If you have a Google Apps Account and you understand how to administer this account you can now enable Google Plus for Google Apps for each of the users in your organisation and they in turn can now finally have a Google Plus Profile.
Note: If you are logged into your Google Apps GMail click on Manage Account (should be top right)
A Note on Facebook Pages
Facebook Pages are terrible, admittedly they are getting better. As a company we have invested a considerable sum in building applications for pages with some success, but it is a hard road and the rules governing these developments can be quite limited, with changes looming, it may get better for developers, but for business without integrated apps it can still be a very manual – time consuming affair.
Google Plus for Business
Yes, you will need to be on this site and yes Google Plus for Business (pages, brands) will be rolled out in the coming weeks. Here are some things you will need to know.
Google Apps Users will get Special Treatment
If you are a power user or you want to be a power user you should already be using Google Places, Google Reader (you site must have rss feeds), Google Webmaster, Google Analytics, Google Calendar and possibly even Feedburner. If you have a Google Account you can sign into that account to get access to all of these services (after sign-in)
The above have little to do with what you can accomplish with Google Plus but they definitely will make life easier once Google Business Pages rolls out.
Google Plus Company Pages
Looking through the Google Plus source we can definitely see what is on the horizon and most of this is pretty cool indeed and will have Facebook rolling out updates (finally) for Facebook pages.
Google Meeting
Like Hangouts, but for business, Google Meeting will allow you to organise, record and store, phone, text and video meetings with groups of up to 10 people. Attendees will be able to be invited via Google Calendar, GMail and Google Chat. The possibilities with this will be pretty cool for people to collaborate and share information on projects and the like.
Google Screencasts
You will be able to record screens and share them with people within this meeting, you will possibly be able to create notes whilst you record your screen on the screen and archive all of these within a screencast.
Google WhiteBoard
Google Whiteboard is a document style process where users can collaborate on documents, share them amongst users and then post them via email.
Google Location
This one is a wild guess, but looking at the code, it seems that you can also track people within an organisation (users must opt in) to see where they are currently located on a map.
My feeling is business pages will take over Google Sites, which is very underwhelming, this would mean users can create multiple business pages and create circles for those pages.
All in all Google Plus is building into a substantial success for Google and my belief with Google Company Pages being released shortly it is going to cause some headaches for Facebook. Better yet, we will all benefit from the competition as more and more features are rolled out. Competition – don’t you just love it.
How to get Shortcut (Vanity URL)
www.Gplus.to allows this. This nifty little app lets you create a short URL for your Google+ page, making it easier to share with your friends. As an example, is Gplus.to/peterricci , is much easier to remember instead of digits e.g http://plus.google.com/117489371829741156604
Updated
Google Plus for Business is now released in a basic form, so you can now create pages for Google+ Brands
Here is the official Google Blog Post
People + pages, better together
Google+ has always been a place for real-life sharing, and Google+ Pages is no exception. After all: behind every page (or storefront, or four-door sedan) is a passionate group of individuals, and we think you should able to connect with them too.
For you and me, this means we can now hang out live with the local bike shop, or discuss our wardrobe with a favorite clothing line, or follow a band on tour. Google+ pages give life to everything we find in the real world. And by adding them to circles, we can create lasting bonds with the pages (and people) that matter most.
For businesses and brands, Google+ pages help you connect with the customers and fans who love you. Not only can they recommend you with a +1, or add you to a circle to listen long-term. They can actually spend time with your team, face-to-face-to-face. All you need to do is start sharing, and you’ll soon find the super fans and loyal customers that want to say hello.
A number of pages are already available (see below), but any organization will soon be able to join the community at plus.google.com/pages/create.
Direct Connect from Google search
People search on Google billions of times a day, and very often, they’re looking for businesses and brands. Today’s launch of Google+ Pages can help people transform their queries into meaningful connections, so we’re rolling out two ways to add pages to circles from Google search. The first is by including Google+ pages in search results, and the second is a new feature called Direct Connect.
Maybe you’re watching a movie trailer, or you just heard that your favorite band is coming to town. In both cases you want to connect with them right now, and Direct Connect makes it easy—even automatic. Just go to Google and search for [+], followed by the page you’re interested in (like +Angry Birds). We’ll take you to their Google+ page, and if you want, we’ll add them to your circles.
Direct Connect works for a limited number of pages today (like +Google, +Pepsi, and +Toyota), but many more are coming. In the meantime, organizations can learn more about Direct Connect in our Help Center.
I have just created my Google Apps Plus Account. You can add me here 🙂
23 Comments
Glenn Rogers
So a business would have to maintain this as well as Facebook and Twitter ?
Fairly soon all traffic will come from these apps making Ad Words redundant.
Peter Ricci
Hi Glenn
Well if Agents partner with companies that flow data then no, but all agents should have their own blog and also presence on their agency website.
Adwords is growing and growing and their revenues continue to Skyrocket, despite the success of Facebook, Twitter, in fact since these sites have become a part of everyday business Adwords has grown to $28 billion per annum and still growing.
Glenn Rogers
Cheers, Peter, I thought Facebook ads would have taken some of the gloss off Adwords, it’s cheap and works, you’re never really sure about the accuracy of Googles billing. $28 billion per annum ?
I don’t know about you but I NEVER click on an Adwords ad, the organic results give me a better result.
Peter Ricci
Hi Glenn
Since the 2007/2008 collapse, more and more companies have ditched TV, Print and traditional Advertising fro the web, hence the growth from all of them and only a % have returned. Millions of users a week have access to the Internet and larger players like Facebook, Twitter and Google benefit from this.
Jeroen van de Peppel
Peter,
Thanks for the update, I think many businesses are anticipating some great stuff to come out the new G+ business pages.
As you say, I have no doubt that Facebook will finally update their business page offering once Google has gone public with their concept.
When Google+ went public, Facebook rolled out their changes to it’s public profiles delivering many new concepts that we all loved about G+. Because of this, many users didnt feel the need to grow a new network on G+ and I believe have abandoned it all together.
I wonder if we will see a similar trend when Facebook has rolled out their upgrades to the business pages
Glenn Rogers
HiPeter,
That’s true and the good news is anyone can be a publisher, unlike trying to cram a printing press into your office.then distributing print to millions, you can do it online almost immediately.
Peter Ricci
Jeroen
Nice comments and welcome. Yes that may have been true about personal pages and Facebook, but Google has a much deeper relationship with business than Facebook, so for businesses Google will trump whatever Facebook can offer.
Microsoft is with Facebook, so they will of course be hamstrung by that relationship.
Google = Search, Maps, Places, Analytics, Adwords, Apps and of course Android = Win!
Jeroen van de Peppel
Thanks Peter,
I agree, and once G+ has won the Business/Brand battle, they may just convert the Facebook tribe and pull them back in.
Interesting and exciting times.
Jeroen van de Peppel
Wind the clock back to February this year and Google delivered the news that it was discontinuing the real estate feature via Google Maps, in part due to the retirement of the Google Base API.
I wonder if Google will have another stab at serving Real Estate Listings using the G+ Platform. Any thoughts?
brian
glus.to?? that is crap. .i don’t wanna use another site for vanity url or i don’t wanna use a stupid long code like url either.. it s been a long time still there re many problems in basic areas and i don’t think google s listening to its users anymore.. i m getting tired of this…
Peter Ricci
Hi Brian
It is not mandatory 🙂
Peter Ricci
Jeroen
Not sure but they do have a new focus with new CEO, so who knows, real estate is a perfect fit for what they do though, so i think they should.
Ryan O'Grady
You’d think these pages will also rank pretty well in Google so if this is the case then businesses will have no choice but to get on board.
Glenn Rogers
I’m told it will probably take a year or so to really kick in because people won’t want to move from Facebook but it will happen and I’ll be getting on board ASAP.
Re real estate, Google will go back in using this or something else the market there is just too big for them to ignore and frankly I’m surprised they had a false start to begin with.
Perhaps Pater and I should consult to them 🙂
Bill
Personally I really like most of what Google offers and for good or bad I’m becoming more reliant on them every day. I just love the seamless syncing of all their apps on all the devices that I use, gmail, calendar, reminders, instant photo upload documents, voice search and I’m slowly getting my head around G+ and I know in time it will become another tool I’ll find indispensable. All strength to Google and I certainly can’t argue with the price. And I’m one who would love to see them re enter the real estate scene.
Vic
Google to “re-enter the real estate scene”- I’m all for it too Bill.
servcorp
Hi,
I think this is excellent idea to promote our business in Google plus. Because Google plus is now becoming so popular in social media. With using this site we can reach maximum people for promoting our business. Thanks for sharing this useful information with me.
Peter Ricci
I really do not think most people will move from Facebook, but I do think more business will be conducted on Google+ with Google Offers and Google Checkout.
Look for Facebook to team up with some discount coupon company again soon and also introduce a payment system similar to checkout.
My thinking is Facebook will allow people to buy and sell on Facebook. Including Real Estate
LuisCal
I have been waiting for a while to find out when Google Plus would be available for businesses. I hope it isn’t like Facebook where I would have to create a personal account just to create a page for my website.
This should help increase traffic and promote many businesses and websites, if Google Plus starts gaining more popularity.
Jeroen van de Peppel
Amazon, Paypal, Google Checkout have brought new meaning to buying online. A purchase is now not further than 1 click away. The internet has certainly brought new meaning to “Impulse Buying”
If real estate could be bought and sold through G+ or Facebook, should agents use a “Buy Now” button at the bottom of each listing.
Greg Vincent
Jeroen, the concept of a ‘Buy Now’ button would be very interesting. I wonder what percentage of the transaction PayPal would take? 🙂
It reminded me of the http://offernow.com.au/ service that was launched by Greg Roberts back in the mid ’90’s.
Great article about Google+ Peter. Now that business has been integrated G+ will become a very important player in the Social/Business space thru 2012 and beyond.
Peter Ricci
Updated
Google Plus for Business is now released in a basic form, so you can now create pages for Google+ Brands
Here is the official Google Blog Post
People + pages, better together
Google+ has always been a place for real-life sharing, and Google+ Pages is no exception. After all: behind every page (or storefront, or four-door sedan) is a passionate group of individuals, and we think you should able to connect with them too.
For you and me, this means we can now hang out live with the local bike shop, or discuss our wardrobe with a favorite clothing line, or follow a band on tour. Google+ pages give life to everything we find in the real world. And by adding them to circles, we can create lasting bonds with the pages (and people) that matter most.
For businesses and brands, Google+ pages help you connect with the customers and fans who love you. Not only can they recommend you with a +1, or add you to a circle to listen long-term. They can actually spend time with your team, face-to-face-to-face. All you need to do is start sharing, and you’ll soon find the super fans and loyal customers that want to say hello.
A number of pages are already available (see below), but any organization will soon be able to join the community at plus.google.com/pages/create.
Direct Connect from Google search
People search on Google billions of times a day, and very often, they’re looking for businesses and brands. Today’s launch of Google+ Pages can help people transform their queries into meaningful connections, so we’re rolling out two ways to add pages to circles from Google search. The first is by including Google+ pages in search results, and the second is a new feature called Direct Connect.
Maybe you’re watching a movie trailer, or you just heard that your favorite band is coming to town. In both cases you want to connect with them right now, and Direct Connect makes it easy—even automatic. Just go to Google and search for [+], followed by the page you’re interested in (like +Angry Birds). We’ll take you to their Google+ page, and if you want, we’ll add them to your circles.
Direct Connect works for a limited number of pages today (like +Google, +Pepsi, and +Toyota), but many more are coming. In the meantime, organizations can learn more about Direct Connect in our Help Center.
I have just created my Google Apps Plus Account. You can add me here 🙂
Peter Ricci
A Little Primer for Google Plus Business Pages