The year is 2014. We still don’t have flying cars, but we do have a new social media superhero in Google+. If you’re not yet using — really using — this awesome tool to market and promote your company, consider this your “all aboard.” Because this is going to be Google+’s year.
True, Google+ is no Facebook. Next to the 1.29 billion active users on Facebook, Google+’s 540 million total users seem almost insignificant. But taken on its own, that’s a whole lot of potential customers and sales. More important, however, is the parentage factor: Just as Google’s ownership of YouTube has led to video’s increased importance to SEO rankings, Google’s involvement with Google+ has all the makings of a similar nepotistic advantage.
In fact, studies have shown that Google search rankings favor the “plusses.” Google has been shown to index the posts you share on Google+, meaning if you’re sharing content and posts about your company and its services, you’re more likely to show up in a relevant search of the same. That’s the power of Google, like it or not.
“Google+ is a total communication social network designed to create connections, distinguish thought leaders and boost Google rankings in the process,” says online marketing and media strategist Marie Alonso. “With Google using the Google+ platform to collect personal information, Google+ is increasingly being revealed by Google as a vital part of its master plan for SEO. During 2014, businesses will realize Google+ packs more SEO power than they originally anticipated and more companies will expand their Google+ profiles to make the most of this opportunity.”
In fact, many experts are making the case for thinking about Google+ as more than just another social network.
“With Google using the platform to collect personal information (demographics, location, etc.), Google+ should no longer be thought of as another social network,” adds social media trend watcher Nick Bellamy. “It’s increasingly proving itself to be an integral part of Google’s grand scheme in terms of SEO, social signals and providing a more personalized search experience.”
And we haven’t even covered Google Authorship. That’s our next post. Between now and then, may we suggest you establish and start using a Google+ account for your business if you haven’t already done so? Remember…
“At the end of the day, if you ignore Google+, there’s a good chance Google Search will ignore you,” warns digital marketing blogger Carolyn Coates.
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