By Ruxandra Mindruta, Published November 12, 2014
With over 300 million in-stream active users, Google+ can be a powerful tool for boosting your online presence.
It can help improve SEO ranking, finding, and building relationships with influencers and it can strengthen your industry authority.
A study by Janrain indicates Google+ has continued to grow strong despite its late start (2011), whilst others have forecast Google+ will surpass Facebook by May 2016.
So why is Google+ the place to be?
- 22% online adults use Google+ on a monthly basis
- 42% use Google+ to interact with brands’ content
- 70% of top 100 brands are using Google+
In order to get better engagement rates, more traffic referrals and high numbers of followers, take a look at some of the key hints and tips worth bearing in mind if seeking to become a Google+ pro.
1/ Perfect your profile
Your profile and hovercard is the first impression and entry point for your audience.
Every element of your profile should reflect your brand identity and personality.
2/ Create and manage circles
A great way to get started is by searching for people who share your interests and adding them to your circles: start engaging with them and build on those relationships.
Also, deciding which are your main objectives on Google+ is essential. This can help you organise your circles (eg. create prospects, team members and customer circles for your business page).
3/ Get involved and be active
Go to the “Stream” tab to see what others are sharing and comment on numerous posts a day.
However, quantity isn’t everything. Make sure your comments add value to the discussion and illustrate your understanding and expertise on the subject.
Brief comments such as ‘Great post’ or ‘Thanks for sharing’ do not add much value to the conversation and once you start sending out dozens of these a day, they are going to lose their value.
4/ Join communities
Engaging in industry-related communities it’s a great way to meet new people, learn, and expand your brand’s reach.
Once you’ve identified and joined relevant communities, make it a priority to participate regularly.
Be sure to actively ask and answer questions, as well as share valuable content to fuel engagement.
5/ Share, share, and SHARE
Take a look at the suggestions below aimed to help you optimise your Google+ posts and encourage conversations around them.
The more you share to your Google+ profile or business pages, the more you will get your name out there.
However, it’s highly recommended to avoid being promotional and talking too much about your products and services.
Try to put a premium on your brand only in 20% of posts, whilst the rest of your content should be comprised of industry insights and both educational and entertaining posts.
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