What the Real Deal About Google+?

So, have you logged into your Google+ account today, or updated your business page lately? Perhaps not, and while this is a fairly common scenario happening around the Web, as Google+ struggles to find its audience and ultimate usefulness. Lots of people are still divided, and the jury is still certainly out as to whether Google+ is or ever can be a workable tool for business.

Why we think it’s worthwhile now and in the future!

One astonishing undeniable fact that really doesn’t ring true (yet) is that Google+ is now larger in terms of reach than Twitter. This is certainly because of the proliferation of Gmail and the convenience of having Google’s entire suite of web services at your fingertips. Since Google Plus Local Listings already include such small business services as Zagat, StreetView and Google+ User ratings, it has essentially replaced Yelp.

Also, Google Hangouts has a direct effect on where Google+ is headed as well. The advantage of using a Hangout, as an alternative to perhaps Skype, to do video conferencing is a major plus (no pun intended). Yes, we understand that Hangouts is still a tad clunky and a hassle to figure out, however if you do, it’s by far the leader of the pack. Just the integration and automation that Hangouts shares with YouTube is worth the price of admission. (Which of course is free!)

So how are businesses using Google+?

There are scads of ways to make use of Google+ in your small business. Just a few would include:

• Build networks of like-minded people with Google+ Circles
• Use #hashtags to enable posts appear in Google search
• Be sure and Link Google+ to your blog or site, and reap the Google Authorship benefit in the search pages
• Use Google Hangouts for webinars, meetings, launches, interviews or you name it!
• Use tags to reach out to people directly

To see a wonderfully comprehensive selection of strategies and infographic for Google+, see this informative article on Copyblogger. Google+ may not seem like it’s worthy of effort just yet, but we feel as though it is both in the present and future!