Chris Brogan shares the virtues of Google+
Interesting that after his recent book on Google+, and then announcing he's no longer using LinkedIn, there's an infographic helping the US social media guru promote Google's social network - and specifically its use for business. Though I'm cynical, it is an interesting infographic and it picks up on some of the key benefits of using the network - specifically the tie in to search results if you're creating and publishing decent content. I like the idea of viewing your Google+ account as a curated magazine, great advice.
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Examples showing how building your network in Google+ gives you more visibility in the search results
This post highlights part of the importance of Google+ for SEO purposes. It does so by contrasting 2 screengrabs of Google search results pages, illustrating how H&M have managed to use Google+ to radically affect results for their network of followers, or circlers if you prefer.
About the Images
Both images are from Google.com, where the feature which makes this important to SEO, 'Search Plus Your World' have rolled out more fully than in other countries.
The first image shows search results for 'David Beckham' when not logged into Google+
The second image shows search results for 'David Beckham' when logged in. The important thing to note here is that H&M's business page is circled by the account I've used to take the screengrabs.
Image 1: Not Logged In to Google+
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Who should be in your circle for the best quality advice?
Ever since Google+ burst onto the social media scene in July last year, the blogosphere has been awash with debate on the pros and cons of the new social network.
But what can’t be disputed is the calibre of digital experts publishing their latest thoughts Google+ and the amount of insight and expertise they offer up on a daily basis.
If you’re new to Google+ or just looking for some ideas on who to follow (or ‘Circle’, as it’s known on Google+), I think these are some of the best. The focus does tend to be on social media and search, so if you're looking for advice on more specific channel's see Dave Chaffey's post on the best marketers to learn from on Google+.
So here is my list of 10 great digital experts to get you started or check against your…
Our round-up of the best advice on how marketers should respond to the Google Search plus Your World integration
Most are dubbing the latest changes to Google's search engine as some of the largest since its launch. The integration of Google+ with the the new Search plus Your World certainly has the industry buzzing again. As Google's social network grows beyond 90 million users with 60% engaging daily, its influence on personalised search is growing fast and will bring new dimensions to SEO.
Dave Chaffey covered off the initial launch of Google Search plus Your World here if you're looking for an introduction on how it integrates communities, relationships and people into its mainstream search results.
Recommended posts on how to harness Google Search plus Your World
Since its launch, how companies should respond based on the implications for SEO and PPC have been a hot topic. There's been a lot of great advice, so…
Currently available on Google.com only
Importance: [rating=5]
Value: [rating=1]
Source: Google Official Blog annoucement
Make no mistake, Google's bold start to 2012, announced this week will have a massive impact on digital marketing in the years ahead if it retains its current form. Although the change has been widely covered, even in the main stream media, you may not have seen it yet since it's not available, in local engines the UK, Europe or elsewhere. We will let you know when it is.
How big a change is this?
If you've seen the Google.com site you'll know it's a big change for the user experience and the way companies gain visibility - so it will have big marketing implications we think. But in our discussions at Smart Insights, we've been arguing about how big the impact will be. It does depend on the type of search…
Google Launches Google+ Pages - what's your reaction?
Value/Importance: [rating=4]
Recommended link: Official Google Blog
Our commentary
In a move that will not surprise most, Google has officially launched "Google+ Pages", allowing businesses to create a presence within the new social platform. We knew that Google was doing trials with the likes of Ford and Coca Cola so it's no surprise. What is a surprise, if you haven't seen these trials, is how poor in functionality these pages are compared to Facebook where applications can be built into the page. There's really little a brand can do to engage it's audience other than the wall posts, About page and video. That said, the wall posts do work to engage Facebook users and the early example walls are engaging.
Google+ is a constantly evolving platform and is clearly high on…
Well, it seems as if Google Plus is here to stay. This chart tells its own story, although Google had a huge head start in awareness that Facebook and Twitter didn’t have originally.
Like many others, I’ve been trying to work out how to best use Google Plus to stay informed. Within Google Plus a big part of this is deciding on who goes in which circles. I’m putting most people more or less well in a “digital marketers” circle, when they add me, but I also have more focused circles which are to help me find out what’s new in the different areas of digital marketing.
On Twitter, Wefollow - digital marketing example is useful if you’re new…
Having only recently got an invite I was wondering how the messaging worked and came across this on Mashable. Thought you may find useful!
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A brief update on Google's Facebook competitor
Well, Google's latest project to grab a greater share of our online social interactions has finally been unveiled. We may soon have to talk about five major social networks which are a priority for online marketing: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube AND Google+. This will likely be THE biggest development in 2011 for digital marketers to think of new marketing approaches for, although I suspect it won't go live until 2012. Will that be fast enough?
There have already been several in-depth, breathless, mostly sycophantic writeups from Google briefings to Mashable, Searchengineland and Techcrunch. Each of their headlines positions it squarely as a serious competitor to Facebook.
So I thought we'd focus on the essentials you need to know to answer questions from colleagues. Everyone will be forming their own impressions, these are mine so far :) Let me know if you think different,…
