You know Google Plus, right? The social network that was going to take over Facebook as the new “big thing” in social media?
Well, that didn’t happen. The roll-out for Google Plus didn’t exactly go as planned, and the number of overall users is not what Google thought it would be at this point.
As of May 2015, Google Plus has 300 million active users globally. Of course, this is nowhere close to the 1.2 billion Facebook users, but that doesn’t mean that this platform doesn’t have a big marketing upside for real estate agents — because it does. More than you think.
I love using Google Plus to get my message and brand to the outside world and to create added engagement. Google Plus might be the sleeper social media platform, but when you read the advantages below, you might find it’s a keeper. Here are some great marketing advantages that will make you reconsider using this platform:
1. Better Google search results
Google owns Google Plus, and Google wants you to use its social network, so when you do, it provides nice advantages you won’t get on other social networks.
For instance, Facebook business pages used to rank high in organic Google search, but when Facebook ended the organic search for business pages, that all changed.
When you post blogs, videos and other content on Google Plus, it will rank this information in Google search results. This advantage is huge in getting your posts to be seen in organic searches. It will show your Google Plus post with your profile picture next to the result and let the person searching know what you look like and that you wrote the post.
As a real estate agent, if you don’t know how to get your blogging content ranked in organic search, don’t worry. Using Google Plus will help make this happen.
2. Google Plus and YouTube lovin’
It’s pretty easy to gain a good Google Plus following with an active YouTube channel. Posting consistent real estate videos to YouTube will increase your visibility because videos can be automatically shared from YouTube over to Google Plus.
Because Google owns both of these platforms, and they work together in tandem, it is an SEO recipe for success. Put more effort into posting YouTube videos and get them over to your Google Plus account — you will see good things happen, such as increased viewership and interaction.
3. Increased user engagement
Yes, Google Plus has fewer users than Facebook or Twitter, but the people who do use this platform are loyal. Many of the users that are on Google Plus check it multiple times a day and prefer it to other social media platforms.
Of millennials, 28 percent visit Google Plus on a regular basis, and it is currently tied with Twitter for the third most-visited social network site in the world.
If you are an agent who complains about not getting a lot of engagement on your other social networks, then Google Plus is something you should check out. Many of your friends, family, past clients and prospects have and use this platform. Start adding them to your circles, and start posting videos, blogs and other relevant content.
4. Google business pages dashboards and analytics
About two months ago, Facebook ended the organic search for its business pages, which means that unless you pay money to Facebook for ads or “boosting posts,” people won’t see your business page posts in their news feeds.
When it comes to Google Plus, you can also have business pages. Google Plus business pages are a great way to promote your brand, business and message.
It is also a fantastic way to increase your website traffic by creating arrows back to where you want people — your real estate website. Google Plus business pages are easy to navigate, and they post real-time social analytics.
Analytics are crucial because your time is valuable as a real estate agent, so being able to measure what you are doing as it pertains to your social media strategy is important. The Google Plus analytics dashboard is also easy to read and use — much easier than what you see on Facebook.
As a real estate agent, having a strategic social media strategy is a must. Using LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to interact with your sphere, clients and prospects seem to be the norm.
But don’t take Google Plus lightly because it has many advantages to increase brand awareness that other social media platforms don’t have.
I learned to pay close attention anytime something is either owned by Google or has the word Google in it. Take a moment and set up your page, and give it a shot. If you use this platform in tandem with YouTube and posting other relevant content that your target audience wants to see, good things will happen.
Wade Vander Molen is the director of sales/marketing for Stewart Title and has been in the title industry since 2005.
