Google+ is a relative newcomer to the game of social media, but the truth of the matter is that it is not going anywhere. This is why you should sign up for a Google+ account. It is almost impossible to do anything on the internet without a Google product of some type. The company is extremely innovative and will be around for a long time because of it.
Creating a Google Account
The first step you will need to take in order to participate in Google+ is to create a Google account. If you currently have a Google account you will need to sign in and then click on the +You button that appears on the left side bar or you can go straight to https://plus.google.com.
If you do not have a Google account, create one now. Creating a Google account will grant you access too many different applications and services that Google has to offer including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, YouTube, and many more.
Google+ Sign Up
Once you have a Google account you will now need to sign up for your plus account. When you join you will automatically create a Google+ public profile. Make sure that you use your real name when you sign up because if you do not you are violating the terms of service.
The next step is to create your profile. You will first choose your gender and then you will upload a photo. Do not skip this step. If you are trying to establish online authority choose a quality photo of yourself. Using the same photo across your social networks will make it easier for your friends and clients to recognize you and pay better attention to your content.
On the next screen you will be able to add people that you know to your circles. There will likely be suggestions ready for you on this page. If you have another email account you can import your contacts from the accounts or you can search through Google+ for people by name.
When you are done adding people to your circles you will then come to a list of interesting and famous people. You can add anyone that you want to your circles. Do not worry about adding everyone that you know right away. You can add and remove people from circles at any time.
Creating Your Profile
The next step is to add more information to you profile. This will include where you work, where you live, and the schools you went to. The more information that you add to your profile the easier it will be for people to find you. You have control over who can see what aspects of your profile. One of the best things about Google+ is that you can control which circles can see the information that you are posting. The site allows you to keep personal information private while also allowing you to create business circles where you can post information about your business and create content for your subscribers.
Everyone will have access to your name and your introduction. When creating your introduction you should be specific about who you are and what you do so that people can find you more easily.
Creating a Google+ New Page
Once you have created your personal page you can add more pages to promote your business. To do this simply log into your account and locate the Home icon located on the left side bar menu. The Pages icon will be located there.
You will then choose a category that describes your page. The categories are fairly wide and include local business; Arts, Sports, etc. if none of the categories fit, then choose other.
Next you will want to add information about your page. This includes a title and description. Make sure that you include the website address as this will help support and create traffic for your Google+ page. You will want to choose a photo for this page as well. It can be your business logo or your headshot; whichever you think will work best for your brand.
Once you have completed this your page is ready to go. You can click on the profile tab on the page to see how your page will look when others are viewing it. Every page will have a standard background image that is set by Google. This can be changed by moving your cursor over the background image and selecting change cover photo in order to customize it to fit your brand.
Adding Content
As with any of the other social media sites, you will need to begin adding rich content to your page. As with any regular Google+ page you will be able to add photos, videos, and link articles to the page. You can also promote the page to your circle of friends as well as link the page to your current websites. There are many great tools available to promote your page. Self-promotion is okay but occassionally, you should share articles from other sites that you found helpful.
Whenever you publish a new blog post, video or other forms of content, make sure to share the link in Google+. This allows your circle to see and engage in the content.
Google+ Communities – An Overlooked Social Network
Another great way to expose your business and increase engagement is to use Communities. In short, you can join or create Communities based on interests/hobbies/industry/niche. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people and at the same time build your authority.
To get started, simply choose Communities from the sidebar:
To join a Community, simply type in your interest/hobby/industry in the search field. Here’s an example:
Next, you’ll see a list of communities around photography.
You can also create your own Community which brings many benefits, the main being the ability to moderate and control the group.
How Google+ is Different
Hangouts are the main reason that Google+ is different than Facebook. Hangouts allow you to connect through video with your clients, customers, and readers. Consider setting up a weekly event for the page where attendees can ask questions about your products or services and get feedback directly from you.
