Experiment with my own blog. Results were sooner than 44 minutes, but I was too surprised to think to take a screenshot right away.[/caption
Having just tried a little experiment to determine how effective all this Google+ hype is – they were all advocating it at the CT Business Expo – I am left stunned.
Google+ Really Does Help Your SEO
There’s so much more to learn (*vast understatement*), but here’s the scoop to get you started with your Google+ profile and improved SEO.
The content you share on Google+ can show up in minutes in a search listing. When the right search terms are used and the user is signed in to Google+, it could even be on the first page.
Optimize Your Headline
Google grabs the first 70 characters of your post’s first line, so make it count with a catchy headline.
Choose words that will reflect well in a search and put asterisks around them. The asterisks won’t show up in the post.
Write a Compelling First Sentence
The first 160 characters becomes your attention-grabbing listing description. This is your chance to keep your readers long enough for them to decide to click through. Learn from David Sedaris on how to craft seductive first-liners.
Link Your Blog/Website to Google+
This can’t hurt your SEO, even if the results are as yet unclear. This link should influence searches inside Google+. Here’s a walk through the steps with some good visuals.
Display a Link to Your Google+ Profile From Your Website
You can either use a plug-in method to create a widget, or you can make a social icon button like the ones you made before. WordPress shows you both ways here.
Verify Authorship
This will help you get more followers, which will in turn help readers discover your other content on the web, and will ultimately help users to find high quality internet content. Join the club now while it’s still rather new, and you will stand out even more.
Get More Followers
The more followers you get, the better the search results. This key point can’t be overlooked: Your posts directly affect your followers’ searches on Google+.
The screenshot here is on page one, but when the same terms were searched when not on Google+ as a follower, the results were buried. I gave up after page 70.
I seriously need to add followers. Let’s get out there and add ’em!
Miscellaneous tip: When posting on Google+, use hashtags where applicable. Like Twitter, themes are being generated which can add to your exposure. Where possible, include #cutenessoverload for maximum awwwww effect.
Google+ gives you immediate, front-load airtime, a built-in mugshot, and a direct link to your webpage. Content marketers are quickly realizing the benefits.
It won’t be a ghost town for long.