This month, we're giving you an overview of Google+. A lot of our clients have been asking what it's all about so we're telling how you can get more out of it.

1. Internet Marketing
Newsletter
Edition 13 , November 2011
The Google Plus Issue
Since Google Plus was first launched earlier this year, there has been a constant debate whether
it is useful or not, whether people or businesses should create profiles and whether they can
create a positive ROI from the network as on other social media channels.
Since many of our clients have asked about Google Plus, we decided to put together a Google
Plus Issue to give you an overview.
In this issue you’ll find:
• An Introduction To Google Plus
• Opportunities on Google Plus
• Google Plus Profiles Vs Pages
• 4 Ways To Get More From Your Google Plus Marketing
• Why Google Plus Is Important For SEO
As always, if you also have feedback, suggestions for future articles, or want to send us any
other comments, simply email info@eminentonlinemarketing.com.au
Until next month,
Janna Jungclaus
And the Eminent Online Marketing Team

2. An Introduction to Google Plus
When it first launched to an “invitation-only” crowd in July 2011, Google Plus experienced high
demand for invitations and 20 million users signed up in the first month. Another growth spurt
was obvious when the network opened to the public in late September. It is estimated that there
are between 40 and 50 million Google Plus users as of November 2011.
However, with millions of users signed up to the service after the launch, only a small percentage
were actively using the Google Plus network to connect to others. Growth slowed and the time
spent on the site declined steadily.
Did You Know…?
The next invigoration of the network was the
introduction of Google Plus pages for business in
Desmond Tutu, the South African
early November 2011. Some people predicted a
Archbishop conducted a Google
landslide of business page registrations. Although
Plus Hangout on his 80th birthday In
millions of businesses, from large international
October 2011. The live video
companies, to small local businesses have set up
conversation was part of the
their pages, it was hardly a landslide of registrations.
Inaugural Desmond Tutu Peace
Lecture in Cape Town, South Africa.
Google Plus now provides a “verification badge” to
prove the authenticity of a page or profile. However,
One of the attendees was the Dalai
there is still the possibility to register all kinds of page
Lama.
names without having to prove a direct co-relation to
a business or cause.
Nearly six months into the Google Plus launch, real traction is yet to be found for most profiles
and pages. Tech-savvy crowds are using the platform and are eagerly looking towards the
integration of the Google Plus network with other services such as search results and Google
AdWords. However, continuous use by mainstream crowds has not yet gained momentum. With
the social media marketing activity focused on where people spend most of their time, Google
Plus still has a long way to go until it catches up with more established social media channels.
Opportunities
With new networks, there are always new opportunities. Here’s a summary of the opportunities
relating to the unique Google Plus functionality.
Hangouts
Hangouts are the Google Plus version of “bumping into someone on the street”. Keen on bringing
more real social elements to Google Plus, video hangouts let you combine up to 9 people in a
video conference, where users can share their screen, use a sketchpad, and collaborate using
Google Docs. Anyone with a profile (or a page) can use Google Hangouts, and users also have

3. the ability to turn video chats into public broadcasts. Hangouts are available from your computer,
tablet and mobile phone.
+1 Button
Initially described as a simple equivalent to the Facebook Like Button, the Google
+1 button is now finding its way on the web. As of late August, it was embedded
on more than 1 million websites and it now ties directly into the Google Plus
network. Any +1 you receive on Google Plus (for posts, comments, hangouts,
etc.) are added to your main website, as stated on
your Google Plus Page. +1 indicators are likely to
start affecting search engine rankings, as Google
uses more social indicators to determine the
relevancy of each search result.
Difference between Google Plus Profiles and Pages
When Google Plus first launched, the only option was
to create a profile. While some brands created profiles at the time, Google Plus responded to the
need for business and brand pages in early November.
Although pages are extremely similar to profiles, they have some key differences:
• Pages can’t add people to circles until the page is added first or mentioned. People can
add anyone to their circle (but there is no requirement for the other person to add them
back).
• Pages can be made for a variety of different entities whereas profiles can only be made for
people. Pages can be made for brands, local businesses, arts, entertainment and sport.
• The default privacy setting for elements on your page is public. For your profile page you
can choose which circle to share a post with.
• Pages have the +1 button.
• Pages can’t +1 other pages, nor can they +1 stuff on the Web. Profiles can.
• With a profile you can participate in Games. Pages can’t play games.
• Pages don’t have the option to share to ‘Extended circles’.
• Pages don’t receive notifications via email, text, or in the Google bar.
• Pages can’t hangout on a mobile device.
• Local pages have special fields that help people find the business’ physical location.
4 Ways To Get More From Your Google Plus Marketing
Google Plus has only been available for a few months, and we don’t claim to be experts on it.
However, we have compiled some useful tips and tricks from the web that can help you get more
out of your Google Plus marketing.

4. SEOMoz, an SEO, internet marketing and software company that is always at the forefront of
technology shared some great tips on how to use Google Plus. These tips are adapted from the
SEOMoz video series Whiteboard+, a whiteboard brain-storming session created specifically for
the SEOMoz Google Plus page.
Embed +1 button on website
Tests have shown that once a website or content has been +1’ed, it gets indexed in Google
search results very quickly. It also indicates social proof and is likely to improve click-through
rates, if your target audience are tech-savvy and frequent Google Plus users.
Recommendation: Embed +1 button on your home page, especially where you have a tech-
savvy target audience that uses Google Plus.
Unique content for Google Plus Page
If you have the time and energy to invest in social
media, create some specific content for Google
Plus, or use existing content such as videos and
pictures to engage your audience.
Mention heavy Google Plus users, where
appropriate, so they are alerted that the content is
relevant to them and you give them the
opportunity to interact with your content. This way
you activate the viral element, as the content gets
spread.
Recommendation: Create unique Google Plus
content and mention heavy users, or influencers in
your posts by using the + sign and then their
name.
Share Your Google Plus Page through Other Social Networks
Once you have claimed your Google Plus page, promote the page on your other social networks
(Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc.) to grow your following. Be an early adopter by being
innovative and creative with the customisation of your Google Plus page.
Recommendation: Promote your Google Plus profile and page through your other social media
channels to gain traction. If you have creative ideas to customize your page, you could be
profiled around the web as an early adopter.

5. Be Active in Following Others and Share Their Content
Build up your connections by following those people you’re connected to on other channels, such
as Gmail, Twitter and Facebook. You can also follow users recommended by Google, or those
featured in the What’s Hot stream. Then you can share their content via Google Plus but also via
other networks to become the lynchpin for important news.
Recommendation: Find others to follow and share useful content on other social networks to
become the lynchpin for important news.
Social Signals and SEO
Why are we sharing so much content on social media marketing and Google Plus?
Apart from the fact that some of our readers have asked for a more detailed overview of the
current uses and opportunities from Google Plus, social signals also have an impact on SEO and
general internet marketing. In this article, we explain the basics of how social signals and SEO
work together.
SEO is generally described as the ability of websites to show up highly in the search engines for
a certain search query or keywords. Therefore, the basis of SEO, is the way that the search
engines determine which website is most relevant to the user.
Traditionally, there have been many factors that contribute to this relevance. For example the age
of a website, how many pages are indexed, the contents of these pages and whether the
keywords are mentioned in the title, headline and body text of the website.
For a while now it has become more obvious that many search engines, especially Google are
using more social signals to determine the relevancy of search results.
What does that mean? It simply means that the search results are returned based on the fact
whether someone else ALSO found them useful. This can be determined through social signals,
such as sharing of a website (through Facebook, Twitter Google Plus or social bookmarking
sites), pressing the Like or +1 buttons which then associate your profile with this content, or
simply displaying reviews and ratings that help you determine relevancy for yourself.
There is much speculation how Google Plus and Local Places Reviews are being integrated in
the search results and also in the display of Google AdWords advertisements. Definite answers
have not yet been determined, but AdWords in the US has already had a trial integration with
reviews posted on Google Places sites, and there is some evidence that social signals from
Google Plus are contributing to search engine rankings.

6. Case Study
Eminent Online Marketing was engaged to
review the current online marketing
strategy of Gateway Credit Union with
particular focus on developing a strategy
for search engine optimisation (SEO).
The aim was to create an SEO strategy
that would increase the website traffic and
business exposure for Gateway CU.
In addition, the review was aimed at
creating key performance indicators and
measurements for the internal marketing
team that would allow Gateway CU to
benchmark their current positioning against
their competitors in the online marketing
space.
Find out more about Gateway Credit Union at http://www.gatewaycu.com.au
Add Us To Your Circles
In the Spirit of the Google Plus Issue, keep in touch with us by adding Eminent Online Marketing
to your circles. Just search for Eminent Online Marketing in Google Plus search at
http://plus.google.com
Yours,
Janna Jungclaus
Eminent Online Marketing
http://www.eminentonlinemarketing.com.au
janna@eminentonlinemarketing.com.au
Ph: 02 8580 4836