Changes to the way that local businesses advertise are coming rather quickly and differ greatly from past and even current methods. Google Plus is a great service that local business can use to spread the word about their products or services in a quick and effective manner.
Why Businesses Should Use Google Plus
There are some great advantages to using Google Plus for business promotion. For example, it ranks in the top five social sites, just after Facebook, and there are close to 550 million users that use Google+ on a monthly basis.
Other social media sites, like YouTube and Facebook, can also be integrated with G+ for even further reach. Setting up and maintaining a Google Plus account takes little time and is likely the easiest way to get found on the largest search engine in the country… Google!
Getting Found Online
Google Plus can provide your website with a much needed boost in targeted traffic. In addition, it will help build a good reputation for your business/brand name which can also increase your online ranking. One of the great things about Google+ is that you will easily get connected with other professionals in the same field.
The first thing you need to do is create a profile. This is where you will have an opportunity to make a great first impression. Write an engaging post about your business and the type of services/products you offer. Also, it is a good idea to have all your employees create their own Google Plus profile page. By having a Google+ account, your chances of getting visitors to your site, from an organic search, increases greatly.
Getting The Most From Google
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Google offers additional ways to be found that will all be connected with your G+ account. For example, you can create a listing on Google My Business which will automatically place your business in Google Maps. These online properties will direct customers directly to your front door.
Directions, hours of operation and even images will appear when potential customers find any of these pages. In addition, reviews and comments can be posted, which is a great selling point for potential customers looking at reviews prior to making a decision to do business with a particular establishment.
G Plus is a social channel and an outlet to share things related to your industry. Take things to the next level by becoming part of the Google Plus community. A few important tips to keep in mind are:
- Read the guidelines carefully, as each community can set their own set of rules.
- Prior to sharing links, get familiar with the community and allow other users to get to know you. Post quality comments and +1 for other people’s content. This is a simple way to build a good reputation within the community. +1’s are similar to “liking” a page on Facebook – it indicates that your content is being read and/or shared.
- Then share links and useful information that will get people interested in your product.
Conclusion
It is important to understand that people are looking for businesses online more than anywhere else and Google just happens to be one of the major search engines that are used for this purpose. For this reason, it is a great idea to take advantage of the tools made available by Google to make sure that your business is found.
You can ensure that your local business is properly represented by double checking the accuracy of information entered into these accounts. Also, be sure that the name, address, and phone number match across the board to enhance the experience of visitors looking for what you have to offer.
