Why the hubbub about Google+? The last thing entrepreneurs need is another social network to join, right? Weren't you just getting the hang of Twitter? Didn't you just start putting that Facebook business page together? So why is Brogan back here telling you to get into Google+, and pronto?
I've never made a prediction like this before. I'm not exactly Mr. Bleeding Edge. But what I've seen so far is that the new social network from Google has a lot of advantages that are worth thinking about, and entrepreneurial types should take a look-see.
The Next Big Thing
Google+ is a social networking platform, but you can look at it a lot of different ways. You can say it's like Facebook, only cleaner. It's like Twitter, only more engaging. It has the potential to be a great collaboration and communication platform (you can isolate who sees information by sharing it with specific Circles, or groupings of people). In its earliest weeks of existence, it already was sending more traffic to my website than any other social networking platform.
Related
Also, realize that Google+ is indexed by the biggest search engine in the world, also known as Google. Other search engines like it, too. And it has a lot of integration points, such as Google Places (which shows you location information), and an incredible potential for integrating even more of Google's services over time.
How It Will Help Your Business
Social networks are built to try and emulate real-world connectivity and information-sharing. On one hand, they're like a more interesting telephone. On the other hand, they're built to augment (not replace) cocktail parties, chamber of commerce meetings and other places where people get to know each other (or at least used to). Google+ does this surprisingly well, for a few reasons.
Google+ lets you share photos, videos, links and location data with everyone, or with your select Circles. Thus, when you find the good stuff that applies to your real estate friends, if you've grouped them into a Circle, you can send that information only to them. Other times, you can share with the general public to try and grow your audience.
What Makes It Different
First (and important) Facebook is not indexed by Google for search results, meaning that everything you do inside there stays inside there. Second, Facebook and LinkedIn both are set up for more of an "exclusive" model, which means that you have to know someone to know something. That's why you see companies pushing so hard for "likes," and why you see people spam the LinkedIn Groups.
Google+ is slowly rolling out their "for business" parts of the platform, but on the day I wrote this, I can tell you that even being on their system as an individual representing a company is a big opportunity. The traffic to ChrisBrogan.com has received a huge boost since linking the occasional post from Google+.
Get In Early
Simply put, it's important to take action on Google+ right now. I saw the benefits of this when I joined Twitter in October 2006. If you get in, get familiar, start growing connections and learn how to curate and share, you'll be ahead of the game. It's not usually my thing to make predictions, but I'm sticking with this one. See you on Google+.
This article was originally published in the October 2011 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Social Phenom.
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Comments:
Your right about that! Social Search, what a genius idea...especially when your the highest trafficked search engine in the world.
The real key to the equation is this: Google+ + Search = Social Search. If that catches on, it opens up a whole new competitive advantage for Google over other social circles.
Google+ is developing into a social networking beast. Google's recent integration of personalized search results will "pack a punch" for business owners with a Google+ page and with a web of followers. It also adds a variable in how SEO's go about tuning sites to rank because there is that inevitable social aspect now involved. Great article thanks!
http://www.droidappoftheday.com/2011/11/google.html is a good summary of why you should get Google+
Thank you Brogan for rolling out this awesome entry. I have been trying to get everyone at my company engaged early on G+ but they are just like everyone was when twitter first came out... "what do I do", "What do I tweet"? hahaa this is going to be the best social engagement tool yet for sure. its much more personable than twitter especially considering I can stay up to date with my threads and be able to build on previous comments or mentions since I can see what has been going on in regards to a certain post. Thanks Brogan have an awesome week.
Oh heck. I'm WAY behind the times. I've only just decided that I can be bothered trying to figure out twitter. I might just give that a miss and go straight to Google+. Thanks for the heads up!
Thanks, I felt behind the 8 ball with facebook... but I think getting in early is the rule!
Very exciting... We are going to create a tutorial oh how Google + works and present to our exisiting clients. Great advice-GET IN EARLY.... Jen Varner http://www.pure-ecommerce.com Rule Your Life...Own Your Own Business
I am adapting well on G+ with heaps of new friends, yet i think it will take time to build the community though
Thanks for the wake-up call. I thought Google+ was just another wanna-be Facebook. But it clearly has the potential to much more! I'm gonna go check it out right now!
Just joined and starting to learn the ropes
Profiles for business are not yet available - I'd personally recommend building out a personal G+ profile in anticipation you'll be able to tap into those resources when they launch a business-friendly profile option.
Already there, and getting comfy....
Stownsend, if you still need an invite please email Jackie at info@globalbusstyle.com. I would be more than happy to share an invite with you.
Thanks for your post -- do you know when G+ will be out for businesses/nonprofits? I can see many ways that a nonprofit too can benefit! I joined a few days ago and am learning my way around so that hopefully when they do roll out the business version we can make use of it faster.
what i love about Google+ is its ability to integrate with other Google products. I'm a loyal Google fan so I see great potential in Google+, if only I can get many onboard. lol :)
Google will eventually integrate its +1 into the search algorithm itself so human votes will have an impact on search ranking.
How do I sign up for Google +? Dont I have to be invited by someone?
Hi Chris, a month or so back Google recommended that businesses hold off for the (coming soon) Google+ for business, what are your thoughts on this and given your post do you think they should wait?
Will google+ removed the age limit? (not that everyone is honest anyway) But won't removing it increase traffic and help its growth.
If google is the next big thing then we need to take this principle to the BANK!!! Wayne Gretzky was onced asked why he was such a great hockey player. He responded with wisdom: "While others skated to where the puck is, I skated to where the puck was going to be." An average player would go where the puck was or is. The same goes for your career and business look at where your industry is and go where it is going to BE.
Getting started with Google+ should be part of any business strategy, especially entrepreneurs that are looking for entry into new markets. The earlier one gets started with emerging social media, the greater the chance for wide network connections.
I have long been frustrated by the limitations imposed on my sphere of influence over at Facebook. With over 500 Million members, you would think Facebook would up their imposed limits. With over 500,000,000 members, you would think they would realize that I socialize with more than 5000 friends and that I like to participate in more than just a few hundred of pages and groups among the vast options which may serve my diverse interests. Are you feeling me? Monique Cloutier @FacebookFriend
How do I get my business on Google+?
Chris, I believe you hit on some key points people are missing. 1. We live in a search engine world. Google replaces the phone book. 2. Businesses want to be found when people are searching. FB doesn't help that in Google. 3. If Google+ can tie in all the Google products, make it relevant for small business, it will continue to grow exponentially. 4. The big brands will have the budget dollars to compete on FB, where the small business will not with FB changes this week. Focus on helping business, get more business!
I'm with you Chris!
Like you, Mark, I was stunned, and more than a little disappointed in Google, to discover that they didn't roll Google+ beta out in such a way that Google apps users could get in there. I went ahead and created a new personal account so I could join and begin poking around to get a feel for it, and I'm crossing my fingers that when they do roll it out there will be a super simple, easy way to integrate the two.
Hey Chris...I so appreciate that you took the time to share your take on this. It's something I've been pondering for a few weeks and I'm with you...my intuition is telling me that it's time to focus on Google+ and it was great to read about your experience with it. I'm even more sure it's the way to go following the debacle of FB's recent changes.
I'll go against the grain here and say I don't believe it will be the next big thing. I think it will either gather a small, dedicated fanbase or collapse altogether. Why would the 700 million Facebook users switch to another site of similar premise in which they will have to relearn how to use everything, readd their friends and rebuild their profiles? That's even if their friends are on Google plus. The reality is that Facebook has a firm hold on the social media market and unless people have a very good reason to leave in their droves, they won't.
Google+ looks like it's going to be able to offer so much more to Businesses than facebook can. Along with the usual social media features, you also have the behind the scenes collaboration features like GoogleDocs, Conference Calls and Broadcasts via the Hangouts etc. This is the game changer, but it needs to get more people to make the big switch from Facebook.
Okay, I'm jumping right on board - I've been procrastinating on it for a while but reading this just gave me the kick in the right direction. I'm curious to see if it really will make a difference to the online side of my business...
G+, from an SEO perspective is the last piece of the puzzle (for now), which is social engagement. Social signals sent out on G+ will come in nicely for search engine result pages, so getting in the Top 10 positions in search results will be soon influenced by social activity around the brand. I just don't know when or if having a corporate G+ account will make sense, or it's better to get the entire staff on G+ and have them spread corporate news.
Time for Google to bring out the business part of Google+. So far it has proved itself as an excellent content sharing site.
Hi Chris, great article. As you say, this is so important..."FB is not indexed by Google for search results." I've been trying to find an update on brands being allowed profiles on Google+. What's the latest?
So you're trying to tell me that the Big G - the very same company that broke every Copywrite rule in the book by illegally copying every book and publication that it could find online without seeking any permissions - has suddenly turned over a new leaf and wants to help me. Why do I so not so believe this! This sounds like more pro-Google propoganda ....more Matt Cutts! Mark my words, if G+ does not work, they will pull the plug on it so quickly and without warning, that anyone that has used it to build a business network will be literally cut off at the knees. It has happened before and it will happen again.
We're going to all meet next Friday in a netcast - simulcast with Google plus hangout if anyone wants to join as a panelist, send me a private message through G+, Kersten Kloss Here is the event: http://www.netcastevent.com/component/rsevents/event/43-exploring-google-plus-sept-29-11-am-mt
I will be using G+ often. I like how hangouts can be used as virtual version of water-cooler talk. Look for this tool being used more often for web interviews. Kersten Kloss netcastevent.com
I don't understand why this core element isn't being introduced into the conversation on Google+: it's a platform for those who want to share, and not necessarily for those who want to read and absorb. Maybe that will be different when businesses enter the game more prominently, but right now, I'm not seeing enough engagement from my personal networks in reading and responding to posts, and that concerns me that G+ will always have catching up to do with Facebook.
Hi Chris! very interesting post you have! Yes, I think G+ will be the next big thing since more and more people are getting curious about its other features and thinking about strategies for their business. Thanks for sharing this!
I like Google+ but not everyone uses regularly now, and that is probably its biggest problem.
This is great as I alrady have google+ on my product page Dreamfavors.com
The problem for us and many of our customers is we cannot use Google+ as Google has forgotten about its paying apps customers!
I could not agree more Chris. In fact I would go a bit further and say that when Google rolls out up dates and improvements for Google Places, which is coming soon, Google Plus and Places will be small businesses bets friends. M.J. Curtiss
I signed up as soon as I could, and the learning curve is fairly steep right now.
I think you hit the nail on the head Chris. GET IN EARLY! Google+ will continue to grow and have huge impact on business once they integrate more business services. And when they do, if you already have a following and know the ins and outs, you're going to be one step ahead of the competition.