Business users could be forgiven for suffering from “social networking fatigue”. When doing the rounds of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, the thought of taking on another  social media commitment may well seem like a bridge too far. However, the potential pros of opening a Google Plus business page make it at least worth considering.

First, such has been the growth of Google Plus – which was launched in the autumn of 2011 – that it is getting increasingly difficult to ignore. For example, according to GlobalWebIndex:

“Google Plus is the second-most popular social networking service after Facebook.”

While that may or may not be true, another study from Searchmetrics foresees that social sharing on Google Plus is set to outpace Facebook by early 2016. There is a persuasive case here for making an early jump on to the bandwagon, and promoting your business profile ahead of your competitors.

Next, there is Google Plus Local. As a business user, you can get your company listed on Google’s Local search service. This is well worth considering since, as Google puts it:

“97% of consumers search for local businesses online. Your local Google+ page connects you with customers on Search, Maps and Google+, no matter what device they are using.”

Imagine you run a garage that does ad hoc repairs; the thought of that free Google maps listing being available to a motorist, who just got a flat tyre from a pothole on your main drag, is surely too tempting to ignore.

Finally, Google is making intensive use of Google Plus when delivering search results. The effect is that users are getting more personalised results, infused with their Google Plus connections (or related connections as perceived by Google). It therefore makes good sense, in SEO terms, to open a Google Plus for Business page, to ensure you reap the rewards of the Californian web giant’s latest tweaks to its search service.

Steven Morris