Social Media DIY Workshop » Search Engines

First Look At Google+ (Plus)

Charlene Kingston — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:00:05 +0000

Google has launched Google+ (Plus), a new social networking site that directly competes with Facebook. While it’s new and just getting started, it has the potential to change the social media landscape. Here’s a first look at what Google+ is like and why is may become important for your business in the future.

Before You Start: You use social media for your business, or you are considering using social media.
Learning level: 1 | Social Media Basics
Article Last Updated: Friday, July 15, 2011

Note: Subscribers to my newsletter received this article nine days before it was published here. Want to have the newest and freshest information in your inbox? Subscribe now!

Google+ (Plus)

On June 28, 2011, Google launched its new social networking site, Google+. It’s getting a lot of attention from geeks and people who like to be on the leading (bleeding) edge of technology. But what is Google+? And what impact will it really have on social media for small businesses?

Let’s dig into that.

Facebook + Twitter = Google+

Google+ is the first new major social networking site in a few years. It’s a lot like Facebook where you connect with people and share updates, photos, and links. It’s a little bit like Twitter where you post and read quick updates from people you follow and you don’t need their permission to follow them.

One of the valuable features is that Google+ allows you to integrate with other Google services.

If you connect your Picassa web album to Google+, you get free unlimited photo storage, which could threaten Yahoo’s Flickr service.
It integrates with Google Docs making it easier to share and collaborate writing and reviewing information.
There is no private message service. Instead, Google links you to other users through email (Gmail) and lets you send emails to people in your network without revealing the recipients email address.

It has a great live video chat feature, Hangout, that allow many people in the same chat room that could really hurt Skype.

As I’m writing this (July 4, 2011), there’s a app for Android phones, but an iPhone app is expected soon.

Connections and Privacy

One of the most interesting features of Google+ is its circles. Youconnect with people you know by assigning them to circles. You start off with a circle for family, friends, acquaintances, and people you follow. It’s easy to add a new circle (co-workers, peers, clients, bowling team, etc.).

You assign people to a circle by dragging a image of their face with their name into the circle. It’s actually easier and more fun than making a list (Twitter) or individually marking people in a group (Facebook). People can be in more than one circle.

The best part about circles is that they control your privacy. Want to share a picture of your family with family and close friends? Only update to those circles.

It’s also easy to add your location to an update. That’s great for when you want to share geography. It’s equally easy to remove your location. If you are using a mobile device and turn on your location, Google+ automatically creates a nearby users circle based on your current location.

Google+ For Business

There are rumors that Google plans to add business pages to the service later this summer. This would give businesses yet another major social media site to build and maintain.

While Google+ doesn’t have the membership of Facebook, if it takes off, being on Google+ could be as valuable as being on Facebook in the future.

Why Google+ Is Important

Google is the leader in web search. For more than a decade, their analysis of what’s important and relevant has driven the way websites are created and given birth to an industry of people who are experts are getting your site placed high in search results (SEO).

Things have change in the last few years. The website or blog page isn’t the only way we share information. Thanks to Twitter and Facebook, we now share smaller, bite-sized bits of information. Status updates are just as important as blog posts but they are not fully integrated into search results.

Now that Google+ is collecting status updates and other bite-sized bits of information, it’s not hard to imagine that the smart folks at Google will figure out how to integrate your status updates with your blog posts and website pages into search results. That will be groundbreaking. My friend, Jay Baer, explains this very well in his blog.

It’s not surprising that Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, is actively checking out Google+.

What To Do Now

Time will tell how important Google+ will become in social media, and how it will co-exist with other major tools. It’s not possible to create a business presence on Google+ today.

Invitations to Google+ were hard to get in the first few days, but have been easier lately. If you get a chance, snag one. It’s worth checking out.

Here are my recommendations:

Start using Google+ personally. That’s the best way for you understand its features and how it integrates with other services. Then, when business pages become available, you’ll be better prepared to decide if your business wants to include Google+ in your social media presence.
Add the Google +1 button to your website and blog now. This feature is similar to the Facebook like button. It’s a way for people to say that they like your business and your content. There’s a whole section in each Google+ profile to list the things you +1 online.

However, the +1 button is more important than just for Google+. Google is now incorporating the +1 button to search results, and some people expect that Google will soon incorporate +1 into its search results ranking. In other words, having people +1 (like) you blog and site could impact your search results in the near future.

My site runs on WordPress, and there are several +1 plugins available. I’m currently using ”WordPress Google +1 Button” if you trying to decide. So far, I like it.

Stay tuned for more information as Google+adds new features and starts reaching a larger audience.

Your turn: Have you tried Google+? What do you think? How do you see this tool helping with your business online presence? Share your insights and experience here.

Related Articles:

Using The Updated Google Results Sidebar

Charlene Kingston — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:00:51 +0000

Understanding how to get the results you want from Google is an important skill. Google recently changed the options available for search results. Take a few minutes to practice using these new features.

Before You Start: You use social media for your business. You understand the importance of Google search for your business.
Learning Level: 3 | Building Skills
Article Last Updated: Sunday, December 4, 2011

Google Search Results Sidebar

Google recently updated it’s search page (including an updated logo) and moved it’s commands on the search results page. The result is a cleaner look and (hopefully) a more efficient search experience.

Here are a couple tips to help you get the most from your Google search results. Before you start, use Google to get search results from a search like this.

What are you looking for? Google searches through everything by default. Click More to see the individual search types. Click on a single search type (video, images, maps, news, blogs, etc.) to narrow your search. Click Fewer to remove the search type options.
Limit the age of the results. Click More search tools to display the full list of search options. Select the appropriate time frame (latest, past 24 hours, past week, etc.) to filter out results from a different time frame.
Categorize the search results. Click Wonder wheel to see the search results broken into categories. Google displays the wheel with categories. Click the name of the category you want to see. Google updates the wonder wheel and display the results from the selected category on the right. Click Reset tools to turn off the wonder wheel.
See what other people searched for. Click Related searches to see a list of search terms other people have used. Then click on the search term to see the results from that search.

Learning how to get the information you want from search engines is one of the most important skills you can develop. Practice using these search options until you understand how they work and how to find the information you want.

Your turn: How have you used Google search to find information for your business? Share your tips and experience here.

Related Articles:

Blog About Your Press Release

Charlene Kingston — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:00:59 +0000

A social media press release strategy helps your business in many ways. When you write a press release designed for search engine results for each event that is newsworthy to your customers, you not only inform your customers but improve the search engine results for your business website and blog for your target keywords.

Before You Start: You have a blog. You have written a social media press release about an event or accomplishment for your business.
Learning Level: 4 | Creating Solutions
Article Last Updated: Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Writing Social Media Press Releases

There is an art to writing a press release, but there are simple tips for writing a press release that maximizes the search engine benefits from your press release. You should be writing press releases for your business regularly, and you should be optimizing them for search engines to get the maximum benefit from them.

If you are not sure why you should be using press releases in the social media age, take a few minutes to read David Meerman Scott’s “The New Rules of PR: How to create a press release strategy for reaching buyers directly” (free ebook).

Add Your Press Release To Your Website

Your business website should have a page where you attach press releases. You can also add any mentions of your business in the local media, which could include video clips or links to articles.

If you don’t have any press releases or media links today, start building them. There’s no reason why you can’t go back several months and write a press release for past events. After you have a couple of press releases ready to post, create a new website page and add your press releases in chronological order. Every month or so, write a new press release and add it to your website.

In the past, you only wrote a press release when you had an event that the news media would think is newsworthy. That’s a pretty high standard! In the social media age, you write a press release when you have news that your customers would think is newsworthy. That’s a completely different way to define newsworthy.

Here are some tips for getting the most search engine benefit from your press release and website news page:

Include your target keywords in the press release file name.
Put dashes (-) between words rather than spaces or underscores (_) in the press release file name.
Use target keywords as the anchor text for the link to your press release.

Blog About Your Press Release

Each time you write a press release and post it to your website, write a blog post about it. In the blog post, you can recap the news and give a bit more background. You can explain things in more detail than the press release, and include information that you couldn’t include there.

Here are some tips for getting the most search engine benefit from your blog post:

Use target keywords as the anchor text for the link to your press release.
Write your blog post to include as many of the target keywords for your press release as possible.

With a little effort, you can build your press release strategy and start getting the benefit of improved search engine results for your website and blog for your target keywords.

Your turn: Have you developed a social media press release strategy for your business? What have you learned in the process? Share you experience here.

Related Articles:

Social Media Press Releases

Charlene Kingston — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:23 +0000

A press release is a powerful tool for sharing information about your business. Learn how and why you should be writing press releases that help your business get great search results ranking, even if you don’t land in the newspaper.

Before You Start: You understand traditional press releases.
Learning Level: 1 | Social Media Basics
Article Last Updated: Monday, August 22, 2011

The Social Media Press Release

In the past, a company wrote a press release and faxed it to the local newspapers, radio stations, and television stations hoping to get some publicity. In the social media world, a company writes a press release and posts it on the company blog and website. Search engines like Google find the press release and suddenly the company’s search engine results improve dramatically for strategic keyword searches.

In the past, a company wrote a press release when it had newsworthy information. In the social media world, a company writes a press release each time it has a major accomplishment. Launch a new service? Write a press release. Did the owner get invited to speak at the local Rotary club? Write a press release. Hire a new accounting firm? Write a press release. Sign a contract with a new client? Write a press release. Are you starting to get the idea?

The rules for press releases have changed. Are you tuned into the social media press release?

Press Release Writing

In 2006, David Meerman Scott wrote “The New Rules of PR: How to create a press release strategy for reaching buyers directly” that explained how a press release could have a positive impact on the search engine results for a company. Social media has changed the way companies can generate publicity, and the press release is a key component of the new marketing strategy.

Here are some of the most useful press release writing tips and tricks you can use to promote your business through writing press releases.

Fill your press release with the target keywords for your business and activity. Google indexes every word of your press release. As you write your press release, you want to focus on key search terms. This type of copywriting helps your press release appear high in the most desirable search results.
Include hyperlinks to destinations inside and outside of your company website. Not only do you gain search engine results benefits, but you provide a practical service for the people who read your press release.
Attach the hyperlinks to words and phrases that reinforce the link destination. Google pays attention to the words you use to anchor the links. Your word choice for the links influences your search results ranking.
Create a PDF of your press release for distribution. The PDF format allows readers to use hyperlinks and retains your formatting. Write a blog post about your press release and link to it. Also create a press page on your website and link to your press release.
Provide a list of links at the end of your press release. Some media outlets still require you to fax press releases, which means that they can’t use the embedded hyperlinks you have placed in the PDF version. Don’t include the links within the press release text because it reduces readability.
Don’t link to a web address that redirects. Instead, always link to a direct web address.
Provide online and offline contact information. This includes your web address, email, phone, and your social media passport. For example, list your company Facebook page and Twitter accounts.

Your turn: Does your company have a press release strategy? Have you created a press release section of your website? Share your experiences with the community.

Related Articles:

How Does A Blog Help My Business?

Charlene Kingston — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:00:01 +0000

Many businesses today use blogs to communicate with their customers, potential customers, and the general public. You may be wondering if a blog would help your business. A blog provides many benefits for most businesses.

Before You Start: You are considering starting a business blog.
Learning level: 1 | Social Media Basics
Article last updated: Thursday, September 22, 2011

Advantages From Business Blogs

There are many advantages you gain from keeping a business blog. Here are a few of them.

Develop a casual dialog with your customers. A blog allows you to speak casually to a wide range of people, including your customers and potential customers. Through a blog, and through blog comments, you can create a casual conversation that builds real relationships.
Fast communication of current information. Most businesses don’t update their website frequently. A blog allows you to provide up-to-date information to your customers quickly and easily. It’s much easier to update a blog than your website, and it requires no special technical skills.
Increase your visibility in search engine results. As you blog about topics, you increase your business visibility in search engine results for those topics. A business blog with posts written around your most desired search results raises your visibility, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
Share multimedia content. With a blog, you can embed other types of content such as videos, photos, and podcasts easily. By including multimedia content in your blog, you centralize all of the content from your company, and make it easy for people to see and use the content you create and provide.
You are in control (mostly). Many people use a variety of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. These sites are run by other companies, subject to hacker attacks, and may close in the future. Your blog is the only place where you run the show. Yes, your hosting service may have some downtime, but with a good backup strategy, you can be up and running again quickly.
Be seen as an expert. A blog allows you to showcase your knowledge about a topic. As other people discover the benefit of your knowledge, you become seen as an expert in the field.

Deciding to start a blog is an important business decision that can help you build your business.

Your turn: Do you keep a business blog? What benefits have you found from keeping a blog? Share your insights with the community here.

Related Articles: