Why Google+ suddenly matters a lot.
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Why Google+ suddenly matters a lot.
Just a few months ago when Google launched their new social networking service, called Google+, the question most people were asking was do I really have time for yet another social media site?
But an important new development in just the past few weeks has transformed the matter of Google+ from a curiosity into a must-do for business. I’ll be writing more about this soon on my blog, but as a subscriber to CreativeBoost, you get this first.
Google now uses the [11]content you add on Google+ as part of determining your ranking in their search results. Links: 11. http://www.seomoz.org/blog/why-every-marketer-now-needs-a-google-strategy
If your business depends at all on inbound traffic to your website or blog for new customers, new sales, or even to elevate your profile in your market, this is huge.
To be clear, this isn’t just a matter of creating an account and walking away. Google+ is a place to connect, listen and share things with other people. Great content is the driver here, just as it is everywhere online. So how do you do that on Google+?
Write a new post with a link to a recent article from your blog, or to an article you found elsewhere. Tell others why they might find it helpful. Comment on what someone else has posted in their stream. Post a video. Share a tip or a lesson learned. There are plenty of ways to create and share great content. Just make sure what you have to say is useful and relevant to your audience.
And there’s more…
Google+ features a little +1 buttongplusicon. You’ve probably seen it popping up all over the place online lately. It’s similar to Facebook’s Like button. But with some important distinctions. When someone +1’s your content (and they can do that either within Google+ or outside on the rest of the web when it’s enabled), they have the option to turn that action into a post within their own stream and write something in response. So not only does your message get amplified, it gets connected to what others are saying, too.
You also have the option to keep your +1s private, so it can function as a personal bookmarking service if you want it to. If you choose to keep your +1s public, they also show up in your Google search results. Again, an important factor in determining your ranking in search results.
Proof is in the numbers.
The influence of +1 is already measurable. Hubspot is reporting that websites that use this button get 3.5 times greater the number of visits compared to those sites that don’t have it yet. A mid-January 2012 report from Google says that its number of users are already up sharply to 90 million. Even more important, more than 60 percent of those people use the service daily, and 80 percent use it weekly.
Google’s CEO Larry Page is on the record as saying that the company plans to continue to feature “more social data in search.” Based on those kinds of numbers I’m seeing, I can see why.
That’s why I’m recommending to all thinkit creative client’s to make Google+ part of their client engagement strategy. It’s a must-do.
Here’s how you join. If you already have a Gmail account with Google, you can simply enable Google+ in the nav bar that appears at the top of the screen when you [12]sign in to Gmail’s web client. Links: 12. http://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin
If you don’t already have a Google Account, you can create one [13]here. Links: 13. https://accounts.google.com/SignUp
Need more details on how to join? [14]I can help. Once you’re all set-up, be sure to add me to your circles and I’ll gladly add you back. ____________ Links: 14.
Rethinking weekends
Saturday and Sunday are days of rest for many. Yet new data shows that the weekend is becoming the best time to reach and engage audiences, particularly if it’s conversational. Social media scientist Dan Zarella looked at a massive sample of email and found a 15% percent jump in click-throughs on weekends. Email Marketing Reports identifies Saturday and Sunday as being consistently among the top days for clicking and responding. I’ve found this also to be true of Twitter and Google+. There’s less noise and audiences have a little bit more time for conversation. No sales pitches. Just be helpful to others. quotation marks Links: 6. http://thinkitcreative.com/blog
What our clients say
“Pleasant to contact and to do business with, he surpassed all of my expectations. I highly recommend Patrick and his company, thinkit creative, to anyone who needs great writing that sells.” —Constantin Sharypkin, [7]Vedia Translations Links: 7. http://vediatranslations.com
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When should I spell-out numbers in a text? Numbers less than 10 should be spelled out (e.g., there are six great reasons why editors are fine people). Those that are 10 or greater should be in numerical form. Since this is the English language we’re talking about, there are exceptions. For instance, this rule does not apply to numbers used as list-bullets. Have a question or tip? [8]Submit it here. Links: 8. mailto:pgant@thinkitcreative.com?subject=Re%3A%20Question%20or%20tip%20for%20%22Ask%20a%20writer%22%20on%20CreativeBoost
From our blog
[9]The habit of ideas and 10 more places I go for creative inspiration Links: 9. http://thinkitcreative.com/blog/habit-ideas-10-places-creative-inspiration
PLUS. Even more ideas to help you unlock the power of writing that sells are waiting for you right now. [10]Read on. Links: 10. http://thinkitcreative.com/blog
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