What You Need to Know About…Creating a Google+ Business Page
The Google+ business pages, which look similar to Facebook pages, are easily searchable. Through Google+ Direct Connect, clients and prospects can immediately visit your Google+ business page by typing the name of your business into the Google search bar and putting the “+” before your company name. For example, typing +MyBusinessName in the search box would take you directly to the MyBusinessName Google+ page.
Here we outline how to create a business page on Google+. As with all social media, it is important to check with your compliance department before using Google+ for your business.
Getting Started
Visit www.google.com/+/business/ and click the blue button “Create your Google+ page” to begin creating your page. In order to create this page, you must have an individual Google+ account, which you can sign up for at http://plus.google.com.
If you do not have an individual profile, your next step is to create one. You will be prompted to link your Google+ business page to a Gmail account. It is recommended to link the profile to a business-controlled Gmail account, rather than a personal account.
Next, pick an appropriate category and start adding your information. The categories are Local Business or Place; Product or Brand; Company, Institution or Organization; Arts, Entertainment or Sports; and Other. This function allows businesses to distinguish themselves and enables users to search faster by categories.
After choosing a general category, you can fill in your company name and website address, as well as your industry. You will also see a section notifying you that “Your page will be publicly visible. Its content is appropriate for…” Select the appropriate category (e.g., any Google+ user, users 18 and older). You will also be asked if you want to be informed of future Pages releases and other relevant information.
Customizing Your Business Profile
Click “Create” and you will be prompted to customize your business profile. You can add a tagline or upload a profile photo (from your computer or Picasa Web albums). Once you complete this, Google+ will prompt you to share your business page with your various Google+ circles.
After creating your page, you will have four options: “Start the conversation,” “Connect your website,” “Tell the world” and “Build your circles.” In the “Start the conversation” section, you can share photos, videos, links and other interesting content, publicly.
In “Connect your website,” grow your audience through people recommending your page. You can also add a link to Google+ on your business website. “Tell the world” is a link to your page; you can distribute it everywhere you communicate on the Web to encourage people to add your page to their Google+ circles.
Your posts will appear in other’s Google+ streams once you are added to their circle. When people add your page to their circles, you can add theirs to yours in return to “Build your circles.”
Aside from Google+ business pages, “Hangouts” is one of the most interactive features. It enables you to conduct live video chats with up to nine people simultaneously, and can be used with both clients and fellow employees.
Remaining Active on Your Page
A Google+ page provides a highly public face for your company, which is why it is important to regularly share fresh and interesting content, and to quickly respond to comments on your page. Treat your Google+ business page the way you would treat your company’s website or any social networking site—by remaining active and engaged.