Is Google+ Really Worth Your Time?
With so many social networks around these days, and the big two of Facebook and Twitter dominating, do you really need to bother with Google+?
Many have argued that there is no need and that it is better to stick with the more established social networks. However, Google+ has a lot going for it, and you can enjoy many potential benefits of signing up. Here are some of the reasons you may want to spend some time on the platform.
Search Engine Benefits
One of the largest benefits of being on Google+ is that it can help your SEO – and especially your local SEO.
By signing up with Google My Business, you will get a presence on Google+ and Maps, and your business’s details can show up in local searches to provide you with more visibility.
In addition, your content on Google+ will be indexed immediately, and there is also the possibility that your recent posts will show up on the right side of the search results page. As you post more content, your presence becomes stronger, and this will help to improve your visibility in the search engines.
If you use hashtags for your posts, people can also search for hashtags directly in Google Search and see the related posts in the search engine.
Use Useful Tools Like HOA
HOA stands for Hangouts on Air, and it is a fantastic free tool that enables you to broadcast your business. For example, you may have a video series or demonstrations of your products. Or you may want to run live debates and conferences. With HOA, you can broadcast them live or at a later date, and you can make them private or public. You can also brand your videos with your name and logo, and it is a fantastic way to connect with your audience.
In addition, you can link your YouTube channel to your Google+ page, and comments on your videos then become conversations in Google+.
A Place to Make Connections
Google+ is geared towards getting out and connecting, rather than waiting for users to find you. There are many communities on the platform, and you can find the ones that are related to your niche and participate in them. Use these to get into discussions with influencers, find out more about customers and make business contacts, as well as demonstrating your expertise.
Share Content with Google +1
If you have a blog on your website, you can add a Google +1 button at the end of each post to encourage your readers to share your content for you. The more your content is shared, the more you will demonstrate that you are an authority in the industry, and this can also help to improve our visibility on the platform.
It’s Great for Curating Content
Many people publish high-quality articles on Google+ all the time, making it the perfect place to discover valuable content that you can then share with your own audience. Combining content creation and curation is a great way to provide even more value to your audience, and Google+ makes it easy.
Try Out Google+ and Decide for Yourself
The only way to really decide whether Google+ is a good option for your business is to give it a try yourself. There are many potential benefits of having a presence on the platform, so give it a go and find out whether you can make it work for you.
