Google+ - Your Secret Weapon

"Google+ is going to be bigger than Facebook!"

That's what everyone was saying in 2011. Unfortunately it didn't take off as fast as people expected, but that doesn't mean that it isn't helpful for your business.  By using Google+ effectively, you can boost your company's search ratings and gain more customers.

Here are three tips to help you use Google+ to your advantage:

1. Fill Out Your Entire Profile

By filling out your entire business profile, you are giving your customers more information about your small business. You want to give your customers more information about what your business does and what it's all about. Complete profiles show up higher in Google searches for keywords relevant to your business.





2. Link Your Page to Your Address on Google Maps
Linking your page to Google Maps helps your business with SEO or search engine optimization, making it easier for your audience to find you when they search online. Plus, what good is your profile if your audience doesn't know where to find you?



3. Ask for Customer Reviews

Many customers like to read reviews about a business before they make a purchase. Customer reviews help people know what they are getting when they make purchases from you. Hopefully the majority of your reviews will be positive, but if you get negative reviews, make sure that you address them and try to resolve the issue. The fact that you replied to the negative review will show your audience that you care about their experience with your business.