Social networking service

We’ve all heard about Google+; but to be quite honest, Google’s social network seemed to fizzle out after its release. It’s certainly no Facebook or Twitter, but that hasn’t stopped several major marketers from switching gears lately to focus on Google+. But why? Not only is Google+ no Twitter and Facebook, but February reports showed that the average Google+ user spends a total of 3 minutes on the site monthly. This compared to Facebook’s 405 minute average and Pinterest’s and Tumbler’s 100 minute average demonstrates Google+’s deceptive shortcoming . However, the reason marketers are turning their attention to this social networking platform is because Google+ is imperative in the world of social media and SEO, and here’ why.

Social Web Experience

Google+ is so much more than a social network as it gives users something new: a complete social web experience. Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Google+ implements all of the services of Google into its social network: we’re talking Google Voice, Google Shopping, location filtered Google Search Engine Results, Google Video, photo sharing, and the list goes on. Google+ isn’t just about connecting with friends, it’s about connecting with the world. And in that connection, users share their personal and commercial experiences with the world, offering market researchers huge opportunities. And because Google+ is more than a social network, it is attractive and convenient to users. According to Google-plus.com, this is evident by the fact that by January 2012 Google+ was boasting 90 million active users worldwide, making it the 4th largest social networking platform in the world; and of course, one must take into account that this success comes only 6 months after the social network’s beta version was released.

Impact on the World of SEO

Two things make Google+ more important in the world of SEO than any other social network. First, because sharing and endorsing commercial items is both convenient and appealing to users, they are driven to participate; they this by utilizing Google+’s “+1” button. Through this utilization, users not only share public endorsement of products, services, websites, and the like on Google+ and websites, but through Google’s search engine; user’s Google+ friend’s +1 recommendations, if relevant, show up in their Google searches. Not to mention that the +1 button has been implemented into all results on Google’s search engine result pages; this is a big deal considering that Google holds more than 66 percent of the search engine market share, according to searchengineland.com.
Second, because everywhere we look features the +1 button, this means something big to SEO. Think about it. Google operates the majority of the search engine market. Millions of people flock to Google to query searches every day. Google+ and Google+1s directly affect SEO. Google owns Google+. Therefore it isn’t a far leap to assume that Google will give Google+ more weight in its algorithms than other social networks. So, put quite bluntly, anyone hoping to utilize SEO is completely and hopelessly dependent on Google and its secret algorithms.
Author:
Amber Paley is a guest post and article writer bringing to us information on why many marketers are turning their attention to Google+. Outraged by the prevalence of elder abuse in the U.S., Amber spends much of her professional life writing educational articles to help those affected by elder abuse find a good nursing home abuse lawyer. Amber’s social profile can be found at http://about.me/amberpaley
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Empire Avenue is doing it again. They are mixing fun with social networking and engagement with impressive results. On Empire Avenue, users are encouraged to and rewarded for participating in social activities. In the past this has meant:

Sharing and trading ‘stocks’ on individual users
Participating in group discussions
Earning increased value through usage of your integrated social media networks

While we were all happy playing in the social network stock market, Empire Avenue developers were working hard to give us even more opportunities to create our own fun social engagement opportunities.

Empire Ave Missions

Empire Avenue has implemented Missions for their users. Stockholders can now create missions that require the user to carry out a social networking activity. So how exactly do you create an Empire Avenue mission?

Once you have the hang of creating missions, you may wonder what benefits you can enjoy by using them.

You can build brand loyalty among existing fans
You can drive web traffic to your website, Fan Page and more
You can attract new followers and increase your audience
You have a fun way to do all of the above

Currently, Missions are still in the beta testing phase. However, if you want to try out a mission of your own, simply request access to create your own mission.

Check out what some of Empire Avenue’s current users have to say about their mission system.

“Shareholder Missions increase engagement beyond what can be accomplished in even the most entertaining conversations over stock transactions… Very powerful and compelling new feature.” – Kevin Strehlo, (e)MARATHON

“I was honestly surprised that offering rewards yielded a far greater amount of engagement from the same audience.” – Chris Pirillo, (e)PIRILLO

Take the time to request and create a mission of your own and see for yourself how much fun you can have while increasing awareness and social engagement for your brand.

Author:

@BasilPuglisi is the Executive Director and Publisher for Digital Brand Marketing Education (dbmei.com). Basil C. Puglisi is also the President of Puglisi Consulting Group, Inc. A Digital Brand Marketing Consultancy that manages professional and personal branding for Fortune 500 CEOs, Hedge Fund Managers and Small Business Owners.

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