First we told clients to implement Facebook buttons on their site, then it was specifically Facebook Like/Share buttons. We explained how social ‘liking’ was a new form of link popularity as far as organic search algorithms were concerned. All clients knew Facebook so were very willing to put FB like buttons on their site. Then Google came out with Google Plus. We explained that this was the same concept yet even more important for SEO as the data would be collected by Google itself. Clients didn’t think anyone was using Google Plus, that fact was hard to argue against when put in relation to Facebook. But the benefit of the Google Plus button was just as important for SEO regardless of how many people used Google Plus.
Then Google allowed companies to create Google Plus Brand Pages. Again we explained how this would help get people to follow them, and result in them showing up in that persons personalized results more often, providing both SEO and Social Media benefits. Most companies said they couldn’t put time and resources into managing another social profile, especially as they felt more people would continue to use Facebook anyway.
So today I saw an organic result that I think really helps solidify the need for a Google Plus Brand page. Beyond the ‘authority’ and ‘personalization’ benefits listed above a Google Plus Brand Page can basically be a Free Branded SEM Ad. Look at the placement of the Google Plus info below for the search “vmware”:
Branded Search with Google Plus Profile Info in the SERP
Now look at the SERP for “vmware” when Google Plus information does not appear (Note- Google does not always show Plus profile info- the more I searched and did not click on vmare the less I saw Plus profile info):
Branded Search with Google Plus Profile Info NOT in the SERP
Which would you rather have? Even if it doesn’t show up for every branded search the potential for it showing up makes setting up a Google Plus Brand page a no-brainer.
