Get a Google+ page for your small business

by on November 16, 2011

Google+ business pages are here!

To get started with Google+, use your Google account info or sign up for a Google account here.

Update May 16th, 2012: Google+ has rolled out a new design, so the layout will look a little different from what you see in the videos below, but the actual content has remained the same.

In the video below, I take you with me as I set up my page…

In this video, I show you where you can add some  links to your page…

So does your small business actually need to set up a Google+ page?

      Is your head spinning at the thought of another social media account to manage? Keep the following in mind when deciding whether or not to get your small business set up right away…

      • Search. Engine. Marketing. We all know how much Google loves its own sites when it comes to search rankings. A Google+ page is a must for any business in the search game.
      • Do you produce alot of valuable content (such as through a blog)? Like Facebook and other social media channels, Google+ business pages let you get your content out there.
      • Claim your brand name, especially if it encompasses common words.
      • While we’re not looking at the same penetration as Facebook, Google+ does have over 40 million users at the moment and some neat functionality that’s a little different from Facebook.
      • Do you have various different customer types or audiences for your small business that would be interested in different types of content? You can organize your fans in customized circles, and share information with only one specific circle. A neat bit of functionality.

A few things to note with Google+ business pages…

      • The Google+ Page and your Google Places Page are 2 separate entities. They need to be managed separately.
      • The +1 button under the profile picture of your page does not give the ability to follow a business’ page. Instead,  the page needs to be added to Google Plus circles.
      • As a page, you can only follow someone if they follow you.
      • So far there is only one badge available for promoting your Google+ business page on your website, but more are to come. Access the badge here.
      • Currently, social media management tools do not include Google+, but that’s sure to come soon.
      • As with Facebook, you have a photostrip to jazz up your page. You will notice that the pics on the Google page are a perfect square while those on Facebook are a rectangle, so not all your current Facebook photos will work as well or look the same. Update: You can now have a full banner image rather than 5 boxes. Get more details here (including a free Photoshop template to download).
      • Currently, only one admin is allowed. This should also change soon. Update: multiple admins are now allowed on Google+ Business Pages. When logged in as your page, click on the little gear icon on the right, select “Settings” and then click on the “Managers” tab. Just pop in the email address of the person you want to add as an admin.

You can find me on Google+ here – would love for you to come and join me! Feel free to share links to your own business pages here in the comments. I’ll be happy to come and check you out!

Comments, likes and tweets are always appreciated! Did I mention that I LOVE your feedback?

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

A Website Designer November 17, 2011 at 5:25 pm

Hi Martina, this will come in handy. I must admit I haven’t gotten around to setting up a page yet but I’ll come back here when I do!

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Martina November 18, 2011 at 11:00 am

Sounds good! Leave a link to your page here when you do and I’ll be happy to add ya 🙂

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CorinneC @ freenergydiary November 18, 2011 at 10:54 pm

Excellent post! I learned a couple of things from this post!

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Martina November 21, 2011 at 9:40 am

Thanks Corinne!

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Olivia & Will's Fine Children's Furniture December 24, 2011 at 10:58 am

great so great. i like the article thanks for sharing.

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