With the latest Google update to its search engine, Search Plus Your World (SPYW), marketers and website owners will need to understand its probable impact on Google’s search results.
The Search Plus Your World update is a new search function that allows users to receive content that is tailored to their personal interests. Right now, it seems to be intermittent and may not be fully rolled out to all users, but this will change in the very near future. As of today, according to Google, it will only be a matter of days before the update is public for all searchers.
How does this impact you?
If you own a website and you are trying to market it, you may want to pay attention to Google’s strategy. From the user side, the updates will help to bring a more social environment to search allowing users to share content and receive more personal recommendations.
From the marketer’s perspective, Google is now using its web properties (Google+, +1 button) as an integral part of its search algorithm and how users locate data.
As a result of the SPYW update, users will now see recommendations of who they should follow on Google+ right from the Google search page. In addition, recommendations from fellow Google+ members and re-posted content on Google+ will also be visible on the new Google search results pages.
Can you see the theme here?
If you aren’t on Google+, it may be time to open an account and get moving with a strategy. The trends are veering in the direction of Google using its social platform to provide users with more valuable content. Imagine if your Google+ profile showed up in the first page of Google for a competitive keyword simply because you had a large number of followers? This is one aspect of the newest update and also where I believe Google is going in the very near future.
Here are some brief strategies for managing your Google+ page:
Profiles
Create your profiles with the search engines in mind. This article will show you how to strategically use your profile to get the most search engine juice out of it.
Update
I know it may feel stressful to add another social media profile to your strategy, but if you start a Google+ account, it’s important to update it regularly. To start, simply post whenever you write a new blog article or share other valuable content.
Build Your Circles
On Google+, your circles are your organized friends’ lists. Populate your circles with people you know—friends, experts, clients, etc. When you post content, you can share it with an individual circle of contacts or everyone.
Your circles can be organized any way you want. I think the best method is to organize them based on how you will share content. I have about six circles currently made up of family, clients, colleagues, industry experts, friends and unknown. The unknown circle is for people who put me in their circles that I do not know and I want to vet first.
For more strategies on making the most of Google+, check out these 6 tips for creating an effective Google+ business profile.
Are you already on Google+? Let us know in the comments below!
Jenna Scaglione is a content writer, internet marketer, and a lover of family, friends and life. Jenna enjoys learning, growing and discovering the newest and latest trends on the internet. Known as "Lady Content", she lives in sunny Socal where she helps her clients around the world increase brand awareness on the internet through content writing and social media.
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