I know, I know; if you’re like me, when you saw the first mention of Google+ for Business you probably thought, “really, another social network?” The truth is, over time it has become clear that Google+ is an essential part of your online marketing strategy. Why? Even if your audience isn’t active on the network, it’s smart to have a profile and be active on there because Google now pulls Google+ content into their search results.
That’s right: if done right, getting active on Google+ will increase your SEO rankings. Google+ profiles are most often pulled into the “Related People and Pages” section of the “Search Plus Your World” feature on Google+. They can also be pulled up in general Google searches.
Tips to maximize your SEO benefits by using Google+:
- To get started, set up a Page instead of a Profile for your business. Pages often rank higher than individuals’ Profiles. This is even true for Profiles with thousands and thousands of followers. Google requires, though, that you create a user Profile for whoever is managing your Page.
- Stay active by posting fresh content regularly. Google+ profiles that haven’t had activity within three days of a search, don’t populate in results.
- Recruit “+1”s, Google’s version of ‘liking’ a piece of content. The more +1s you have, the higher you’ll be ranked. These are more important than comments and re-shares.
- Grow your following by joining other circles and following others. The more followers you have, the higher the likelihood you will show up in search results.
- If you know your SEO key words you use to bring users from a search to your page, include them in one or more of the following sections of your Profile: Introduction, Employment, Education or Places. It is useful to put your top-choice keyword in a few of these fields.
Because Google+ is new, the best practices within the network are still being defined. I recommend you keep an eye out for news and tips on using the platform as it grows. Follow us on Twitter @ChannelMaven for tips on Google+, other social networks, and other marketing & channel news.
Have you used Google+ yet? What do you think of it?