Google

Social Media? SEO? Here’s What You Need To Know About Google.

Posted by Cucumber Helen |

Have you heard of Google+? Or Google Pages? Of course you have. Google’s own stab at social media hasn’t exactly gotten the publicity of Facebook or Twitter, but Google Pages are still an important part of any business’ social media suite. Why? Here are two reasons:

  1. Google LOVES Google+ The key difference between Google+ and Facebook, when it comes to being found on Google, is that the search engine actively indexes the content of your Google+ posts. This means that your G+ content can be actively found through the search engine. This doesn’t work for Facebook.
  2. A Google Location Page can be your customer’s first impression of your business. Pictures, reviews & hours of operation are the first things that your customers see when searching your local store – wouldn’t you want to make sure that those are up and looking great?

Google Pages skim the line between Social Media and Search Engine Optimization because the social activity generated also acts as bonus points for SEO. No matter what your business is, there’s a benefit to being on Google in one way or another.

Google Pages? There’s More Than One?

There are 3 main Google categorizations that work to promote your business: A Google Profile, Brand Page and Location Page. Here’s what you need to know:

  1. A Google Profile is automatically generated with every gmail account; It’s very likely that your business already has a Google Profile. This profile can be found on Google’s search. You should either update it, or get rid of it. If you represent yourself, you can use this profile as a form of cross-promotion by linking to your website in the description. Or, if you manage a business, you can consider deleting your profile altogether.
  2. A Google Location Page is needed if you want to show up on Google Maps. If you have a physical store, you need to have your business page set up. We can’t stress this enough! Not only does it allow you to be found on Google Maps, but it gives your business the edge when people search for your product. A picture of your storefront, with relevant reviews and hours of operation, are displayed to the right of search results.
  3. A Google Brand Page is managed like a Facebook page, except for the fact that its content can be found through Google’s search engine. If you have a relevant post on G+ that links to your website, it provides an additional opportunity for potential customers to find you through Google.

Where Do I Start?

When it comes to engaging on Google’s social platform, a Google Profile and a Brand Page are the main points of communication. People (via Profiles) comment on cool stuff going on in the community (usually on Brand Pages). Where should you focus your efforts for ongoing social media presence? Here are some guidelines:

  1. Post regularly through your Google Profile if you represent yourself, especially if you provide services or individual expertise. If you have a personal brand, this is where you can shine.
  2. Post through your Google Brand Page if you represent your business. Your Brand Page will be a community – so you’ll need to respond to comments, pictures, etc. You can even assign managers to represent your Brand Page, so there’s no need to do it all on your own.

Both Brand Pages and Location Pages can be accessed from your Google Profile through the Google My Business platform. You absolutely need to check this out if you own a physical location! This is where you’ll place your store hours, description, and link to your website.

Help! I Have Too Many Profiles!

Google+ profiles are meant for individual people. If you find that you have too many G+ profiles or if your business already has a Page, you can consider deleting your Google+ Profile. This will unlink your Profile to any Pages or YouTube accounts that it is an admin for. If your profile is the sole admin of any page, make sure you assign new admins to ensure that you’ll still manage the page!

Hopefully we’ve answered some of your questions on the differences between a Google Profile, Brand Page and Location Page. It’s helpful to know how these three categorizations work on Google, even if you don’t plan to use all of them!

If you have any questions at all about Google My Business, Google+ or how social activity on their platforms affect SEO, give us a call or contact our (Marketing) Greenhouse on Robson street! We always have chocolate.