Tactics For Optimizing Upgraded/Verified Local G+ Pages

[Colan Nielsen]

With the upgraded pages we now have the ability to upload videos, add posts, mess around with the circles, add longer descriptions with links...etc

I thought it would be a great idea to start a thread to brainstorm and share what people are doing to optimize these upgraded pages.(sorry if a similar thread has already been started)

I've read that it's a great idea to leave reviews for other businesses as your business. For example, last week we took our entire office out for an afternoon of bowling and lazertag at a local entertainment facility. We are going to leave them a review using our Imprezzio Marketing Local G+ page.

What are some of your ideas in regards to using circles, posts, business descriptions...etc?

 

[Brian]

Thanks for the post Colan. Could you share why you think that is a good idea. What impact to you think leaving a review has on Imprezzion?

 

[Colan Nielsen]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for asking! I think it's a matter of showing Google that your business is active on G+ and relevant to the geographic area you are in. Also:

• People will see your reviews
• I suspect it could help with ranking
• It could help get reviews in return

 

[Linda Buquet]

Great points all Colan.

Brian, here is more info about reviews made by a Business page from Blumenthal and Mihm.

How to Get Review Cred in G+ Local as a Top Reviewer- As a Business Page

The Coolest +Local Feature No One?s Noticed? | Mihmorandum

 

[mblumenthal]

The opportunities for a business to leave a review of another business are several. Firstly it can be used to create a positive "give before you get" mentality leading other businesses to do the same for you or perhaps one of your clients.

It also offers some branding visibility. If a business can become a Top reviewer in a market their names will be seen much more visibly and frequently.

Thirdly, being a top reviewer, will give your company some serious reputation management capability as a top reviewer review is likely to pop to the top of the list.

 

[Colan Nielsen]

Thanks Mike. Those are great points. I really like the idea of becoming a top reviewer as a company.

I can see businesses tip toeing the line of spammy on this one though. Perhaps falling face first right over the line.

The opportunities for a business to leave a review of another business are several. Firstly it can be used to create a positive "give before you get" mentality leading other businesses to do the same for you or perhaps one of your clients.

It also offers some branding visibility. If a business can become a Top reviewer in a market their names will be seen much more visibly and frequently.

Thirdly, being a top reviewer, will give your company some serious reputation management capability as a top reviewer review is likely to pop to the top of the list.

 

[mblumenthal]

Google created a tool and an option. As to what folks do with it, is up to them.

Obviously if you have 50 employees and 50 managers of a page you can build up some serious quantity of reviews fairly quickly.

While I am sure that it will lead to some abuses, I look at it more as an opportunity to give to the virtual local community.

 

[JoyHawkins]

Great points Mike. I'm a top reviewer (on my personal G+ profile) and I've had businesses I go to frequently notice my reviews as a result of it and thank me, so I know they get great visibility.

 

[Fulty22]

I love the idea of doing reviews and thanks for the linked articles Linda.

Some other things you can try to optimize your site:

• post quality content on you Google+ Page. As opposed to posting links to your blog or website.
• Link back to some of your Google+ Page posts from your website, forums blog comments etc.
• When post on Google+ put some thought into your first sentence. It becomes your meta title tag essentially
• engage with the others on Google+ and join relevant communities. There is a lot of good stuff out there.
• Google+ Direct Connect - direct connect your website to your Google+ business Page. I'm not sure this is always utilized by most businesses with Google+ Pages. Here is a link to some Google's info on this: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1711199?hl=en
• Add a Google+ page badge to your website (this is the publisher badge not the author badge or tag). This accomplishes the Direct Connect but also allows people to automatically follow your Google+ Page, see how many others are following and see who of their friends on Google+ are following your business page. Google badges can be found here: https://developers.google.com/+/web/badge/
• Add pictures, videos
• Complete your About page with a lot of good useful info on your business
• add good relevant links on your About page.

That is all I can think of for now. Good luck.