Google+ and Facebook Changes: What you need to know as a business owner

November 29th, 2011

Sponsored by:

Google+• What is it?• Why bother?• G+ vs. other platforms• Getting started• Building a profile• Building a page• Features: Circles, Hangouts,

What’s hot, +1• Mobile Integration

Facebook• Recent changes• The Ticker• Timeline• Implications• Remaining Visible

Today’s Agenda

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What is Google+?• The social aspect of the Google suite that puts people in the centre

• Organization tool for your social media network to share more

effectively

+You

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Facebook is like…

Twitter is like…

LinkedIn is like…

Google + is like…

What’s the difference?

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• 62% of users return regularly

• 6 million total visits in October (30% jump from previous month)

• Traffic has increased 30% since Google+ was made public

Why bother?

People are using it!

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• Simple transition from other social media platforms– Similar features– Familiar layout

• Time investment – Learn the ropes– Keep in mind the potential for business functionality limitations

Getting Started

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• Easy to start if you already use a Google feature (e.g. Gmail)

• Highlight your personal brand – introduction (your story), occupation, interests, photo, education

• Control visibility

Building your profile

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1. Link it with the appropriate Gmail address2. Populate basic info and content about your business 3. Customize with a catchy tagline and branded profile photo4. Post interesting content relevant to your followers5. Share, Share, Share!

Building a Business Page

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Start Posting

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Go to http://plusist.com/

If you’d like to use a tool that publishes your Google+ updates to your Twitter and Facebook accounts

Completed Business Page

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• Group people into Circles to control how you share and communicate• Info shared to a Circle will show up in members’ news feeds• Why would a business use Circles?

– Target specific groups– Share only relevant/appropriate info

Google+ Circles

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• Free video chat for up to 10 members

• How can a business user take advantage of Google+ Hangouts?– Face-to-face-to-face-to-face…– Internal meetings– Client meetings

Google + Hangouts

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• Formerly known as “Sparks” • Subscribe to topics of interest to

collect relevant, shareable info in one tidy spot

• How can a business use What’s Hot?– Track what people are saying about

you – and ENGAGE when needed!– Track what people are saying about

your competitors– Introduction to people with similar

interests (prospects and leads)– Gather industry news

Google+ “What’s Hot”

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• Similar to Facebook’s “Like” Button

• Shows that the user favours the item (post, picture, article, etc)

• Boosts visibility of item in Google search results and Google+ news feeds

• +1 count shows how many users have +1’d the item

+1 Button

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• Pieces of Google+ are only compatible via mobile phones• Google Messenger

– Pick a Circle and communicate via instant mobile messaging– Example:

Do a quick Google Messenger Chat Circle: Stryve GroupMessage: Can everyone meet at 5pm for a quick client prep meeting?

Mobile Integration

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Summarizing thoughts... 1. Establish your presence

1. Complete you profile 2. Complete your business page

2. Use Google+ the same way you would use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

3. Use Google+’s unique features1. “What’s Hot” and Hangouts

Google+

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• Top Stories are based on popularity of items, engagement – Users can now “Mark” and “Unmark” Top Stories

• Subscribe and unsubscribe from updates

Recent Facebook changes

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• Less interesting information has been moved to the Ticker – engage meaningfully to avoid ending up there!

The Ticker

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• Profiles and Pages are getting a makeover called Timeline

• How will Timeline help your brand?– New layout – focus on pictures– “Cover” (large picture spanning

top of Timeline) is great for a promotional push

– Infinite scroll (posts don’t disappear “below the fold”

– Tells an authentic story – Highlights most engaging posts

Facebook Timeline

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Solution?Post meaningful and

interactive updates that generate…

• Genuine interest• Engagement• Two-way dialogue

Remaining Visible

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In Summary

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• Stay on top of trends – Google+ has passed the “fad”

stage

• The old rules of social media still apply– Give value first by posting

relevant information to your social media accounts

Two Way Dialogue

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