Google+ Now Incorporated Into Search: What Are You Doing?
Google is going all-in with social, and you have to wonder how this will affect your home improvement business. In the past few months, I have warned that this day would be coming and have been encouraging our clients to create their own Google+ pages or join our social media management program. Google has deepened its commitment to mix personal content into its algorithmic search results early last year and now is incorporating its own social network to mingle with its algorithmic search results. The new “Search, plus Your World” feature looks through your Google+ profile for relevant things shared with you, things your friends shared, or other relevant pages and profiles, and integrates them into your search results even if they’re privately shared only with you.
Google+ Launches Business/Brand Pages – Sign Up Now!!!!
The long awaited Google+ Pages for businesses and brands was just announced yesterday afternoon. This is VERY exciting news and there are all types of amazing possibilities, as you now have a social media tool for your business that is actually connected with the largest search engine. I have a strong belief that Google+ brand pages will be integrated into your Google Places page, thus effecting over all optimization of your website. I cannot stress the importance of creating your business Google + Page today.
If you are a Footbridge Media client that participates in our Social Media Management program, please DO NOT create the page. Your social media manager will manage this project for you and it will be included into the Social Media Management program.
Is Google Places Going to be The Next Yellow Pages?
As Google continues to revamp the Places section and their launch of their new social media network, Google + there has been some noticeable changes that will affect the entire Google Places and Map section. The most severe changes to Google Places involve the removal of client reviews from third party websites within the Place page, and the prohibition of P.O. Boxes as acceptable addresses. One additional change is the removal of the additional information/SEO content that people would enter into their place page such as service areas, products, services etc.
Google Changes and How It Affects Contractors
In the past six months there has been many changes over at Google, including Google Places, Google Panda and their launch of their new social network Google+. As a home improvement contractor managing all these changes can be time consuming and overwhelming, so I just wanted to give some tidbits and updates on what you need to know without having to dredge through all the information you may be hearing.
Google Places: It appears that Google Places is in a constant state of flux. From deleting reviews, to as of today, eliminating descriptions it appears that Google is revamping their Places section to coincide with their new Google+ network, which I will discuss further. They have eliminated third party review snippets that used to exist. Instead there are links to review sites.
