Google+ was launched in 2011 and has grown rapidly to become the second largest social network. It allows businesses to create pages to engage with customers, improve search engine optimization through features like authorship, and integrate with other Google products. The document provides tips for businesses on setting up and optimizing their Google+ page to drive traffic, show up in relevant searches, and interact with customers.

1. Google+ Your Business
google.com/+DerekRoss

2. Google+ History and Info
● Launched June 2011 in private beta
○ Invite only sign-ups
● Public beta began in September 2011
○ Anyone can join
● Fastest growing social network ever
○ Still growing leaps and bounds
○ Still adding features, improving
● Big names using G+ Features
○ Celebrities
■ Black Eyed Peas, Conan, Spielberg, Alicia Keys
○ President of the USA

3. Myth Debunking: Ghost Town
● Since day 1 the media called G+ a ghost
town and a failure
● Why did they say this?
○ Google+ is a true social network
○ Treated G+ like Twitter or Facebook
○ Didn't give it a chance
● Fast forward to today
○ Many media outlets have retracted their statements
■ "Google+ is not a ghost town after all"
■ "Google gets social"

4. Google+ Statistics
● Google+ is now the #2 social network
● 500M+ users
● 343M active users
● ~25% of all web
users on G+
● Stats from Dec '12
G+ 1.5 years old

5. Google+ features
● Engagement
● Hangouts / Hangouts On Air
● Circles
● Communities
● Share publicly or to limited groups
● Google+ Local reviews
● Play Store reviews

6. It's more than a social network
● Google+ isn't a Facebook competitor
● Google+ the social glue for Google Products
● Google+ is the next version of Google
● Facebook is just social
● Google has an array of products and
services

7. Google+ Integration
● Most popular browser: Chrome
● Most popular email: Gmail
● Most popular search engine: Google
● Most popular video sharing: YouTube
● Most popular mapping service: Maps
● Most popular mobile OS: Android
● Google Drive sharing integration
● Google+ Local, formerly Google Places

8. Why should your G+ your business?
● Search Ranking
○ Search Plus Your World
○ Google Authorship
● Show the value of identity across the web
● Join the Google ecosystem
● Connect with customers in unique ways
● Show your ads with your Google+ page
endorsements
● Google+ Local

9. How to create a Business Page

10. How to create a Business Page
● Two types of pages
○ Local page (formerly Google Local)
■ Reviews, scores, directions
■ Hotels, restaurants, retail store
■ Automatically created for most
○ Social page
■ Social features of Google+, posts, hangouts ,etc
● They can be merged!
○ Combined pages allow features from both types
○ Verified checkmark

11. I've created my Brand Page, now what?
● Add social tools to your site
○ Use the Google +1 button
● Verify your Brand Page
○ Stand out with a check mark
● Add SEO to your Brand Page
○ Keywords and links help
● Set Up Google Authorship
● Link other social profiles
● Start engaging your customers

12. Add social tools to your site
● Add the Google+ Badge to your website
● Add the +1 button to your articles and pages

13. Verify your Google+ Brand Page
● Preferred search results
● Eligible for Direct Connect
● Link your G+ Page and Website +1's
● Link to G+ Local Page
● How do I do it?
○ About Tab: add your site
○ Add badge: developers.google.com/+/plugins/badge/config
○ Verify your mailing address
○ Form: https://support.google.com/plus/contact/page_verification

14. SEO for your G+ Brand Page
● Treat your brand page as a web page
● Create SEO enabled links
● Use Keywords
● Complete your profile
○ tag line
○ cover photo
○ introduction
○ additional links

15. Set Up Google Authorship
● What's rel=author?
● How important is authorship?
"Within search results, information tied to verified online
profiles will be ranked higher than content without such
verification, which will result in most users naturally clicking
on the top (verified) results." - Eric Schmidt
● How do I do it?
○ Verify email
○ Google+
○ plus.google.com/authorship

16. Connect other social profiles
● Increase traffic to other social networks
● Increase page ranking in search results
● Show customers where else to find you

17. Google+ is for Engagement
● Social engagement (also social
involvement, social participation) refers to
one's degree of participation in a community
or society.
● Communicate with users and communities
● If you're mentioned, follow up
● Create content worth sharing or interacting
on
● Circle your customers
● Google+ users will notice the lack of
engagement. (i.e VZW vs T-Mobile)

18. Additional Resources
Official Google+ Business Guides
http://www.google.com/+business
Mark Traphagen Google+ Business Guides
http://bit.ly./gplusguides
Martin Shervington G+ Business Guides
http://goo.gl/oYFiK
Denis Labelle G+ Business Generator Toolbox
http://goo.gl/VuyJN
Google+ Business Circle
http://goo.gl/zSq49

19. Questions? Let's be social!
google.com/+derekross
facebook.com/derekross
twitter.com/derekmross
pinterest.com/derekross
YouTube.com/deremkross
klout.com/derekmross
linkedin.com/in/derekross
instagram.com/derekmross
about.me/derekross