The Other Social Media Company: Google+
When the search engine and marketing goliath, Google, announced the launch of a social media platform in 2011, people were understandably excited. The hype surrounding Google+ was monumental, and millions of people signed up within the first month. The downside was that many of those people created accounts and never returned. Numerous businesses have discredited Google+ because not very many people are using it, but maybe it is time to give this other social media company another look.
Google+ Optimizes Your Search Engine Optimization Efforts
Even though Google+ may not see as much daily activity as Facebook or Twitter, it does have one important advantage: it is owned and operated by Google. Google is an invaluable tool for businesses, especially small local businesses. Businesses are always clamoring to reach the top of the search rankings in their area, and a Google+ account may provide the push that they need.
Businesses that activate a Google+ page, and regularly update this page, can experience a noticeable boost in search engine optimization. This activity can improve the visibility of not only the company website, but also the visibility of the company in Google Maps and Google Places. Google is first and foremost search-oriented, and regularly updating your Google+ page is yet another way you can make it easier for Google users to find you.
Providing More Information Using Google+
When using other social media platforms, Twitter especially, the amount of characters you can use in a message is considerably limited. Longer messages are allowed on Facebook, but the reader has to be interested enough to click the “more” button. Google+ allows for longer interactions between two people. For businesses, this means more opportunities to provide in depth information about the company, products, and services.
Changes Made to the Google+ Platform
Since its initial launch, Google+ has undergone redesigns. Google has been taking steps to make the social media platform simpler and more functional. The changes to the platform are designed to make it easier for users to join and follow different conversations, and have more control over the apps and updates that they see. For example, Google+ has a “Hangouts” feature that makes it easier for users to interact with a specific group of people.
Many of these changes are similar, or arguably better than, features found on other popular social networking sites. The question is whether or not more users will be willing to return and reconsider joining the conversations on Google+.