Rebekah Richards
If you’re like many people online, you have a love/hate relationship with Google+.
On one hand, you might not be a huge fan of the platform because it’s another social network to manage. On the flipside, Google is the top player in the search engine world. Any time you and your business can do something to get into Google’s good graces, it’s welcome.
It’s the latter that makes it so surprising that Google+ isn’t used as well loved as it should be by most businesses.
Is Google+ Really Worth Your Time?
Believe it or not, Google+ is the third most popular social network in the world. It’s followed just after Facebook and Twitter. That’s probably because its namesake has so much power over business’s success online.
Google owns Google+ so naturally it wants you to use the social network to expand your online presence.
Up until a few months ago, Google enticed content producers and business owners to use Google Authorship as a way to stand out in search results. It has since nixed that idea and now encourages websites to use Rich Snippets and Structured Data.
There’s a lot to keep up with when it comes to Google, but no matter what you use, one thing is sure: Having a Google+ presence will boost your search engine rankings.
Google Plus SEO Strategy
Here’s how to get your Google Plus presence up and running so that you can increase your spot in search results.
- Set up your profile
This might seem like a no-brainer, and it is. Creating your profile is the first step toward boosting your rankings.
Here’s why it’s worth mentioning though.
It’s not enough to just create your personal profile. You’ll also want to create a profile for your business. If you produce a lot of content – blogs, videos, or audio snippets – having both a personal and a business profile is an excellent idea.
- Complete your profile.
Be warned – this will take some time. That’s because Google+ profiles are extensive. This profile is used for all Google products. It’s worth the effort.
Fill out both your personal and your business profile as thoroughly as possible. These pages will act as miniature websites online for your company and your personal presence, so they’re important to complete.
- Get active.
Start by creating segments or circles. Then, add people that are relevant to each one. You might have a customer circle, vendor circle, or industry circle.
Explore communities too. There are many active members of Google+ in smaller niche communities. Getting involved with these groups online could open up new doors for your business.
At the very least, post content on Google+ consistently. There’s a far greater potential for your content published on Google+ to appear in search engine results than content published on other social networks. That’s just the nature of the Google beast.
Google’s top brass has said that your participation on Google+ is part of what it considers when ranking your website on search results. In other words, if you ignore Google+, Google will ignore you. – Joan Stewart, PublicityHound.com
- Add Google+ to Your Website.
Google wants to know that what you’re publishing is relevant, valuable, and interesting. Make it easier for your website visitors to share your posts on Google+ by adding a button to your website. Even though Google vehemently denies that the number of +1s correlate with a page’s ranking, other studies show the opposite.
Err on the side of caution and add the button to drive more +1s.
Ready, Set, Start!
High search engine rankings are essential to your inbound marketing success. The sooner you set up your Google+ profile, the earlier Google can begin indexing you and your pages.
For more tips to drive customers to your pages and boost your campaigns, download our free report called, “How to Run an Inbound Marketing Campaign.” In it, you’ll find similar tips that’ll put your brand front and center in customer’s minds.
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