What Google Means For Your Business?

Google's foray into social media is not new. First it bought Orkut (social media site similar to Facebook) and then intriduced Google Buzz. which made limited impact. In contrast, Facebook has gone from strength to strength and emerged as the world’s leading social network that’s fast approaching the750 million member mark.

Earlier this last week, Google launched its latest social media offering – Google+ to the world and since then social media and technology has been abuzz claiming Google+ will dethrone Facebook as the numero uno social networking site.

What does Google+ mean for your business?

Google Tools

It provides a set of tools accessed through your existing Google account and delivered through a toolbar that also gives easy access to all of your Google tools. Whether its Circles, Sparks, Huddle or Instant Uploads, these are business-friendly tools that can help your business in more ways than one.

Friend Groupings

‘Friend Groupings’ allows users to set can set who sees their posts, images, and other content. Users can also create video chat groups, and follow celebrities or other interesting people, similar to Twitter. So, that essentially means your business can leverage the Google+ platform to communicate with customers and increase awareness similar to Twitter again.

The concept of circles makes it easier for people with large personal networks to segment their business activity much more easily. It encourages users to build out large networks while they can still keep their friends circle restricted.

Viral Marketing?

It doesn't appear that Google+ has been designed to promote direct viral marketing. Businesses can use their network to promote products, services, offers, deals etc. The idea is to use your immediate network as reach out to the broader network to attract new customers and promote your business.

Search Engine Visibility?

It is highly possible that activities within Google+ will be searchable on Google in real time search. this makes even more sense since, Twitter real time searches are no longer visible on Google. Could this be a coincidence?

These are very early days for Google+ and sign-up is limited to a select few. We will have to wait and see how it competes against Facebook in the coming days and what opportunities it will provide a business owner.