If you’ve heard of the internet, you’re probably aware that Google is the planet’s largest Search Engine. As of June 2018, Google makes up around 68% of the global Search Engine pie.
Ease of use, search efficiency, and relevance of results – these are the prime reasons people use Google every single day to search for anything and everything. Google has been relentless in its efforts to keep its services as user-friendly as possible. Away from search, Google has been massively successful in growing its other products and services.
One of Google’s less celebrated offerings has been Google Plus. Despite the fact that it hasn’t become the genuine competitor to the social giants (think Facebook or Twitter) that Google may have hoped, the truth is that Google Plus can still be used to give your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) an all-important little boost.
GOOGLE PLUS AND SEO
What differentiates Google Plus from the better-known Social Media alternatives is the manner in which it can be used for an edge when it comes to Search Engine Optimisation.
If you’re a Business Owner and want more of those people who search Online to discover your products and services, you need to be getting serious about your SEO. You might have the best products or pricing out there, but if potential Customers can’t find you Online, you’re not going to get the growth you want.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE ON GOOGLE PLUS
Even if your potential Customers don’t currently have a Google Plus account, your activity on the network can boost your Search Engine results for the billions of regular searches made through Google search. One of the primary benefits of regularly updating a Google Plus account for your Business is that all content posted there gets indexed immediately.
One of the drawbacks of SEO is that it can obviously be a little slow for major Search Engines to reflect small - but important - changes you’ve made to your Site. Smart Business Owners look at Google Plus as their way around this inconvenience.
Another small but handy benefit of establishing a Google Plus account is that if you’re using Gmail, your account will get a free plug with every Email you send. Emails sent from an address linked to a Google Plus account (and this is pretty easy to do) will effectively show your Business card on every Email you send out. The Google Plus link is a way bigger attention trap than your classic signature as it contains photographs, dynamic information, anda couple of contact options. Get Google Plus and you’ll be promoting your Business even more everytime you send an Email.
HOW TO JOIN GOOGLE PLUS
We’ll be honest with you: it’s ridiculously easy. All you need to do is open a Gmail account (and you might well already have one). Once you have opened your Gmail, just type plus.google.com into your browser and follow the prompts. If, on the other hand, you already have a personal account or you have just registered for a new one, you can create a Google Plus page for your Business at this link https://plus.google.com/pages/create.
Your personal Google Plus account will become the Owner of your Google+ Business page and from there, you can build your Business profile by supplying basic information such as the name of your Business, your location, contact details, and so on and so forth. You can upload profile and cover photos, and you can also provide a link to your Website (if you have one). In addition, you have to choose a specific category for your Business so it can easily be seen by potential Customers. Make sure you’re accurate with your listings, you don’t want to be the only coffee shop showing up underneath the restaurant listings.
GET HELP IF YOU’RE UNSURE
There’s no getting around the fact that Google Plus hasn’t become the behemoth Google hoped it would when they set it up to compete with Facebook. However, if leveraged properly, it can do wonders for your SEO.
If you’re still a little confused or just want to talk through the benefits of putting a little time and effort into Google Plus, then give us a call. Small Business Success is what excites us, we’d love to help.