Why Your Business should be on Google+

You’ve got a Facebook fan page. You’re created a Twitter profile. And you’re even pinning on Pinterest. But if you skipped Google+ because you thought it was a passing fad, it might be time to rethink that decision.

Google+ is proving itself as a social network that should be taken seriously, and it has several features that no other platform can boast. Take a look at what Google+ can do:

1. You Can Create Circles: Google+ is the only social media platform that lets you send different status updates to different groups of followers. Simply place users into different Circles and choose which information to send to which Circle. While Twitter lets you organize those you follow into lists, you can’t share targeted updates within those lists. Google+, however, lets businesses send potential clients one update, new customers another update, and long-term clients yet another update, helping to build stronger relationships within those groups. Businesses can also use Circles internally, sending information to sales staff, HR department or board of directors.

2. You Can Engage with Any Type of Profile: On Facebook, business pages can’t engage with personal profiles unless a person comments on your page first. But with Google+, businesses can comment on any type of profile – business or personal. This feature helps business owners grow their audiences by starting conversations and sharing information with potential customers. Businesses can search for updates that have relevant keywords or hashtags, and engage directly with your target market.

3. You Can Find Others with Similar Interests: Like the Groups feature in Facebook and LinkedIn, Google+ Communities feature allows individuals and businesses to connect with others who have similar interests. Unlike Facebook and LinkedIn, Google+ allows you to participate in Communities as your Business Page. Google+ Communities allows you to search for information that can help you grow your business. It also helps you to grow your following by answering questions and providing resources that will help establish you as an expert in your field.

4. You Can Improve Your SEO: Google+ Authorship allows you to share links to your blog content on your Google+ profile. This feature helps with your SEO as it creates links between you and your sites. It also helps establish you as an authority in your subject, improving your search ranking. Also, when you link Google+ to your content, your picture appears in Google search results, increasing your visibility.

5. You Can Hold Free Videoconferencing: Finally, Google+ Hangout is a free tool that hosts up to 10 people in a video chat. This is a great feature if you have employees who work remotely. It’s also a great way to have client meetings.