Why bother if it's the same people? I am watching and waiting, seeing how Google+ progresses. Of course, if Facebook keeps alienating people with its constant updates and changes, it may be my next move.
    • Kostas Chiotis says:
      Hi, In my opinion you should have an account in all these 3 social networks, of course you could spend most of your time in the one that you believe is the best for you (in your case facebook) but without ignoring google+ and twitter, thanks for your comment...
  9. AstroGremlin says:
    Kostas, this is a sore spot for me since my G+ account was suspended due to me not using a real name. I guess I'm willing to try setting up a business page, but want to maintain my anonymity.
    • Kostas says:
      Hi, It's difficult to maintain your anonymity if you want to get results from your social networks since the number one factor that makes people click on your links and buy your products/services or join your email list etc. is trust, so you should not really afraid, you have nothing to lose...
  10. Kimberly Gauthier says:
    I created a Google+ page and then deleted it; I just didn't find it as useful as Facebook. Right now, I use Google+ for fun and Facebook is more professional (as professional as I can be as a casual blogger). I'm still waiting to see where Google is going to go; I love their platform but I'm not ready for a page :)
    • Kostas says:
      Hi Kimberly, You have nothing to lose by just having a Google+ Page so even if you don't like it (there are many people who expected much more from Google) you should not ignore it, thanks for your comment...
  11. Rachel says:
    I was wondering about this... we set up one as a placeholder. I guess I'll just wait to see how our customer base interacts.
  12. Michael says:
    Hi Kostas, Having to keep up with developments in the social media, including + Google, is infinitely time consuming. But of course I also create a profile of + Google. I believe everything else would be stupid. Whether it is worth the time, only time will tell. Thank you for an interesting article, and a happy New Year to you. Regards, Michael
    • Kostas says:
      Hi Michael, There are so many social networks and it is certainly difficult to maintain all of them (in a manual and professional way) but if you choose to ignore some of them Google+ should not be in that list... Thanks for your comment and I wish you a great 2012 full of success!
  13. Aadith Sasi says:
    Definetly yes it helps a lot!!As it also increases the PR.
    • Kostas says:
      Hi Aadith, No one knows for sure if it increases PR but it could certainly help you get more traffic from Google, thanks for your comment! Happy New Year!!!
  14. Dean Saliba says:
    I think it is definitely worth it. I have had my Google+ page for only a couple of months but I after I finish sorting out my Facebook page then my Google+ one is going to get some hardcore tinkering done to it. :)
  15. Dan Keller says:
    I think Google + is worth investing time in. It would make sense that Google will eventually incorporate +1s in the ranking of sites, if not doing so already. I have not jumped on some of the latest fads like Buzz or Amplify, but I thing this is the real deal and should not be ignored.
    • Kostas says:
      Hi Dan, No one can ignore Google so even thought many got disappointed from Google+ because it might not be as innovative as they believed it would be in the beginning, it certainly worth investing time in the social network of the most popular search engine on the web... Happy New Year!!!
  16. Anand says:
    I don't think it has any influence on page ranking. It just like the competitor of Facebook. That's all.
    • Kostas says:
      Hi Anand, It might not influence page rank (even thought no one knows for sure) but it certainly increases the possibilities that your pages will rank better when people who had added your brand page in their circles search for a relevant to your site term while they are signed in Google! Happy New Year!!!
  17. Justinn says:
    It's worth of it. Today I've read in a news that Google+ is having about 100 millions users now and by the mid of 2012, it's expecting to have about 300 millions users. So, my thought is, if we start building our presence their and in future hold a strong presence there with numerous friends and followers, at least we'll get a bunch of audience. And who knows when big G will change it's algorithm and start giving emphasize on +1. Then the huge community will work too. Also, I think if there was no effect of +1 on ranking, then why Google asks to +1 any website at the search result?
    • Kostas says:
      Hi Justinn, Actually it is well known that +1 does effect search results on google when a friend of someone who +1 a page search for a relevant key phrase... Happy New Year!!!
  18. Dave Lucas says:
    Even if you think don't need to, don't want to bother or will never have use for it, any toll/service like Google + and anything that can boost your web presence or SEO is a good idea. One rainy dark afternoon many years ago I joined a new service called "twitter." YEARS later when it caught fire, I forgot I had signed up and happily discovered that I already had my preferred nick "davelucas" on the microblogging/SMS service! JOIN things! Don't overload your blog or webiste with widgets or badges, but JOIN JOIN JOIN!! Peaceful Blessings in 2012! And: BLOG ON!
    • Kostas says:
      You are right Dave in order to keep in track with the latest trends and stay updated you should not ignore anything new (even though it has become tough for bloggers to manage all their social media accounts) and certainly ignoring Google is not an option! I wish you a wonderful new year Dave!
  19. Raj says:
    The biggest advantage of having G+ presence is the hangouts. Who gives video conference service for free? People need to identify more creative uses of G+ hangouts in order to spread their messages. Its potential has not been fully reaped yet.
    • Kostas says:
      Hi Raj, indeed hangouts is a great feature of G+, Google has a long history of offering services for free that otherwise would cost a lot of money, thanks for your comment!
  20. Chris says:
    Thanks for the article. As you say, it's quite simple. If the biggest search engine makes a social network, you get on it. It's simple a great way to sneak higher up on search results quickly. Even if it doesn't show immediate ROI, you have more time to adjust conversion rate on your own site down the line.
  21. Lyka Ricks says:
    This is very informative post! Google+ has Wonderful Features that we need to maximize its potential. The market is already there and we should be there also.
    • Kostas says:
      I am glad that you liked it Lyka, Happy New Year!
  22. Search Marketing Post says:
    Thanks for the post but I really like to see some numbers and evidence backing things up. The reason I say that is that most social media campaigns I have done for my current and previous employers haven't had good ROI. True they have built a community but I don't really know how some of these businesses justify a full time person or a team of full time social media people for their company. When it comes to sales and business, I think search still has the best ROI.
    • Kostas says:
      Hi, It's very difficult to measure the impact of social media campaigns in sales since it's not only the traffic that you get and how this traffic converts instead the biggest affect of social media marketing for businesses is in their reputation and brand awareness which can not be measured in a short term period! Happy New Year!!!

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