Among hot button issues like compliance, resources and time management, employee policies and content calendars, there was a lot of discussion focused on the Google+ platform. Fully understanding what a giant Google is in the e-commerce and SEO world, I decided to spend the majority of my time digging deeper, trying to understand it, and determine its usefulness for businesses like yours.

What I found, was that if used correctly, Google+ is well worth the investment, if for no other reason than search engine optimization. But that’s not all, Google+ has some features that can help bring you together with prospects and clients in a very unique way.

Some best practices …

1. Have a complete and branded mini bio that hovers over your photo so people can learn enough at-a-glance to determine if they want to “circle” you or not.
2. Promote your Google+ page. If you choose to be on this platform, be sure to link it tightly to your corporate site, and be sure to include a “we’re on g+” note, as well as add the +1 (similar to a Facebook “like”) to all of your communications materials and electronic channels.
3. Create your own “suggested circles” list for people to see at-a-glance. This gives visitors the information they need about your company to decide if they want to connect with you further.
4. Try a Google+ hangout to chat with your customers and join others’ hangouts.
5.  Establish a presence, then be patient as your audience begins to grow. Since Google+ is so new, many of your customers and prospects may not be there yet. But positioning yourself as a thought leader in a space where your competition may not be actively participating yet is a wise strategy.

Ready to learn more?

Request a Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Google+ Business Page