The (Growing) Influence of Google+

Many of us follow our favorite brands & local businesses on Twitter and take advantage of offers & promotions through Facebook, but what about Google+? In the past, if someone were to mention Google+ as a social platform, it probably went something like this:

“Google+ is a ghost town; it’ll never catch on!”

That statement could not be more false. While many people think of Google as just a search engine, Google has made some dramatic changes to the platform. These dramatic changes include some key integration updates with its Maps product, which has produced the Google+ Local pages. Think of these pages as a one-stop shop for your brand: they act as dealerships’ social profiles, displaying directions and reviews as well as the latest offers.

This growing influence isn’t just hearsay. Our local search reports show the impact of having a verified Google+ listing: calls to our clients’ stores dramatically increase. This is because the phone number embedded within the first page of your Google search is pulled from your verified Google+ listing, as well as the reviews, the photos, the address, the ratings, and so on. Thus, Google+ is a way of authenticating your online presence.

Think about a customer looking for your store, or a store like yours in their area. If they are looking for immediate results or direct contact with you, they are going to type in their search query and when your local search ranking comes up, they are more likely to click on this, than other websites.

Google+ Local pages are a must-have for any small business or brand trying to increase its visibility and reach on search engines. After optimizing a Google+ Local page for a client, the results are extraordinary. Here’s why:

- Optimized tags and description give the verified page increased credibility.
- Social posts increase the SEO value of the page, allowing for greater reach.
- Responses to Google+ reviews give customers a sense of value and community.
- The verified checkmark and professional creative images give viewers a feeling of validation.

In a land of numerous review websites, people trust Google. They trust it for their email, they trust it to connect with friends, and they trust it to bring them the most relevant information when they search. So now is a better time than ever to make sure your Google+ listing is relevant, updated and delivers them everything they are looking for.

Searchoptics.com is a leader in digital marketing solutions for the automotive industry. Search Optics interactive marketing services include custom websites, search engine optimization, paid search and mobile solutions that generate leads which result in sales opportunities. Search Optics specializes in automotive digital marketing and automotive marketing services.