GOOGLE+

We know what you’re thinking
about Google+. Really, we do.
You’re thinking, “Do we really
need one more social profile to
manage?” “Is anyone even
using Google+?”
Yes. And Yes.Whether Google+
is popular or not [It is. 540M
active users and growing.],
don’t ignore it. Google loves
for you to
play with them, their way. They
have said of Google+ that is
“really the unification of all of
Google’s services, with a
common social layer.”
Enough said. Let’s move on.
If creating a Google+ page for
your client is on your to-do
list, here is are the steps for
getting started.
For those of you already on
the Google+ train, you need to
know that Google+ isn’t just a
social media platform. It’s a
powerful weapon in your SEO
arsenal. In fact, in Moz’s 2013
The Future of Search report
[they publish the report every 2
years], they list the top factor
most correlated with search
engine success is Google+1’s .
The truth here is, this is one
element of the SEO puzzle that
can be fairly easy to manage.
Technical SEO, with its
keyword research, algorithms,
and logic, is sometimes better
handled by professionals . But
not Social SEO. You can do
this.
Here are a few tips for
optimizing your Google+ page
for better Google search
rankings:
1. Regularly publish content.
You already created it, and
you may have already
shared it via other social
networks. Now, share it to
Google+. Exposure on
Google+ helps Google index
more of your content
faster.
2. Pay attention to headline
and the first 45-50 words
of your post, as that’s what
Google uses for display on
the SERPs. Consider using
one of your targeted
keywords in your heading,
and do the same for the
beginning of your post.
3. Utilize Google+’s Links. Be
sure to link to your website
and add links that are
important to your site [in
the Links section].
4. Include visuals in your
posts [images, videos,
animated GIFs, etc.] versus
a plain text update. It’s
best to upload your own
photo, for optimal
viewability. Run your own
tests, but we bet you see
better engagement with
posts that include visuals.
Now that you’re doing all the
right things, let’s work on
growing your following:
1. You are probably already
using hashtags on
Facebook or Twitter. You
can [and should] use them
for Google+ as well. But
Google+ uses them in
entirely different ways to
organize and recommend
content. Google uses them
to create relationships
between topics. Help them
connect the dots .
2. Ask for followers. But do
so with a clear value
proposition. A strong call
to action will help your
cause. For example, instead
of a generic “Please follow
us on Google+,” try letting
them know what they’ll get
if they do. “Please follow
this page for more great
marathon training tips!” –
much more persuasive.
3. Add a Google+ Badge to
your site. Here’s how.
In terms of SEO tools in your
toolbox [or arsenal, as
mentioned earlier], this is a
good one to sharpen. Take this
opportunity, and make sure
your Google+ page is
amplifying all of your SEO
efforts.