The day we've all been waiting for in anticipation is finally here (kind of). Earlier today, Google announced the launch of Google+ Pages, or business pages for Google+. While Pages have only been released to a select few businesses, Google+ indicates that organizations will be able to create their own pages at http://plus.google.com/pages/create soon. (Visit HubSpot's Google+ Page and add it to your Circles here!)
Google+ Pages have a similar look and feel to Facebook Pages, allowing businesses to leverage the social network to connect with their audience, spread their messages, promote their content, and generate leads. Here's a quick video overview from Google.
Google+ Page Features
While Google hasn't revealed a ton of detail around the capabilities of its new Google+ Pages, they have mentioned the following features:
- Fans can recommend your business page with a +1.
- Fans can add your page to a circle, which enables them to subscribe to your page's updates (similar to Liking a page on Facebook) in the long-term.
- Fans can actually spend time with your team, face-to-face-to-face via Google+ Hangouts, or video chat/livestreaming capabilities.
Here's a quick peek into what a Google+ Page looks like, a la Angry Birds:
2 Ways to Add Pages to Your Google + Circles
Furthermore, Google+ is rolling out two ways that users can add pages to their Circles from Google search. The first is by including Google+ pages in search results, and the second is via Google+'s new feature, Direct Connect.
1. Including Google+ Pages in Search Results: Google+ will now display 'People and pages' at the top of search results pages in Google+. These results will also include an easy option to add the Page to one of your Circles.
2. Direct Connect: Users can easily locate and add a Google+ Page to their circles with a Google.com search by simply searching for [+] followed by the page they're interested in (e.g. +Angry Birds). (Note: Direct Connect only works for a limited number of pages today, but Google indicates that more are coming.)
Marketing Takeaway
Google+ Pages will soon be available to all! While Google gives us no indication of exactly when, marketers should be on their toes knowing they're coming soon. Marketers should create their business page as soon as it's available to them in order to start leveraging the power of a network with over 40 million users.
To determine if your account is enabled, visit http://plus.google.com/pages/create. And don't forget to add HubSpot's Google+ Page to your Circles here!
Will you use Google+ Pages as another tool in your social media arsenal? Are you excited for the launch?
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Alex Gilmore 4:02 PM on November 07, 2011
Finally a social networking site allows full fledge business pages. I wonder how long it will be till Facebook follows suite.
Bobby Hewitt 4:07 PM on November 07, 2011
Is a Character / Brand Google+ page attached to an individual's Google+ account? You obviously need a personal Google+ account to create a brand/business page.
Devan 4:42 PM on November 07, 2011
I'm not sure how useful/beneficial it will be for businesses to have G+, too. Social media managers just have another thing to moderate in my opinion. I don't see much of a differentiator between G+ and other social media outlets, and I have a feeling businesses will just post the same content from their Twitter & Facebook pages on the G+ page, making it pointless. I unfriend/unfollow people and businesses that do that with Twitter & FB.
Though, I do see it being useful for Google Searches (not just because of direct connect), but just as facebook makes pages for businesses even if they haven't set one up, I'm sure Google will create a business page for all businesses registered in Google Places - which will be useful for searching businesses. But wouldn't that just make it a glorified Google Places page?
I'm curious to know other thoughts -
Emergency Response Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning 4:42 PM on November 07, 2011
fyi- I was just able to created a personal and business Google+ account for our business.
Malika Patel 5:17 PM on November 07, 2011
Looks like Google+ is now open to all. Here is BizKingdom on Google+ pages
https://plus.google.com/110650653477587452990
TV Rockstars 7:55 PM on November 07, 2011
Just made my fanpage! SOOO AWESOME
Mark Graham 8:09 PM on November 07, 2011
Any idea how to ad multiple Admins of the page?
Steve Chipman 8:12 PM on November 07, 2011
I thought that Google would have enabled Google+ for Google Apps first, so that Business Pages could be associated with Google business accounts.
As it stands now, I'll need to create my Business Page in a non-Chrome browser with a personal business account, since I use Chrome for my Google Apps access...
Hopefully, Google will have a migration of Google+ Business pages to Google Apps when Google+ is enabled for Google Apps.
It all seems to have been executed a bit bass-ackwards.
Brian 12:40 AM on November 08, 2011
Thanks for this news ... just set up a Page.
Any idea how to invite an Admin ... can't see a link for this anywhere on my Google+ Page
Brian
Pamela Vaughan 9:01 AM on November 08, 2011
Hi Folks: We just published a step-by-step guide for setting up a Google+ Page here (http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/28624/how-to-create-a-google-business-page-in-5-simple-steps).
Brian: Pages don't have admin capabilities yet, but Google has indicated they'll be working to make that available soon.
Social Media Marketing 10:19 AM on November 08, 2011
We 've waited long enough for +Pages. News on Google+ branded pages in Greek http://www.socialmediaplan.gr
Zeeshan 3:53 PM on November 08, 2011
Awesome! More social media marketing ammo!
Graphique 11:26 AM on November 09, 2011
We are so excited for Google+ Pages! as a Graphic design firm, we Love Google+ design it's simple, clean and pleasing.
Take a look at our page
https://plus.google.com/112196329864709747297
also, does anyone know how to customize the profile link?