• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

The Social Media Hat

Always On Top Of Social

  • Coaching & Consulting
  • Community
  • Speaking
  • Articles
    • Digital Marketing
      • Influencer Marketing
    • Social Media Articles
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIn
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Social Media Tools
    • Virtual Events
  • Newsletter
  • Search
  • Coaching & Consulting
  • Community
  • Speaking
  • Articles
    • Digital Marketing
      • Influencer Marketing
    • Social Media Articles
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIn
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Social Media Tools
    • Virtual Events
  • Newsletter
  • Search

Google+ Communities for Business

You are here: Home / Social Media Articles / Google+ Communities for Business

December 10, 2012 //  by Mike Allton

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Google has implemented a new feature for the Google+ social network experience. Not unlike Facebook Groups or LinkedIn groups, the new Google+ Communities allow Google+ users to gather together and discuss a specific topic. It is the further evolution of the old discussion forums and bulletin boards (BBS). By integrating discussion forum capability into existing social networks, users are more apt to spend more time on a particular network.

From that perspective, it’s a brilliant move by Google, and one wonders, frankly, what took them so long. All of the major social networks have expressed an understanding of the fact that in order to increase ad revenue, they must find new ways to increase time spent on site by their user base. LinkedIn, for instance, recently implemented the ability to endorse other users, resulting in more minutes spent on the site mindlessly clicking endorsement suggestions.

Motives aside, Google+ Communities could be quite valuable for small business owners looking for new ways to engage customers online.

Small business owners who realize the value of digital networking should be encouraged to join or create communities that discuss topics related to their business. An aquarium specialist, for instance, might create a group to foster discussions on exotic African Cichlids. The immediate goal is to help and educate people on that topic, and like other forms of content marketing, present yourself as an expert in your field for future potential sales.

You can access Google+ Communities by clicking on the “Communities” icon in the left sidebar while in Google+. If you would like to create your own community, just click the red “Create a Community” button.

Once you start your new community, you will be asked whether you want the community to be public or private. If your new community is going to be used for marketing purposes then you’ll want to make it public. However, the option of making a community private definitely lends itself to a variety of business uses. Businesses might create communities for clients or groups of clients and leverage Hangouts and Google Docs to communicate and share.

Once you’ve chosen permission requirements, you’ll decide what to call your group and complete additional profile information. You’ll enter standard information like a log, About and tagline. It’s recommended that you create a set of guidelines for the group and put them into the About page as well. You’ll then select a discussion group category.

After you save the new group, you can start inviting people from your Google Contacts. You can also enter email addresses, or send invites to entire circles!

Congratulations! You’ve just created your first community! Be prepared to post and respond to topics, and to foster RELATIONSHIPS through your community. Groups and communities are not effective places to spam ads, and that goes for other communities you might join as well.

If you go back to the Communities icon, you’ll see the communities you’ve created, as well as some others that are recommended for you. There’s a search box you can use to look for other communities and topics that interest you and may be of interest to your potential clients.

Do you think Google+ Communities can add value to your internet marketing campaign? Do you have any other ideas on how you might use this new feature?

Related

Category: Social Media ArticlesTag: Google+

About Mike Allton

Mike is an international keynote speaker, an award-winning blogger & author at The Social Media Hat, and Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse where he strengthens relationships with social media educators, influencers and partner brands. He has spent over a decade in digital marketing and brings an unparalleled level of experience and excitement to the fore, whether he's delivering a presentation or leading a workshop.

Join The Community!

34,720 savvy marketers have signed up to get the latest social media insights and ideas. Will you?


Previous Post: « Windows 8 doesn’t support Outlook?
Next Post: Instagram improves app, fights Twitter »

Primary Sidebar

Work With Mike

Work with Mike Allton in a consulting capacity, or to speak at your next event.

Meet Mike

Mike Allton is an international keynote speaker & consultant, and an award-winning blogger and author at The Social Media Hat, where he has been educating businesses and organizations on the best use of content marketing for reaching and converting target audiences. Mike is proud to serve as the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse, where he builds relationships with influencers and brands around the world.

Since 2012, Mike has worked with over a hundred brands and executives to help them identify and implement successful strategies. As a certified NLP Coach & Practitioner, he helps YOU achieve excellence. Work With Mike

Partnership Unpacked

Featured Posts

The Science Behind The Effectiveness Of Word Of Mouth

March 29, 2023 //  by Mike Allton

Tips for B2B Influencers on how to harness the power of word of mouth.

How This Serial Entrepreneur Became A Product Influencer w/ Norm Farrar

March 27, 2023 //  by Mike Allton

Partnership Unpacked, Episode 14, with Norman Farrar

Influencer Marketing in 2023

How To Be An Amazon Influencer

March 26, 2023 //  by Mike Allton

Learn how to be a successful Amazon Influencer in 4 steps.

More Like This

  • 6 Tips for Partnering With Many Content Creators at Once
  • How To Develop Profitable Relationships With Big Brands w/ George Thomas
  • Influencer Marketing Trends & Insights For CMOs w/ Gordon Glenister

Footer

Recent Posts

  • The Science Behind The Effectiveness Of Word Of Mouth
  • How This Serial Entrepreneur Became A Product Influencer w/ Norm Farrar
  • How To Be An Amazon Influencer
  • 6 Tips for Partnering With Many Content Creators at Once
  • How To Develop Profitable Relationships With Big Brands w/ George Thomas
  • Influencer Marketing Trends & Insights For CMOs w/ Gordon Glenister
  • How to Craft a Sponsorship Pitch No Brand Will Ignore w/ Justin Moore
  • How Influencer Marketing Can Help You to Define the Best Content Marketing Strategy for Your E-Commerce Business in 2023

Marketing Resources

  • Marketing Hyperdrive Podcast
  • The Virtual Event Strategist Podcast
  • Partnership Unpacked Podcast (Coming soon!)
  • How To Craft Your Marketing Plan
  • The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect LinkedIn Profile
  • Social Media Spring Cleaning
  • Social Media Planner
  • Get The Newsletter
  • Home
  • Virtual Event Strategy
  • Mike Allton, Your Next Keynote Speaker
  • Mike Allton’s Newsletter
  • Work With Mike
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

Site Footer

Partnership Unpacked Podcast

  • Listen on Amazon
  • Listen on Apple
  • Listen on Google
  • Listen on Spotify
  • Listen on Stitcher
  • Social Media Articles
  • Digital Marketing Articles
  • Social Media Tools & Resources
  • Virtual Events Articles
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2011–2023 The Social Media Hat ยท All Rights Reserved