28 November 2011

Google's strategy? SoLoMo! Social, Local, Mobile. Last summer Google+ was launched. Google goes Social. Google+ is about recommendations from people around you (to be exact, from your Google contacts). Google+ should not be seen as a product but as a project that Google will roll out over its products. Think for instance about "social search results". If you are looking for a restaurant in Paris and you will see an ad with a recommendation from your friend, there is a big chance that you will book this restaurant. As there have been several Google+ developments in the last months, here is an overview of the most important ones.

1) Google+ company pages

Since 8 November Google+ offers the ability to create a company page. Google+ and the Google+ company page will have a prominent role in SEO, the natural search results. It is strongly recommended that you claim your Google+ company page quickly. We did so: Google+ company page MAXXON online marketing. When setting up the page, we quickly ran into a number of improvement points. For example, it is not possible to upload a large company logo. To claim your company page, visit: https://plus.google.com/pages/create

2) Google+ button on your website

It is possible to add the Google+ button to the pages of your website, allowing visitors to share and recommend content from your website. To add the button to your website, visit: http://www.google.com/intl/en/+1/button/

3) Google+ button in AdWords ads

The Google+ button is integrated into the AdWords ads, both into text ads and image ads. Users are now able to recommend an advertiser directly from an ad.

4) Social extensions in AdWords

After activating the social extensions in AdWords, Google+ recommendations of your AdWords ads will be shared with your Google+ company page. This also applies the other way around. This will result into a wider reach.

5) Google+ badge

Google+ badge is the feature to promote your Google+ company page on your own website. To generate the code for this badge, go to: https://developers.google.com/+/plugins/badge/config

6) Google+ Direct Connect

Direct Connect is still in its experimental stage. The principle is easiest to explain using an example. Users searching Google for the keyword ''+maxxon online marketing'' will be sent to our Google+ company page directly and get the opportunity to add the company page to their circles. Users will also be given the choice to add company pages automatically to their circles while using Direct Connect, with other words when using keywords like +lexus, +sunparks, +heineken.

Questions or advice? We are glad to help. Please contact us.