The first network with both brands & consumers in mind
Early on Google urged brands to avoid signing up for individual Google+ profiles with the promise that they were working on special business profiles.
Holy cow!
Unlike Facebook and Twitter that were not created with PR/Marketing folks in mind, Google+ has the advantage of a late entry to the social media. Social media has proven itself as a powerful communications tool, Google+ can leverage that knowledge as brands rush to connect with stakeholders be it media, consumers or other.
Google+ stands to be the social network that can offer equal opportunity to marketers and public/media relations professionals regardless of industry or B2B/B2C focus.
Spending time with my individual profile, I immediately see three strong ways brands can tap into the power of Google: Sparks, Hangouts and Circles. The fact that Google+ is developing the network with brands in mind, should only make pr/marketing folks tingle with even more anticipation.
Google+ , brands and audiences hookup; Sparks & Hangouts & Circles OH MY!
Sparks
I love my Google+ sparks as much as I loved Twitter lists. However Google+ provides a much slicker (yep slicker) interface to connect with targeted content. For brands, the use of sparks to showcase industry expertise, news and media content, career opportunities or whatever else an organization needs to communicate about seems like a no brainer.
Hangouts
As a former journalist and broadcaster the multimedia beauty of hangouts naturally the jumps out at me with a tremendous amount of potential.
The virtual press conference just became a dream to set up. With targeted circles getting information to media fast, in an interactive and engaging way couldn’t be easier.
Get immediate, verbal, face to face feedback from consumers or other key external stakeholders.
If you operate in the B2B realm, add value to the community by hosting information sessions, showcase expertise and bring in guests. Just like corporate blogs grow like weeds when you expand your thinking beyond SELL SELL SELL, same too with live video chats.
And that’s just three quick thoughts on hangouts, spend a little time and I’d imagine your mind will run laps around the hangout concept.
Circles
Regardless of communications function, be it marketing or public relations, the ease of segmenting markets or dividing publics is a dream even on an individual account. Google+ provides marketing/public relations folks an easy way to send messages to multiple and diverse publics/markets. I’d go as far to say Google+’s use of circles could be a glimpse into a future where both PR and Marketing work together and have joint ownership of social media. Unlike Twitter and Facebook, message are far harder to target. (P.S. feel free to add me to your circle)
All in all, what do you see being a potential for Google+ in the world of PR and Marketing? For a cool glimpse at the possible brand pages check out Sean Percival’s creation.
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