Many people have said that Google+ has been doomed since its launch in 2011. Some have claimed that Google+ was deserted for Pinterest while others claimed that G+, being the new kid on the block, was not a worthy rival of social media’s king, Facebook. Last week, the Google I/O conference released some surprising facts that will leave Google+ naysayers flabbergasted. Here is the recap: Google+ hits 250 million users while Pinterest only has 11.7 users Google+ users spend on average 12 minutes per day, which is very comparable to Facebook users who spend 15 minutes per day After 1 year, Google+ is the 3rd largest social network, after Twitter and Facebook For more information please visit our BARS+TONE blog bars-tone.com/blog.

1. DOES GOOGLE+ STAND FOR
GHOST TOWN+
and why your business should care

2. BACKGROUND

3. GOOGLE BY NUMBERS
3rd largest social network
250 million total users
150 million monthly users
75 million daily users
Users spend on average 12 minutes/day

4. SOCIAL NETWORKS BY USER
901 M
555 M
220 M
150 M
11.7 M

5. SEARCH

6. HISTORY OF SEARCH
In the old world of search engines, think
Excite or Netscape, everyone received
the same results. Today search has
evolved to deliver personalized results,
based on your previous behavior.

7. SEARCH WITH GOOGLE+
A peer-based system that prioritizes
search results on the amount of “votes”,
or +1’s, a page gets and is then tailored
to your personal taste and previous
behavior. Placing G+ content higher in
importance than Facebook or Twitter.

8. TO-DO LIST

9. SKYROCKET SEO 1 of 4
Add a Google+ badge to your company
website. This is a simple, but effective
way to promote and create a Google+
community .

10. SKYROCKET SEO 2 of 4
Write a keyword dense “About” section
on your Company Profile. Google+
prioritizes this part of your profile so it’s
imporatnt to ensure that it is keyword
dense and relevant to your target
market.

11. SKYROCKET SEO 3 of 4
Choose quality over quantity. Posting
high-quality content that is interesting
sparingly, rather than poorly thought out
posts frequently. Users are looking for
valuable content sharing with in-depth
comment threads.

12. SKYROCKET SEO 4 of 4
Search first, write later. Conduct a
keyword phrase search on topics
relevant to your brand. This will lead
you to content and influencers
discussing your product or service.
Post relevant content on these
discussion threads to trigger positive
linkbacks.

13. GOOGLE+ CIRCLES
Segment your audience to deliver more
targeted, relevant messages. Be sure
to create a special Circle for key
influencers and utilize them to test
messaging.

14. GOOGLE+ HANGOUTS
A built-in “Skype” like feature where you
can communicate with up to 9 people at
once, completely free. Create key
influencer Circles, invite them to
hangout and introduce them to new
products, answer questions and get
feedback.

15. GOOGLE+ EVENTS
Smoothly integrates with your Google
Calendar to help you plan and organize
events. Users can share photos and
video before, during and after the event
has taken place.

16. GOOGLE+ LOCAL
Think of this as a Yelp like feature for
your business. Your business becomes
searchable on Google Maps after it’s
been registered with the feature and
visitors can write reviews that are then
shared with their Circles. The more
reviews you receive, the higher you’ll
appear on a SERP.

17. AND MORE GOOGLE+
Other features of Google+ to take
advantage of and create a more robust
presence are Photos, Videos, Explore
and Games.

18. BARS+TONE is a digital media agency
that specializes in creating online
experiences that drive your audience to
meaningful action.