As the new kid on the block Google Plus still has to earn the right to run with the big dogs. However, the sheer volume of resources being deployed by Google demands that serious marketers jump in and test the waters early on. Google poured over $500 million into the launch of Google Plus.  And that is just the launch.  Surely there is more to come.

The social network is a collection of several social products.  They currently include Stream; a newsfeed, Sparks; a recommendation engine, Hangouts: a video chat service, Circles; a friend management service, Games and Photos.  Some pundits have described Google Plus it as most like a combination of Facebook and Twitter.

Google Plus One – Like it or not

The Google Plus One (+1) button is the Google version of Facebook’s ‘Like’ button. It allows you to like (as in +1) a website.  The +1 button appears everywhere on the internet, including search results, on websites, on ads…and the list goes on.

Clicking on the button allows anyone to vote for and recommend favourite websites, online products and so on. Although the +1 button is similar to the Facebook ‘like” button there is a big difference, people don’t need to sign in to a Google account to use the +1 button.  That feature alone makes the +1 button more convenient and easier to use than the Facebook “like” button. 

Why you should care?

Unlike other failed Google social media projects such as Google buzz and Google wave, Google Plus is simple, straightforward, easy to use and operate.  Not only that, Google is spreading the opportunity to plus one across the net like never before.  So, it is quick and easy to use and people who visit your website can +1 it by clicking on an icon you place on your site.  When someone clicks on the +1 icon on your site that recommendation is shown to their friends, family, and other contacts that are connected to their Google profile page.

And there is more.  Google reportedly does index Google Plus profiles. You can bet Google Plus will become a factor in Google’s search algorithm over time. 

Google Plus launched as a personal social platform and quickly evolved into a business friendly platform.  That is big news!  It looks like Google saw a chink in the Facebook armour and chose to exploit the opportunity. So now businesses have a single venue that provides a newsfeed, a recommendation engine, a video chat service, a friend management service, a place to upload images and a means to communicate with others. .    

Yes, advertising is available.

Google Plus advertising program is available through Google Adwords. However advertising on Google Plus is on a different platform than Adwords. It looks like advertising rates on Google Plus are going to be higher than Adwords costs.

The Google Plus platform is so new the advertising aspect could change a lot as it evolves. The social aspect will almost certainly affect the outcomes in big ways. Given the amazing growth and impact social media are having today, chances are good this foray into the social realm could deliver the goods for both Google and advertisers alike.

You can find more information about using Google Plus and Plus One in the membership area.  If you are looking for help implementing your Google Plus initiatives, please feel free to contact us by phone or via the Contact us page on www.appliedmarketinggroup.com

Live long, love life and be well.

Harold Brown

Messaging, Connecting and Building Relationships

You can use Facebook to send messages to clients, colleagues and prospects. You can send messages via private messages or live chats. Savvy internet marketers use Facebook to network with other people, to connect with them and ultimately to {build|create} and nurture relationships..

One of the main benefits of Facebook marketing word of mouth aspect inherent with the platform. People will talk about your products and services. They probably already are, whether or not you are actively engaged in Facebook marketing. This viral aspect of Facebook makes it possible for a marketer to reach a much bigger audience than just using a simple website alone.

Building Brand Credibility

One of the often underappreciated benefits of Facebook marketing is the potential for building a stronger brand. Your profile page allows you to share as much information as you want.  You can easily post logo and pictures to fortify brand awareness. And that doesn’t even touch the amazing opportunity to spread your core brand message far and wide by posting information to your page.

Free Advertising

There is no upfront cost for having a Facebook page. The real cost is the time required to create and manage the page on an ongoing basis. When you combine the low cost of entry with the potential viral aspect of Facebook the number of people you could reach becomes {massive|enormous} in a heart beat.

Paid advertising is available as well.  The huge number of Facebook members combined with the current cost structure make the prospect of paid advertising worth investigating and testing.

Announcing Important Events

Facebook allows you to post schedules, announce conferences, webinars product launches, and other types of events. It is easy to create an event and invite friends and followers. They in turn can recommend the event to friends, creating more exposure for the event.

To sum up, there are many benefits of Facebook marketing worth considering. The preceding few are some of the most obvious benefits. The takeaway: The potential exposure is much {higher|greater} when using social networking than with tradional SEO based marketing techniques alone.  Serious Internet marketers should give serious consideration to using Facebook marketing.  The social media landscape is changing so fast the phrase “Facebook marketing” will soon be yesterday’s news, a given.

Be sure to join our free membership area where you will find free information about Facebook marketing and related topics.  It is easy to join, just complete the subscription form on this site and create your personal logon information for the members.

Contact us by phone or by completing the contact form on this website to learn how we can work with you as you explore the possibilities of incorporating Facebook in your marketing plans.

Live long, love life and be well.

Harold Brown

P.S. Integrating Facebook along with other social media in your marketing strategies promises to deliver huge dividends to those who jump in, test the platform and refine what works best for them.