You want your business to be all over the internet, so you’ve created a website, a Facebook business page and listed your business in Google Places so you can gather those all-important Google user reviews.
Now there’s one new step you might want to take: creating a Google+ business page. Google has merged their Google Places functionality with the richer content and interactivity of Facebook’s business pages. The result is aimed at connecting you with your existing customers as well as reaching out to those who find your business through a web search. You’ll get more information to more people if you have a Google+ business page.
Here’s how to create your Google+ business page:
- You need to be logged into Google, which you can do easily if you already have Gmail or YouTube accounts. Make sure you’re signed into one of those. If you don’t have a Google account, create one here: https://accounts.google.com/NewAccount
- Go to the Google + business homepage: https://plus.google.com/pages/create
- Click a category for your business from the options listed on the left of the page:
Local Business or Place - Product or Brand
- Company, Institution or Organization
- Arts, Entertainment or Sports
- Other
- Click a category for your business from the options listed on the left of the page:
- If you chose Local Business or Place, you’ll need to locate your business listing in Google Places by entering your country and phone number. Once Google Places has found your listing, you can proceed to create your new page.
- Add your info: your page name, website address, category and who you want to be able to view your Google + business page. You must also agree to the Google + terms and conditions, but you don’t need to agree to stay informed about future Pages releases and other relevant information. Uncheck that box if you prefer.
- Now you can fill out your Profile Basics: your company tagline and a square profile photo. You can use either your company’s logo here or a photo of key company members. You’ll have a chance to add a larger, rectangular cover image in a moment.
- Click Finish >>, and take a look at your new Google + business page! It’s not really finishe yet. But you can see the page layout and some basic information.
- Next, upload your cover image, which will be much wider than your profile photo. Note that the right side of your cover image will be obscured by the profile photo, so you may want to choose a cover that’s more for background. Hover your cursor over the blank cover and then click Change cover photo. Then upload an image from your computer.
- Above your cover image, click the blue Edit profile button.
- In the About section below your cover image, fill out an Introduction to what your business does, your business’ Contact info and Links to any other business or product you want to promote.
- In the Photos and Videos sections, choose whether you want to include these in your page and who will be able to see them.
- Above your profile photo, click the Done editing button. Your page is almost complete!
- On the left side of the page, click through the options to add Events and Photos to your page, and to add people you want to connect with to your Circles.
That’s it! Enjoy the new contacts and customers you’re reaching.
Note:
The next time you want to view or make edits to your Google+ business page, simply sign into your Google (or Gmail or YouTube) account, then look for your own profile photo – it may be just a generic blue avatar – in the right corner.
Click the arrow beside that avatar, then click the View profile button. That will bring up your personal Google+ page. Clicking the arrow beside your avatar on this page will bring up the option to select your Google+ business page(s).