.
Google+ has joined the box of social networking tools marketers should know and leverage. It’s brand new, and it's shiny. But isn’t your toolbox getting too heavy with all the new social media tools and new communication platforms you need to use?
In order to answer this question, you will need to understand the business value of Google+. Social media marketing is expanding, and its correlation to lead generation has become tighter. In this episode of the Weekly Marketing Cast, we discuss exactly how Google’s new social channel impacts your business:
1. It Allows You to Leverage Cross-Promotion
One of the challenges for marketers, David Meerman Scott says, is that there is yet another new social network to worry about. We were busy enough jumping from Facebook and Twitter to YouTube and LinkedIn. Now Google+ has joined the rest, and marketers must get familiar with its framework.
But guess what? There is no rule against publishing the same content across different platforms. For example, you might share one article on multiple channels and reach different crowds.
2. Google+ Has Become a Strong Referral of Traffic
David and other marketing experts already noticed the positive effects from the engagement taking place on Google+. For instance, the platform has become a strong source of referral traffic to David’s blog.
At HubSpot, we looked into our customer data and found that websites using Google's +1 button generated 3.5 times more traffic from Google+ than websites that don't have the button installed. So in addition to Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn sharing buttons, start including Google+ as a sharing option next to your blog posts and offers as well.
3. It’s No Replacement for Other Networks
David doesn’t think Google+ is going to replace other networks. “I am not suggesting that Facebook is going away and Google+ is taking over. It’s not an either/or situation,” he says. In other words, you still have to remain active on other social networks.
Have you started using Google+ yet? What tips, tricks, and advantages can you share?
Free eBook: How to Enhance Your Internet Presence with Social Media