Driving motivated consumer traffic to a well branded Google+ Business page, should be considered a new marketing priority, for small business owners and big brands; alike. Although both Facebook and Twitter may have their own unique appeal to marketers, an established Google+ profile and/or business page can reward business owners, with additional brand exposure in Google search results; as well as offer a free advocate for their brand building message.
Although eager to adopt the +1 button, most business owners are surprised to learn that simply performing the +1 action, will not automatically include their business’ page; in users’ circles. In order for users to receive your company’s branded content, Google+ members must add your business or organization to a circle; themselves. With that being said, if your motivation is to build an engaged and loyal Google+ audience (which it should be), it is important that you utilize your existing social media marketing assets; to encourage visits to your brand’s Google+ page. This means that it might be wise, to ask employees and partners to share the new branded page, with their circles of friends, fans and followers; to encourage other consumers to connect with your brand.
In addition to the word of mouse approach I mentioned above, here are 5 more tips for growing your Google+ followers, and encouraging users to add your brand’s page; to their circles:
- Place a link to your Google+ profile and/or business/brand page on your blog and website. This includes your WordPress or Blogger author profile, as well.
- Put a link to your Google+ profile and/or business/brand page from all forum and social media profiles, as well as your email signatures.
- Link to your Google+ profile and/or page, when you leave comments on blog post and articles… like this one.
- Add a Google+ badge to your website.
- Encourage the Audience to Use Direct Connect. Brands can now say to consumers: (for example) “search for +TWMG on Google,” and that action will take users directly to the brand’s Google+ page.
If businesses hope to enjoy the search, social media and brand building benefits of marketing with Google+, they must leverage their existing best practices, and use established social media and search engine marketing strategies/methods; to drive consumer traffic to their Google+ profile and posts. By partnering methods that have worked in the past, with incentives like Google+ hangouts, businesses and brands can create a brand and grow a Google+ following; that is active, loyal and engaged.
Thanks for the tips. Google+ is one social network that I really haven’t paid much attention to, but have started to get more involved with it. It seems the more and more webmasters have implemented the Google+ button to their sites ever since Google mentioned that it could have an impact on search results.
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You are absolutely correct. It wasn’t until there was mention that G+ MIGHT help search results, that people, businesses and brands, began running to Google+. Nevertheless, too many business owners and Internet marketing firms are still “sitting on the fence,” when it comes to marketing with Google+. Hopefully, these tips will encourage them to participate, and improve their social networking results; and over-all G+ experience.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
When it about social media networking, Google has too much work to do. I created a Google Fan Page for one of my websites, but I prefer the one from Facebook because it’s more useful at this moment. Maybe in a year or two Google Pages will help promote websites too, but right now it’s wasted time.
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Few would argue that Google has come along way since the days of Buzz. However, in terms of widespread adoption of their platform, they will need to move Facebook users (like yourself) out of their comfort zone; and into circles and hangouts.
Perhaps the most compelling reason to date, is the (unconfirmed) influence Google+ is having on Google search results. Nobody likes Buckley’s cough syrup, but we take it because it works. If Google+ can rocket your business or brand to the first page of Google search results, I bet a lot of businesses would gladly take a mouthful, of G+ medicine.
Thank you for the tips, Kristoffer. Cross-linking your G+ page to your website is just one step on the way to getting your G+ page verified by Google. Too bad you also need at least 1000 followers in order to be verified, which, in my opinion, is not very small business-friendly.
You might like to read my post on Google+ promotions http://myseocommunity.com/blog/seo/so-brand-promotions-are-banned-on-google-or-are-they/. I’d love some feeback on it
(dofollow)
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There are several ways to encourage Google, to make the connection between you and the content you author. I suggest that we use them all, until we can determine which are the most effective. However, interestingly enough, the notion that “you need at least a 1000 followers (circles),” is not entirely correct. I am only in a couple hundred (200+) circles and my author pic shows-up everywhere. Here’s an example using Daymond John business tips: http://www.google.com/search?q=daymond+john+business+tips&pws=0.
I suppose that this just adds more questions though…
You’re absolutely right, we should use all the ways available at the moment. I just wanted to point out that a solid number of followers is needed in order to get your G+ Page verified by Google. Here’s the official list of requirements: http://support.google.com/plus/bin/request.py?contact_type=extended_verification. Fortunately, you don’t need 1000 people to circle your G+ Profile in order to implement “rel=author”.
Thank you for sharing the official list of requirements (http://support.google.com/plus/bin/request.py?contact_type=extended_verification). It’s a great checklist and recommended reading.
Thank you for these tips, very helpful
https://plus.google.com/111921828523360792631
In that case here’s my Google+ site