Ben Stroup

There was a lot of buzz when Google+ first launched in June of 2011. People were calling it “the new Facebook” and scrounging for an invite to gain access to the newest and hottest social network. However, over time that “buzz” slowly started turning to crickets. The social network that grew from 0 to 500 million in under a year had turned into a ghost town. I’ll admit that I was even skeptical of its existence.

Don’t Give Up on Google+

Yet, social media and marketing professionals like Chris Brogan and Guy Kawasaki are still nuts about it. But, why?

A few weeks ago, I ran across a post from Forbes that explained Why You Should Be On Google Plus (Even Though No One Else Is). The article highlighted multiple reasons why we shouldn’t give up on Google+ just yet, including one major way we use it with our work at Ben Stroup Enterprises, Google+ Hangouts. It turns out that Google+ could help your brand connect with your audience in ways other social networks can’t.

If you’re an author, speaker, or blogger there are obvious benefits that Google+ provides that can help you continue to build your audience and platform.

A 60 second audit for your Google+ Page

Whether you’re sweeping off the cobwebs of your abandoned Google+ page or looking to improve upon your current usage, here are 5 quick and easy ways you can improve your Google+ status in less than 60 seconds:

1. Add a Tag Line to your page

Like LinkedIn, Google+ gives you the ability to craft a tag line for your page. Google+ users might not always click through to your profile, so the best way catch their attention is to add a tag line to your profile.

2. Set your settings as Public

Because Google+ allows you to create circles for sharing specific information, it’s important to make sure that all of your connections have the opportunity to see the posts you publish, whether it be a recent blog post, question, etc.

If you’re looking to share information with a niche group, you can easily adjust the settings, but for the sake of your blog traffic.

3. Craft a Google+ URL

This simple step takes 2 seconds and will provide you with a simpler, cleaner URL to use when promoting your page.

Gplus.to allows you to create an appendix that will be added to a short form Google+ ID. This URL could be used in an email signature, other forum profiles, and for related links.

4. Create Separate Profiles for personal and professional use

Much like having a Facebook fan page, creating a separate Google+ page for “business” will help you cultivate conversations that are important for growing your brand while keeping your other conversations personal.

5. Join a Community

This is the real value of Google+. This is a great way for you to connect with like-minded people and develop new connections through shared interests or goals.

The Payoff

Whether you make Google+ your primary social media tool or not, taking these 5 steps will help you maintain a professional look across all of your social media networks and will give you the opportunity to create and cultivate connections in a way that other social networks cannot.

Google+ may or may not be “the next big thing.” The jury is still out on that one. Nevertheless, it’s worth taking a minute to ensure you’re getting the maximum return on your profile.

Have you seen an ROI from Google+? How have you used it for business or building your platform?

Jeremy Chandler is social media director at Ben Stroup Enterprises and  jumps at any opportunity to connect with others. You can connect with him on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Google+.