When Google+ was launched there were mixed reactions.

The responses ranged from people with social media fatigue who thought “not another social network! “. There were also those curious personalities who said “I wonder if Google will offer a true competitor for Facebook?”

As Google watched the rapid rise of Facebook, Twitter and the social web, it realised that it couldn’t ignore this important internet evolution any longer. It invested over $550 million in the platform and its supporting technology and offered incentives for its executive management to make Google+ a success.

On June 28, 2011 Google+ was launched and proceeded to make an impact and inroads into the social media world.

The Google+ advantages

Google plus had several advantages over Facebook that had commenced six years earlier.

• Google had started with a fresh design and a clean sheet (Facebook’s interface after launching in 2004 was looking dated)
• Deep pockets to fund the technology
• It was designed for a mobile web (Smart phones and tablets didn’t even exist when Facebook launched)
• Created for a more visual online environment

Facebook had to respond and it quickly launched a range of upgrades and acquisitions (Instagram) that met the competitive challenge.

So what are the numbers?

After just two years the numbers are in and they are compelling, but not many people are aware of the penetration and popularity of Google plus.

• 602 million registered users
• 359 million monthly active users according to a GlobalWebIndex study
• Its active users base grew by 33% from June 2012 through to March 2013

Marketing is always about fishing where the fish are and Google+ has a lot of fish .

8 reasons to consider marketing with Google+

With most marketers comfortable with using Facebook for their primary social media marketing tactics they quite often don’t see the other opportunities.

Here are some compelling reasons to register and start using a Google+ page to complement your Facebook page, your social media and digital marketing activities.

1. Google+ hangouts

Google+ hangouts have been an important part of the Google+ platform since day one. They allow you to create online meetings that are limited to 10 active users but it allows you to stream YouTube video to an unlimited number of viewers.

Hangouts provide a way to engage with small groups of customers that you may want to share important information and/or educate.

2. No update filtering

Google doesn’t need to make money from Google+ as its major revenue (over $30 billion) is from its Google adwords and search advertising. It doesn’t need to force you to pay to be visible on Google+.

Facebook has increasingly applied its Edgerank technology that filters the updates that are seen by people that have liked your brand’s “Facebook page”. Some research shows it at less than 15% and shrinking.  This is so they can force you to spend to advertise on Facebook to get attention.

It has become “pay to play”

Google plus does not filter (censor) your updates to followers that are following your page.

Read more at http://www.jeffbullas.com/2013/07/22/8-reasons-to-consider-marketing-with-google/#rYGw8zOzDwBqKZTS.99 

8 Reasons to Consider Marketing with Google+ – Jeffbullas’s Blog.