how small businesses are using google+
DESCRIPTION
I spoke at the 2012 Social Media Strategies Summit in Las Vegas on "How Small and Medium-Sized Businesses are Using Google+." Launched by Google in 2011, Google+ is the latest social networking tool on the block. Businesses of all sizes are giving it a go, but much of the media attention has focused on how large enterprises are using Google+ to reach customers. In this presentation, attendees will discover the pros and cons of using Google+ as a small business, while also learning about how other small businesses are using the platform. See the SMSS agenda here: http://socialmediastrategiessummit.com/2012vegas/agenda.htmlTRANSCRIPT
How Small and Medium Businesses
are Using Google+
By Erica SwallowTech Journalist & Director of Community, Contently
About Google+• Launched to public in September 2011
• Google’s latest foray into social networking• Google Friend Connect, Google Buzz, Orkut
• 90 million users
• Tech enthusiasts, male students
• Largely inactive user base
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
Why Google+ Matters• Largest search engine in the world
• Momentum towards social-driven search
• Google products continue to merge• Google Places, Google Reader, Google
Search
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
The Downside
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
More Negatives• Administration is difficult
• You need a personal account to create a business page
• Social dashboards don’t integrate Google+ yet
• Google side projects are unreliable• Buzz, Wave, Hotpot
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
The Google+ Profile
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
Create Custom Circles• Based on your email contacts• Circles enable easy grouping and sharing
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
Follow Sparks• Google+’s algorithmic content recommendation
system• Based on Google Search, Google+ and +1
button
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
Google+ Business Pages
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
Anecdotal Evidence
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
• More than 50 small business Google+ pages
Get an SEO Boost• Free SEO!
• At the very least, create and fill out a page
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
Host Hangouts• Business meetings, industry chats, meetups
• Hangout with Extras: named hangouts, shared notes and sketchpad, Google docs integration, screensharing
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
Expand Content Distribution• Share photos, videos, links and commentary
• Segmentation: Customers, VIPs, Team members
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
Other Reasons To Get Started…• Connect with early adopters
• Network with journalists and potential clients
• Explore
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
Pro Tip: Shorten Your URL• Google+ doesn’t support vanity URLs• Use gplus.to to create a short URL for sharing
#SMBGoogle+ | @ericaswallow
Questions?
Erica Swallow | @ericaswallow | ericaswallow.com