Google + for Business :Advanced Techniques

In my last post about Google+, I talked a little bit about Google+, why businesses want to use it and how to sign up. But Google+ for business is a very powerful platform that should be taken seriously - especially if you sell business to business. Read on to find out how Google+ made itself extremely competitive - and how to use it to your advantage.

Why Google+ matters

The explain is really simple: because it’s a Google product. Google+ has shown to be tied to search ranking, online authorship profiles, recognition of businesses in search, and other Google-related perks. Even if you don’t use the platform to its full extent, it’s important to at least be aware of these perks and how to participate in them.

Google+ and SEO

The major benefit of Google+ is that it’s tied directly to the most popular search engine in the United States. Google heavily weighs social recommendation in its search algorithm, which is a benefit for all popular social media platforms. Google+ gives its users the opportunity to +1 content - which is similar to a “like” on Facebook - and helps the content in search. In fact, according to a Searchmetrics study, social recommendation accounts for 7 of 8 of the top search rankings.

In addition, Google+ influences search results if you have a presence. When you search for a business with a completed Google+ profile, you’ll see tidbits about the company, their logo and more in the right hand column of the search results.

Google+ Local is also a key component for businesses with a local presence. Much like Yelp, Google+ local allows Google+ users to score businesses on a 5-star system and recommends local businesses to users of the social platform based on certain factors. If you’re looking to build a strong local presence, this is a great place to start.

Google+ and Google Authorship
When you search on Google and an article comes up with the author’s name and headshot - that’s Google Authorship. Articles with photos are more trustworthy and clickable than those without, making Google Authorship that much more important.

Here’s how to get it:

1. Upload a professional headshot as your profile picture. This will show up next to all of the content that you author and link to your Google+ page.

2. Include a byline with your name. Keep it simple - by Jackie Steinmetz does the trick. Make sure the name you use is the same name that’s on your Google+ profile.

3. Use an email address from the same domain as your website. For example, my address, jackie@jackiesteinmetz.com works well. If you’re using a gmail or other similar email address, use a second method to register for Google Authorship.

That’s it! Once these steps are taken care of, your name and photo will show up in Google search results next to any content that you’ve authored

By following the simple steps outlined above, you can leverage some less obvious benefits of Google+. Remember, posting great content on the social platform is the best way to take advantage of the SEO benefits. If you’d like to share ideas or are interested in discussing more, please feel free to check out my website or email me at jackie@jackiesteinmetz.com.