How to Use Google + for Small Business…

Get ready to utilize Google + as the next big buzz for maximizing social media presence online.

Even though the application is still under early stages of development, it is essential for small online businesses to understand its potential and be ready when Google + launches its business page in the winter of 2011.

If you start developing the strategies now, you will be ahead of your competitors. If you are concerned about your online company reputation, you cannot give Google + a miss.

How do you use Google + for small business?

Get the Public Stamp of Approval

In the last few months, you must have noticed the little +1 button attached with every search result. When you click on +1, it shows your approval for that piece of information – written content, video content and image content.

Not only this, if you want to share your +1 approval, you can add a comment and forward it to your circles on Google +. Why? The next time your Circles are searching for similar information, they can see your +1.

Your stamp of approval is like a public recommendation that is going to play a huge role in global SEO services.

Naturally, people will assume that a site receiving more +1 responses will rank higher with Google search engine rankings. But when the Google +1 button was launched, Google denied any such thing affecting the search results; however, Google did not dismiss the possibility completely.

Therefore, if you are planning to SEO your site, don’t forget to get good +1 responses from people.

The +1 button and Google + will also create SEO problems as well. Both these buttons are helping users to create a personal version of Google’s search algorithm, meaning that the next time you search for similar content; your recommended +1 will be shown to you first despite the fact that better information was available for the same.

And since this personalized set of results will vary with every user online, it will create SEO problems.

Wait and watch if Google and the SEO community are able to manage some kind of consensus on this.

Comprehensive Business Pages

At the moment, Google + does not allow users to create brands or business pages but later in the year, you will be able to. Below is a screenshot of a business page released by Google, showing how a Starbucks business page might look like -

Unlike the Facebook Pages, the Google + business pages will also list management staff and other employees. Moreover, Google will be integrating Google Places and Google Maps services so it will be possible to add multiple business locations. A feature will be enabled through which businesses can verify their ownership, lending more credibility in the eyes of users.

The best thing is that the Google + will also integrate Google AdWords and Google Analytics. Isn’t this a complete package?

Wait…there is more.

There will be Google Meeting, Google Screencast and Google Whiteboard.

• Google Meeting will be a “business hangout”…a place for companies to interact with its staff over the phone, video and text for a maximum of 10 people at a time.
• Google Screencast will be beneficial for real time demonstrations where users can record “computer screen output” and share it with others. This will be good for tutorials and guides.
• Google Whiteboard will serve business meetings where attendants can record their minutes of the meeting on the whiteboard and share with others through email or G+.

The icing on the cake is the Google Offers. It is Google’s answer to Groupon. Google Offers will be a part of the business brand page. Brands who are actively into retail, Internet marketing, or involved in targeted service provider-ship will be able to use Google Offers as a “daily deals” platform and dole out attractive value for money offers.

As an entrepreneur myself, I think the best way to optimize on the Google + buzz is to start preparing NOW. Start building marketing strategies and create an estimate on how you want the G+ impact to improve your business in the next 6 months from the day the Google plus business page is introduced.

What do you think? Are you eager to use Google + for your business? Share with us below.