Should Your Business Get a Google+ Page?
Facebook business pages, LinkedIn, and now the possibility of a Google+ business-oriented page. Should your business get in on the new Google+ expansion?
According to a recent announcement on YouTube by Google product manager Christian Oestlien, while Google+ is currently focusing on a consumer-oriented social network, it will soon be launching a business-oriented site.
Some businesses have already tried to jump the gun, creating profiles for their companies under a traditional user framework. For the most part, however, Google has been deleting these pages, urging businesses to wait until business profiles are up and ready. What should your business be prepared for?
One thing to be prepared for is a whole lot of change. Google+ business profiles may be vastly different than profiles on LinkedIn or on Facebook. Google chat is integrated into Google+, allowing for fast and easy communication. "Hangouts" are also integrated seamlessly into the social network, letting groups of friends use their webcams to chat and socialize at the same time.
Google+ lets you add friends, acquaintances, and other "followers" into various "circles," allowing easy sharing of information or photos with specific "circles" of friends. These privacy settings could let businesses create circles just for employees, and then another one for customers or fans of the business.
Plus, there's just a whole network of business-oriented apps that Google could potentially integrate into the Google+ business profile. Google checkout allows customers to readily and easily make purchases through Google. The "hangout" feature on Google+ could also be used for business purposes, in the form of an informal business meeting.
Whenever Google does roll out business profiles, maybe your business will greatly benefit. After all, connecting with customers can raise your level of customer service and also create publicity.
What should you do in the meantime? Familiarizing yourself with the user-oriented Google+ profile may be helpful for whenever the Google+ business pages launch. This way, you'll be even more prepared for the new Google+ expansion, whenever it may come.
Related Resources
- Why Google+ Business Profiles Will Trump Facebook Pages (PC World)
- What if Facebook Removes My Business' Page? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
- Could My Business Get Kicked Off Facebook? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)