Social Media video

Why Google+ Is Important to Your Small Business - with Krista Neher (5:44) Dr. Ralph F. Wilson , Web Marketing Today - Feb 14, 2012

In this video interview, social media expert Krista Neher gives a basic overview of having a small business presence on Google+. The expectation, of course, is that a presence there will translate into an advantage in search engine rankings. Neher explains how to get started.

Google+, Neher explains, is Google's version of a social network, with some similar functions as Facebook. Google sees Google+ as a portal to, and the hub of, other Google properties - Picasa, Blogger, YouTube, etc. Google+ is the fastest growing social network ever.

Google+ just opened up to business pages in early November 2011, so the exact shape of how that will develop isn't known as yet. Fortunately, you can create a business profile quickly and easily.

Hopefully Google+ will help boost rankings, but that still remains to be seen. Providing a +1 button on your content that your customers click on may be seen as a 'signal' by Google's search engine algorithm. Previously, only website owners could 'vote' for a site they like with a link. But a +1 click gives a voice to everyone.

Neher suggests creating a page so you can start collecting people. Say something like, "We're not active yet ... but please add us to a circle so you can get our updates when we become active. In the meantime you can find us on Facebook and Twitter...."

Krista Neher is the author of the Social Media Field Guide and founder of Bootcamp Digital (www.bootcampdigital.com), that specializes in social media training in Cincinnati and all over America. The teach businesses how to leverage social media to grow and get results. This interview was recorded on November 15, 2011 at the SES Conference in Chicago.