This chapter is a departure from the rest of the book because I want
to discuss real quick what I feel will come next in the evolution of
Google+. If you haven’t already guessed, I think this is the future of
social media. The setup, the tools provided and the platform being built
around Google+ is too powerful to not have an impact.
I’d not only be shocked, I’d be sorely disappointed if Google+ didn’t succeed where Google’s other social endeavors failed.
But, what is next? Where is Google going with their social tool, especially since they have yet to introduce the business side of the platform.
We don’t have answers to those questions, but we can certainly guess and my guess is that this will become the best single platform available for businesses. If you own a small business or work with small businesses, start saving up that marketing budget, because having a Google+ platform, page or whatever they decide to call it for your business is going to be a must.
There a few reasons why.
Google Apps for Business – If you currently use Google Apps for business you know what I’m talking about. This is a fantastic solution for anyone who wants to keep their group domains in one place. Google+ integration with Google Docs, Gmail and personal domain operations could be revolutionary.
Import and Export Functionality – With Google Takeout, getting your personal data into and out of Google+ is easier than any other social network. It also means that businesses can more easily followup with their online prospects online, import data from their sales logs and develop long term connections with people through social media without bending to the sometimes odd rules that Facebook has.
Hangouts and Huddles – Hangouts and Huddles are built for online marketers. I mean, look at them. Now consider what you could do with a pay gate on Hangouts or a larger number of people allowed into those Hangouts. The possibilities are nearly endless.
Customer Based Circles – Creating Circles that are customized for customer interactions? That sounds great to me. Automating the whole thing with Chrome extensions? Even better. Google’s commitment to open endedness and extensions means you’ll be able to easily and seamlessly transmit data between your social and business profiles.
Google Understands Businesses – Google has long understood businesses in a way that Facebook never will. Sure, it sounds like a cheesy romance novel, but Facebook has always stumbled along with its offerings for businesses. Pages are great, but only if you customize them. It’s the idea that’s great, not the platform. Google understands what businesses need and want so you can bet their “Page” alternative will offer the things that jilted Facebook users have wanted for years.
B2B Applications – Facebook Pages were always designed for “Fans” – the result of them copying the new nearly defunct MySpace. People “followed” businesses and brands and didn’t interact with them on the same level that B2B businesses do. To be effective in the B2B industry, you need to have a better platform to sit with people, discuss things and work on equal footing. Google’s business platform will almost assuredly offer that.
That’s just getting started. The things we’re seeing out of Google and their newest social network are light years beyond what others are doing and while Facebook can copy all the features it wants, it cannot copy a built-from scratch business functionality that Google will certainly offer.
How will it all work? We have no idea, but you can bet that with the direction they’ve taken, Google is well on their way to offering the best business based social media solution on the Internet (hopefully soon).
Conclusion
Google+ took a lot of people by surprise. I’ll admit I was one of them.
After all, Google has tried this before and for the most part, they failed. So, when I logged into Google+ for the first time and was actually a little blown away, I didn’t expect it. This wasn’t the social plan I was used to from Google.
This was something…good.
And it’s more than just good – it’s effective. If you’re just getting started with Google+, know that you’re about to revolutionize how you interact with your prospects.
This isn’t just another social network – it’s a combination of services like we’ve never seen before and it could only have been produced by Google.
I know it’s hard to imagine a world in which Facebook is not the clear and obvious choice for social marketers but I think we are coming dangerously close to that world and it’s going to be led by Google+.
Should you use Google+? Absolutely. Will it change how you do business forever? It depends on if you put the strategies and tactics in this book to good use.
But one thing remains true. This is the beginning of something special and if you’re not on board, you’re going to be playing catch up to everyone else for years, just like you are with Facebook and Twitter right now.
So, hop on board and be prepared to truly take advantage of one of the best new social tools to hit the market in half a decade.
I’d not only be shocked, I’d be sorely disappointed if Google+ didn’t succeed where Google’s other social endeavors failed.
But, what is next? Where is Google going with their social tool, especially since they have yet to introduce the business side of the platform.
We don’t have answers to those questions, but we can certainly guess and my guess is that this will become the best single platform available for businesses. If you own a small business or work with small businesses, start saving up that marketing budget, because having a Google+ platform, page or whatever they decide to call it for your business is going to be a must.
There a few reasons why.
Google Apps for Business – If you currently use Google Apps for business you know what I’m talking about. This is a fantastic solution for anyone who wants to keep their group domains in one place. Google+ integration with Google Docs, Gmail and personal domain operations could be revolutionary.
Import and Export Functionality – With Google Takeout, getting your personal data into and out of Google+ is easier than any other social network. It also means that businesses can more easily followup with their online prospects online, import data from their sales logs and develop long term connections with people through social media without bending to the sometimes odd rules that Facebook has.
Hangouts and Huddles – Hangouts and Huddles are built for online marketers. I mean, look at them. Now consider what you could do with a pay gate on Hangouts or a larger number of people allowed into those Hangouts. The possibilities are nearly endless.
Customer Based Circles – Creating Circles that are customized for customer interactions? That sounds great to me. Automating the whole thing with Chrome extensions? Even better. Google’s commitment to open endedness and extensions means you’ll be able to easily and seamlessly transmit data between your social and business profiles.
Google Understands Businesses – Google has long understood businesses in a way that Facebook never will. Sure, it sounds like a cheesy romance novel, but Facebook has always stumbled along with its offerings for businesses. Pages are great, but only if you customize them. It’s the idea that’s great, not the platform. Google understands what businesses need and want so you can bet their “Page” alternative will offer the things that jilted Facebook users have wanted for years.
B2B Applications – Facebook Pages were always designed for “Fans” – the result of them copying the new nearly defunct MySpace. People “followed” businesses and brands and didn’t interact with them on the same level that B2B businesses do. To be effective in the B2B industry, you need to have a better platform to sit with people, discuss things and work on equal footing. Google’s business platform will almost assuredly offer that.
That’s just getting started. The things we’re seeing out of Google and their newest social network are light years beyond what others are doing and while Facebook can copy all the features it wants, it cannot copy a built-from scratch business functionality that Google will certainly offer.
How will it all work? We have no idea, but you can bet that with the direction they’ve taken, Google is well on their way to offering the best business based social media solution on the Internet (hopefully soon).
Conclusion
Google+ took a lot of people by surprise. I’ll admit I was one of them.
After all, Google has tried this before and for the most part, they failed. So, when I logged into Google+ for the first time and was actually a little blown away, I didn’t expect it. This wasn’t the social plan I was used to from Google.
This was something…good.
And it’s more than just good – it’s effective. If you’re just getting started with Google+, know that you’re about to revolutionize how you interact with your prospects.
This isn’t just another social network – it’s a combination of services like we’ve never seen before and it could only have been produced by Google.
I know it’s hard to imagine a world in which Facebook is not the clear and obvious choice for social marketers but I think we are coming dangerously close to that world and it’s going to be led by Google+.
Should you use Google+? Absolutely. Will it change how you do business forever? It depends on if you put the strategies and tactics in this book to good use.
But one thing remains true. This is the beginning of something special and if you’re not on board, you’re going to be playing catch up to everyone else for years, just like you are with Facebook and Twitter right now.
So, hop on board and be prepared to truly take advantage of one of the best new social tools to hit the market in half a decade.
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