Have you heard this statement before? “Google+ isn't a social network, it's a social layer.” Well, whatever that means, I have to disagree. As an outsider, I thought that Google+ was a lame excuse for a social networking site. Now that I'm digging in myself, I really, really like it there! AND… if you're daring enough to give it an honest-to-goodness try, I think you might like it too! Let's dig into how you can improve your traffic, SEO, and authority by getting social on Google+
Still confused as to how to get started? Learn how to set up your profile on Google+ then join us back here for the real party!
If Google+ perplexes you and you're not sure where it falls in terms of social network categories, here's how I distinguish it from the rest:
- It's like Twitter in that it's easy to discover new content based on who you follow or by searching for terms or hashtags. It's also like Twitter in that circling someone else often leads to them circling you back – the way following on Twitter can often lead to a follow-back. But it's BETTER than Twitter in that you get to see photos and much more detailed explanations of the content you want to discover. In my mind, I've decided, if I want to discover great new content in my niche, I'll be doing content-discovery on Google+ and NOT on Twitter.
- It's like Pinterest in that great photos make or break your posts and how they stand out. But it's BETTER than Pinterest in that there's more social behavior going on such as +1's (the equivalent of liking or hearting) and more comments. It's WORSE than Pinterest in that it still feels much more difficult to get your content to spread like wildfire, and communities don't have the same power that group boards do. It's also WORSE than Pinterest in that many regular folks still aren't using the network and discovering your great content.
- It's like Facebook in that the post style, comments, and stream feel similar. It's BETTER than Facebook in the ability for Google+ to take any size photo and make it look awesome as a post. It's BETTER than Facebook in that you can create sweet GIFs right on the site. It's WORSE than Facebook in that it feels less personal and less social the way you'd be social IRL “in real life”. And… let's be honest, way more real people are on Facebook whereas Google+ is mostly just you, me, and the other bloggers and business owners out there.
- It's like Instagram in that hashtags are important and photos are important. It's BETTER than Instagram for its users' ability to click directly on an article and learn more. It's WORSE than Instagram because it doesn't have fabulous filters and the content is generally less beautiful/sentimental and more information-oriented.
- It's better than ALL OTHER SOCIAL NETWORKS in that it improves your SEO more than sharing on the other sites will. For that reason alone, it's worth at least a little bit of your time. Note, this doesn't trump everything else! I still love other social networks for other things – such as Pinterest for increasing the number of new visitors to our site and Facebook for truly connecting with our audience in meaningful ways.
Have I convinced you that Google+ has some interesting features and may be worth your time? If so, read below to discover how to use this social network effectively. Like any networking website, it has its own culture, etiquette, and best practices.
How to be Social on Google+
- Find people in your niche to add to Circles. I can search for terms like “mom blogger” or “Etsy seller” in the “People and Pages tab” From there, I can add people to relevant circles if they seem like a good fit. (FYI Adding someone into your circle, means you'll see content they share in your stream. You can change this in your settings, though. It's also likely that they may notice and add you into their circles as well.)
- Find content in your niche. I can search for Google+ posts related to a certain topic I'm interested in. Once again, the people who share that content may be those I'd like to circle.
- Comment and +1 Others' Content. By using either of the steps above, you should discover great content (either in your stream or by searching.) Interact with that content. If you say more than a simple, “great post!” or “interesting!” but truly seek to connect and have a conversation, you'll start the process of building relationships and an audience on Google+ Just today I +1'ed and commented on a couple of interesting posts in my stream, and I was circled by a few of those individuals as a result. Since Google+ is still a much quieter place, it's much easier to get the attention of people you're interacting with.
- New Comments Bring Your Content to the Top. One thing I had no idea about with Google+ is that new comments on a post means Google+ will send it to the top of a person's stream. So you want to get as many comments on your own content, but also know that when you comment on others' stuff, everyone who follows them will potentially see that content (along with your great comment!)
- +People when you Comment on their Post. Again, this gets their attention because it shows up in their notifications, and they may respond or add you to a circle.
- Share Others' Content. Take things one step further by sharing valuable, relevant content with your audience. The same 80/20 rule applies on Google+ as it does on other social networks. 80% of the time share others' content or content that's simply to entertain or add value. Only 20% of the time should you be promoting your own stuff. And again, if you share others' content, they're more likely to circle you, and therefore interact with your content in the future.
- When you share, use the + to tag that person in your post. Let that person know you're sending them some love! This works similarly to tagging a page when you're sharing something about them on Facebook. The difference is that since Google+ is way less active, that influencer whose content you just shared may actually take notice!
- Use hashtags. Not only should you use hashtags to search for great content, you should use them in your content as well. Use 2 (3 tops!) at the end of your introduction about a certain post and link. This will help you to be found more often, and hashtags are perfectly acceptable etiquette on Google+ as long as they're not awkward or overdone. Jenny Melrose does a great job with hashtags and in general, kills it with Google Plus!!
- Write for SEO. It goes without saying that you shouldn't sound like a robot. But in the same way that you have a keyword phrase in mind when you publish a blog post, you should have that same keyword phrase in mind for Google+ Use that phrase in your title, and a related phrase in your description.
- Use long, Pinterest-Style Photos. You'll take up more real-estate on the site and stand out, just like you do on Pinterest. Google+ is the perfect place to get more steam out of those Pinterest photos that you worked so hard to create!
- Use Bold & Italic Text. Again, you'll catch people's eye and stand out if you use a little fancy formatting. To format text on Google+, *this* becomes this, and _this_ becomes this. (Tip courtesy of Amy Lynn Andrews)
- Don't drop a link and run. One of the common threads of advice I've seen regarding Google+ is to talk about why you're sharing what you're sharing. It's not like Twitter where one line and a link will suffice. You need to introduce the article or post you're sharing whether it's yours or someone else's. Set the stage. Tell a story. Outline the problem and the solutions. Share why something caught your eye or where you agree or disagree. Just make sure you do more than drop a photo with link and run.
- Use your personal profile to be social, rather than your business page. According to Google+ Expert, Martin Shervington, people are far more likely to interact with a personal profile on Google plus rather than a page. It's fine to set up your business page and link it to your profile. You can start that process by selecting “Pages” from the left-hand nav bar on Google+. For more information on Pages for your Business, Martin Shervington has a great video. If you share something on your page, make sure you then share it via your personal profile. When you're commenting and interacting with others, you'll probably make more headway if it's your profile, and not your page doing the interacting. The cool part? Your personal profile still has plenty of space to include a link to your site, what you do, how you help others, etc. So using Google+ via your personal profile is still great for your business.
- Schedule out posts. Did you know that there's a free plug-in that allows you to put content you find into a queue for Google+ I had no idea! It's called the Chrome Do Share Plugin.
- Join and Engage in Communities. It's super easy to search for communities on Google+ and, like Facebook groups, chances are you can find one on just about any topic you're interested in. We'll dive into communities a bit more next week.
- Find and attend events. Many events will have a live chat that accompanies them, so you can meet and interact with attendees right in the chat. Also, if you search for events, you can find great previously-hosted Google Hangouts to watch and learn new things.
If you're nervous to get started on your own, never fear, I'm here for you! Come circle me, check out what I'm doing, and say hello! I promise to greet you with high-fives and warm welcomes! If you need someone to hold your hand, I'll do that too 🙂
Other Resources for Being Social on Google+
How to Create a Killer Profile on Google+ {this one's from us!}
11 Ways to Get More Followers for your Google+ Business Page by Social Media Examiner
How to Grow Your Google+ Following by Jenny Melrose
29 Essential Tips from the Top Google Plus Geeks by Blog Tyrant
The Ultimate List of Google+ Tips by Amy Lynn Andrews
Note: In the places where you see Google Authorship mentioned, please disregard. As of early Fall 2014, Google Authorship is dead.