Google+, also referred to as G+ and Google Plus, is Google’s latest take on social networking (I’m not lying – Google Wave anyone?).
This type of social media is tied directly into search results displayed on Google.
In other words, features that are as seemingly small as “+1”s and author profiles can show up and affect search results for your website.
The move that Google has made is an attempt to make Google’s search results more useful to its users – intertwining human input allows sources to gain more credibility than simply how high they appear on a results page – while also putting up a fight against the behemoth that is Facebook.
Below are five reasons (and features) website owners should use from Google+.
- Search plus Your World – This is the big feature that Google+ introduced. It changes search results when you are logged into your Google+ account. It will show friends’ recommendations, posts and images that are relevant to your search. It also makes it much easier to see when presumed authorities write about something in Google+.
- Google+ Plus Votes – These are personal recommendations of websites for other people. Think of it like a poll of people that said, “This website was helpful.” or “This information was reliable.” simply by the click of a button. The number of plus votes added to your website’s page are displayed next to its results in Google. There is another driving factor behind plus votes that makes them so valuable to website owners like you, – they can potentially increase SERPs rankings for a result. In other words, plus votes equate to more traffic and more authority.
- Personalised Recommendations – Not only does Google+ allow for anyone to effectively recommend a website, it allows for you to see when your friends do so. If you or a potential visitor have a specific circle followed people and one of those people has made a recommendation for your website, you’ll see their profile picture next to it in the results page. This can extended past just friends as a recommendation from someone who has lots of followers can mean overnight authority for your website. Well, overnight authority in the eyes of some Google+ users anyway.
- Author Information – One major goal of Google+ is to bring authority and human trust into the search result equation. One way Google does this is by making it so that an author’s name can be shown beside something her or she has written. This name will be linked to his or her Google+ profile and it can make it possible for a user to look up other things that author has written. Again, this feature will allow your website to instantly build authority and trust.
- Groups and Circles – Google+ allows for users to pick how to categorise people that they follow. This means that if you have a website in a particular niche, you can create a public group in order to allow people to join and receive more information about a particular niche. If your website is in a competitive or active field like the IT field, this is a great way to eventually foster business connections.
The bottom line is that Google+ allows for more personalised search results and communication. These two factors are important to your website because they can help build authority and attract new users that would have perhaps skipped your website otherwise.
Google+ is essentially everything Facebook and Twitter would be if activity on those social networking sites could directly affect search results. With more features being added to Google+ each day like business profiles and a larger focus on Google+ content written by authors, now is probably the best time to start sowing the seed of future benefits for website owners for when new features are added.
I think, if you work on all google related platforms then they give you a best exposure in online world. Nodoubt google created platforms that have many new interesting things which give you a boost on your online network marketing work.
You said a mouthful Matt. Google+ allows for more personalized search results and communication, something which can’t be just ignored.
Regards,
Brian
Hi Mattt:
Great information on google plus. I am still working on getting more active in it. I know I need to.
Kevin
Matt,
Thank you for sharing this vital information about Google+
It took me many months before google allowed me access to Google+ because my email account was connected to an administrator and my other emails had already used google ads (they called them google aps). So that was frustrating. Now I have been in google+ for awhile but I still do not fully understand how it works. I did not realize it is directly related to search engine results. You have given me a lot to think about here,
Warmly,
Dr. Erica
Google+ is here to stay. I love the circles and hangouts. It is a platform that is evolving and will bring to the online world something more than the “Face” of Facebook
I’m feeling guilty now, Matt.
I use Google +, but have always had just a shadow presence there. You’ve made a really strong and substantial case for rethinking this strategy.
I really appreciate you tipping us off to the fact that G+ is developing a steady dose of innovative changes. You’re right. This IS the time to be getting involved, to leverage the immense power (and authority) of this rising “social” platform.
I’m chuckling at David Merrill’s comment, because your post has me feeling guilty too! There’s obviously so much more to Google+ than I am currently utilising. Great summary, Matt! Simple and easy to follow.
Willena Flewelling
Being the major player in search engines its critical to take advantage of what else Google offers. They’re biased and using more of their services will no doubt improve your ranking
OK Matt,
I have used Google plus a bit. I can see if you are going to dominate a niche that it is a good idea to create a circle in that niche and then network with as many as possible to extend your influence.
I must admit it is just another of the overwhelming tools available now that I have underutilized, and probably will continue to.
Google+ is still undergoing improvements and still, more is to be expected from it.
Hi Matt,
Fantastic! I must admit that I have not given G+ the time it deserves and you have convinced me. You really laid out all the reasons..number one being IT’S GOOGLE! “slap! I should have had a V8!” ..
Great article, Matt.
I know I’ve got to increase my knowledge and use of Google+. For some reason I don’t find it very user friendly, or maybe it’s just me. I mean, I don’t really know what to do there but post my own and other blog posts that I like.
Thanks for the help though 🙂
Ni to see this article it was really great I love reading it, I will share this to my friends so they can see it too..
Hi Matt,
Thanks for this reminder. Actually, I got involved right from the begining. My Google+ profile and blog were prepared to enjoy all the benefits Google is offering.
However, I want to point out that having a Google+ profile does not automatically make you benefit with all these services. The truth is that most of what you listed on this article are really seperate services offered by Google but all tied to Google plus. For example, to enjoy the benefits of author information and search plus your world, you will need to set up your site/blog the right way.
All the same you have done a great work here making a case for all to consider this great innovation from Google. There are really more benefits from Google+ that many are not enjoying today because of their not understanding what they stand to get.
Thanks for sharing.
I truly agree, Google + is really helpful. It does help you site a lot but like Sylvianne, I dont find it user friendly too, I usually check my Google+ account 3-4 times a week only.
Google+ is quickly becoming on of my goto sites on a daily basis and I have to admit that I am probably not even using 1/10th of its potential right now. But with the way Google is destroying the search results with garage, social media is quickly becoming my number on traffic source. Which to tell you the truth is quite fine by me. The traffic is more targeted and the people coming to my site already know a bit about me which is great for business.
Google Plus is very nice for the social networking. This type of the social media and very great with search engine. thanks information about Google plus.