Google+ Isn't Business Profile Friendly- Click here http://bit.ly/nkAkPJ for full article

Google+ Isn't Business Profile Friendly- Click here http://bit.ly/nkAkPJ for full article

In June, Google launched a new social network called Google+ (pronounced "Google Plus") in a limited release. Trying to lure away a chunk of Facebook's more than 400 million users, Google+ offered better privacy, more flexible ways to differentiate relationships, and new features like group video chat. Within two weeks, Google+ had grown to more than 7.5 million users -- all of whom had been invited by existing users, which makes the rapid growth even more remarkable.

Business owners who want to tap into the Google+ market will have to re-evaluate their marketing strategy. Google+ represents a paradigm shift in the way social networks handle sharing and privacy, which means strategies that work on Facebook or Twitter may not work well on Google+. However, the explosive growth on this new site makes it essential that business owners know about the site and start developing marketing strategies to target this new audience.

One major change in Google+ is through a feature called "Circles." Google+ users assign their friends to groups, and only the user knows who is in a group. Friends can be assigned to a group called "Idiots," but members will not know that they are in the group nor will they know the group's name. Users then share things by selecting which Circles with whom to share, unlike Facebook where anything posted is visible to everyone in the user's network. This has tapped into an unrealized need for users -- for instance, the types of things shared with college friends may not be relevant or appropriate for work friends -- but it will require new strategies to get messages out when users have so much control over what they share.

The biggest technology feature driving users to the site is "Hangout," a group video chat feature. Currently no major competitor offers group chat; Skype and Facebook announced a deal to provide video chat, but the service will only be for two-way video. Already people are finding innovative uses for Hangout. Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich held a public Hangout in July where voters could ask him questions. Businesses may be able to provide similar intimate experiences with customers to promote brand loyalty or customer service.

Finally, on Google+ there is currently no difference between personal and business profiles. A business could start a profile with a Google account, but they would have to add followers to their circles and encourage customers to do the same, using strategies similar to what businesses are using to gain followers on Twitter. For instance, a business might offer discounts or special events for customers who add the company's profile to their Google+ Circles.