Are Your Google Plus and SEO Working Together? If Not, You’re Missing Out!

Posted on the 13 March 2013 by Elizabethlmaness @elizbethlmaness

Google Plus SEO

The response to our last piece about SEO and Social Media and how they work together has been strong – and it confirms our thoughts that this is a vital part of online marketing. 

It also confirms our suspicions that it's something a lot of people still don't quite understand!  One commenter even mentioned that there were bits of it she didn't quite get, but that she knew it was important!  We couldn't agree with her more, so we are going to step by step through each social media platform so you understand how each one works (individually and all together) through providing optimized content, to boost your overall search engine placement. 

We like to deliver value quickly, so we're going to cut to the chase.  There is one platform that if you aren't using strategically, you are seriously missing out on some of the most important search engine juice that you could possibly have.  

It's not Facebook SEO. 

And I'm not talking about using Twitter search engine optimization, though that's important too!

I'm talking about Google Plus.  And if you aren't feeding quality content to Google Plus for search engine optimization, you are missing out big time, and I'm not sure you'd ever be able to make this up. ( This is why you need to understand the important of Google plus for your business)

It's kind of like investing in your retirement plan.  You know how they show you those calculators where if you start investing a little bit now, it grows in such a way that makes it hard to catch up later, even if you invest more? 

Google Plus has the power to be the same way.  I know everyone likes the "prettier" platforms better and thinks that Google+ doesn't have the power of Facebook SEO or Twitter SEO.  But the fact of the matter is this.  

Google owns search, Yahoo and Bing notwithstanding.  Google favors Google-owned sites.  Any way you can strengthen your position on Google Plus, then, is going to boost your authority and relevance in the eyes at Google.  

You need to be using Google Plus (and in strategic ways).  

Okay – so assuming you're converted, here's a few tips on using Google Plus to strengthen your search engine results (SERPs).  Honestly – there are so many tips, I'm going to break them down into a few posts, I think.  I'd like to make sure you know step by step how to use this key platform as strategically as possible!

1.Include links in your profile

Did you know you could insert links into your Google Plus Profile for SEO benefit?  Include anchor links to your page, your products and services.  As you increase your engagement on Google+ by getting people to +1 your posts or share them, the value of the inbound link from your profile to your site will increase.  Not bad, right? 

2. Include links in your posts

Make sure to include links to your site when you post updates to Google+.  Again – as your content on Google+ is engaged with increasingly, the SEO value of those inbound links will rise, increasing your placement in Google search. 

3.Engage with influencers

One of the best ways to get more people to see, engage with and share your content is to connect with influencers in your niche.  Not only will you be judged by the company you keep, but chances are, if you produce content that's worth reading, they'll pass it on.  Note – make sure you know the rules in communities run by those influencers.  If you just use them as places to spam your links, you'll be kicked out.  And that's a way to lose credibility almost as fast as a Harlem Shake video gone viral.  

What are your questions about Google+ and how it impacts your SEO?  Leave your questions and comments below.  We'll spend at least 2 more posts talking about this platform, and we want to answer every question you have!