As a digital marketing strategist, I am often asked whether Google Plus for your business is all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, some people claim they haven’t even tried using Google+ because of how confusing it seems.
This made me realize that there must be a lot of passion-driven entrepreneurs who feel confused or overwhelmed with Google+ as a channel.
Some of you might have tried but found it too time-consuming to learn a new platform. Others might have written it off entirely, thinking that their ideal customers don’t “hang out” on the platform anyway.
Can you relate?
If you are on the fence about using Google+ for your business, let me tell you…
I’m not surprised.
In fact, I avoided using the platform for a long time too and it wasn’t until I had to use it at my last agency job that I finally realized the potential that Google+ can have for your business.
But let’s dive in and debunk three commonly-held beliefs (or myths) about using Google+ for your business.
1. Google Plus is makes no sense, it is just SO confusing
Here’s the thing – usually if we can’t figure something out quickly, we might write it off as too confusing: whether it’s Google+, Twitter Ads, writing a book, or something else entirely. I’m sure you’re nodding your head right now too, saying to yourself, “Yeah, I have no idea how to use this thing.”
But here’s the thing – Google+ is actually designed to make complete sense… once you get used to it. Once you spend some time to learn the strategies to using it effectively, you’ll be shocked at how easy it can actually be. (follow the link below to get started learning more)
I spent less than an hour with one of my clients, showing her how to use Google+. Fast forward to today, it’s her favorite channel to use for her business! She was stunned by how easy it actually became and, get this, she now says it is “really well-organized.” The same girl who said it was confusing and overwhelming said it was “well-organized” – how’s that for brilliant?
2. No one is using Google Plus. My customers aren’t there
I get it. It can be tough going into the unknown without much knowledge or support. But it’s really not that bad. Something you have to remember is that one of the big strengths of successful entrepreneurs is that they are open and willing to try anything that could work. What’s the point of writing something off before even trying it?
Who cares if your friends aren’t using Google+? If they not using it and they’re in the same industry as you, guess what – good for you! You’ll be able to capture the leads and build a community that much easier.
And if you’re still thinking that Google+ is a ghost town, then let me tell you a quick statistic: Google+ has on average 300+ million monthly active users. If you’re not sure how much that really is, then how about this fact: 22% of online adults visit Google+ at least once a month. That’s quite the active ghost town…
You won’t know if your ideal clients hang out there until you try it yourself. There are communities for virtually any topic imaginable so if you haven’t dove into this you might be surprised at how intricate and specific some of these communities are.
Populate your feed by following some influential people and joining these relevant communities. Once you become more active, you’ll notice that Google+ is a vibrant community with a lot of potential customers that would be perfect for your business.
3. Seriously though, do I really need to use Google Plus for my business?
Let’s not exaggerate here. I’m not gonna pretend like you NEED to use this platform to succeed. Because you don’t. You don’t need any social media to be successful. There are obviously ways to make money without the internet. But is this you? Modern authentic businesses are on social media because they want to get their message OUT THERE into the world. Social media is a big way to do that.
So does this mean you can ignore Google Plus and hope for the best?
It’s your call. As a passion-driven entrepreneur, I’m sure you want your business to succeed. And you want it to succeed… like, right now. So my point is – why wouldn’t you want to see if Google+ could help you get there faster?
Being active on Google+ WILL help your website show up higher on search results (fantastic SEO benefits) more than ANY other social media platform by a landslide and it CAN bring you more followers and fans that buy your products and services (you want a tribe, right?), just to name a few… but hey, it’s your call.
I’m just here to make you aware of your options on whether you should use Google Plus for your business.
