We have another guest posting about Local Search.  Today Ashley Bennett  will be discussing the benefits of Google+ and how to get local traffic. 

What is Google+ Local and Why You Should Care

Google+ is a new social media network created by Google.  It is most similar to Facebook, but it also has a lot of unique features that are not present on other social media networks.  It is a place for businesses and people alike, so there are ways to share messages, videos, and just about anything else on the website.  In the initial stages you had to be invited to join the network, but now Google+ is currently open to the general public now.  It is not quite as popular as Facebook or Twitter, but you should care because there are a lot of people on the website and it will give you a chance to promote yourself.

Tips to Optimize Your Google+ Listing

– Claim your Google+ if you have not already done so

Google will automatically create a listing for your business in most cases, whether you know or not, so it is up to you to claim it.  Unfortunately, a lot of businesses will fail to claim their profile on Google+  and simply leave everything to chance.  It is recommended that you claim your business, start a Google + account, and start making people aware of your presence.

– Maintain accurate information about your business

One of the biggest problems that businesses have online is making sure that customers know how to contact them.  A lot of businesses have websites and social media accounts, but in some cases they will have inaccurate contact information.  This could be something like a different phone number, email, or even web address.  It is essential that all of your information is current so that people know how to contact you.

– Use local keywords

Emphasize the use of local keywords on your website and social media pages.  This means you should use terms like “San Francisco Photographer” or “Chicago Restaurant”.  Try to use the terms naturally in a post or add them as part of your keywords on your post, but do not over do it.  It is best to use 3-5 keywords in your post to prevent diluting the strength of those keywords.

– Communicate with customers on Google+

Given that Google+ is a social media network, you definitely need to be social even if you are acting as a business.  Round up your customers on that are Google+ and start a group.  Start posting news about your business or offering coupons or discounts on Google+.

– Encourage positive reviews from your customers

As you probably know, people are allowed to write reviews of your business on your account, so you need to make sure that they have positive things to say about it.  You are not allowed to compensate people for these types of posts, but you can encourage customers that have had positive experiences to tell others about it on the website.

– Link your Google+ to your website and tell your customers about it

One of the most important things you can do to get traffic from Google+ is to link your website to the page and vice versa.  People should be able to get all of your social media links from your website and they should also be able to reach your website from your profile.  Although it sounds really simple, a lot people forget to do it.

Google+ is gaining popularity everyday, so it is better to join in on the action early.  It has a very intuitive interface and most find it easy to use, so go ahead and get started today.

Ashley Bennett is a marketing consultant and owner of MarketingMages.com.