How to List your Business on Google Plus

The first question you need answered is this: WHY DO I NEED MY BUSINESS LISTED ON GOOGLE PLUS? I feel there are a couple of pretty good reasons. First, Google Plus is the only REAL social networking competition to Facebook. Sure, most people are ON Facebook, but there are some who are not. Perhaps those who have issues with Facebook's ever changing look and feel. Privacy concerns also plaque some Facebook users. The second reason is the integration into the other Google services(Google Docs, Google Places, Google Calendar, etc) are more semless and easier. Also, from a business persective, Google is still the search engine most people here in the states turn too for searching for products and services. Lastly, it is the newest social network out there and it is always good to have at the very least a presence out there.

So, now we know WHY your business needs to be on Google Plus, so how do you do it? Here is a walk-through of setting up your business on Google Plus:

The first thing you need to do is create your own personal Google Plus account. The reason why you need a personal account is that Google links the your personal account (without others knowing) to the Business Page. They do this so that they can be sure someone is responsible for the page.

So once you have your page set up scroll to the bottom of the page and you will notice a small link labeled “Create a Page”. Click it.

Currently there are 5 different Catagories for Google Business Page:

1. Local Business  or Place
2. Product or Brand
3. Company, Institution or Organization
4. Arts, Entertainment or Sports
5. Other.

I am adding an actual business with an actual address. So I selected “Local Business or Place”.  Enter the phone number of your business.

After you enter your number, your business should appear. If it doesn’t, your business is not most likely not listed in Google Places. (go do this before you get on Google Plus). So now I am going to assume you are listed in Google Places and your business is being shown on the current page.

Select your business.

Pick a category

Keep the defaults which will make this page visible to any Google Plus User. Check the box that agree’s to Google’s arrangements and hit the CREATE button.

Change your profile picture by clicking on the box. Very important to put SOMETHING in this photo space.  It shows that you are active or have been active on Google Plus.

Click continue to upload the picture (once you have added the photo).

You now have the option to tell everyone on your PERSONAL profile about your business. Write something if you wish and click on the <share on Google+>

The next thing you need to know is HOW TO USE GOOGLE PLUS TO INCREASE BUSINESS.