New social network, Google+, started off strong and has become a new “hot spot” for power users and casual users alike. The internet famous such as Kevin Rose, use Google+ as well as everyday people—especially now that Google+ is in open beta, allowing anyone to sign up for an account.
Small businesses can benefit from building a Google+ personal profile (business profiles aren’t out yet) and keeping engaged with customers. Instead of writing off Google+ as another social network to maintain–on top of that Facebook Page and Twitter account–here are some tips to consider for small business marketing help.
1. Hangout with your customers, employees
Google+ has a feature called “Hangout,” which is a video chat service that can be used to talk to dozens, or even hundreds, of people at once. Hangout’s can be utilized by a small business to use a virtual meetings with employees, especially if a majority of your employees do remote work.
However, another thing to consider is a Hangout session with customers. Customers can use the Hangout to express opinions and even help your small business improve or change its strategy.
2. Huddle for instant chat
The mobile version of Google+ includes the “Huddle” feature, which is an inner chat option that allows you to instantly send real time messages to anyone on your profile. Huddle is a free service which can be used to send out messages while on the go–maybe for those last minute ideas or impromptu meetings.
3. Customer service through Google+
Small business marketing help can even extend to customer service. One way which this can be done is by using the ability to limit the visibility of posts to certain people or a group of people.
Customers who might need assistance from your business can be discovered through a keyword search on Google+, then, you could aid them through limited posts, rather than waiting on email. What ways have you been seeing people use Google+ for customer service?
4. Google +1 and SEO
While Google+ grows in numbers, another available service through Google+ does as well. The +1 button, which can be found all across the Web now, works much like Facebook’s “Like” button.
Though it’s still too early to tell, small businesses could (and probably will) benefit from using the +1 button in their Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. Google Analytics is even measuring the number of pluses that a website receives so be sure to integrate the Google+ button into your site and blogs (our new buttons are going live on Monday!).
5. Sparks
“Sparks” on Google+ are essentially keywords you can follow. A small business that might work in Pay-Per-Click or SEO could benefit from Sparks by following topics within those industries to find potential customers and keep tabs on the market.
Small business marketing help can come in a variety of different ways, Google+ being one of them that is only going to get bigger with time.
Jumping on board with the social network now will only build a bigger base to work with while Google+ is still relatively new, and could potentially mean power usage for your business.
