Google+ Hits 150 Million

I wasn't sure if Google Plus would be that significant or not but the following has gotten my attention. FYI - Some of this info is a little dated by about 2 months, but it remains noteworthy.

Google+ Pundits Weigh-In

"According to data collected by GlobalWebIndex, Google+ has skyrocketed in the past few months and can now boast over 150 million actives users." - Source: WebProNews

Per Search Engine Land, "Google+ uses a diaspora-like way of sharing content with users by utilizing circles. I think this format is very appealing to many users who are working to balance their professional and personal life."

Tom's Guide says, "This time Google is serious - After many years of tinkering, and more than a few false starts (Remember Orkut, and Wave? Anyone still Buzzing?), Google has released Plus, its answer to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and all the social networking sites in between."

And, Mashable.com weighs in with, "The Gloves are Off!" in response to Facebook.

Google+ - My 2 Cents

For search benefit and social media benefit, I'm recommending that my clients use Google Plus, but the jury is still out for the next several months on how successful Google & users will ultimately be.

What are your thoughts? PLEASE COMMENT!

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Article Source: Google+ Hits 150 Million

Author: Bob Walton is a Raleigh SEO & Local Search search engine marketing service provider for local businesses. If you want to DOMINATE LOCALLY, need a new website, or have questions on improving your existing website, please contact Bob @ 919-523-4185.

Tags: google plus, google+, seo benefit, social media

2 members like this

Comment by Greg Borchardt - Web Designer on February 16, 2012 at 3:06pm: I don't really use it yet, but the more I learn about it, the more I like it and I plan on using it more soon. I also like to add it to the websites I make for my clients and then +1 it on all of their pages under my account name - I read that helps get their pages indexed faster. I always have a sneaking suspicion (unwarranted, however) that links to Google help SEO. It certainly can't hurt!

Comment by Bob Walton on February 16, 2012 at 3:24pm: Google I think will lean towards favoring (not official) posts, blogs, etc. that are "+1" (liked). Think of it as a social vote that acts like an in-bound link.

Comment by Stephen Peacock on February 16, 2012 at 4:32pm: Clearly, the gloves are off. The meteoric adoption rate probably has the Google gang patting themselves on the back. They seem to have got this one right - but it's still early. They could muff it up still.

Meanwhile, Google+ shares are very influential in "Search Plus Your World" which is a more personalized search engine you'll see if you are logged into your Google+ account when you enter a search query. I wrote about this and the relative value of links from different social networks in a post on social media sharing and SEO on my blog.

Comment by Bob Walton on February 16, 2012 at 7:06pm: Spot On Stephen, and good social media post! While "personalization" has the benefit of returning SERPs that best match your search patterns, the downside is what I call "the Emperor's new clothes" effect.

Essentially, you get only what you want to get to the exclusion of even the truth. e.g. if you favor chocolate over vanilla, over time, most of the SERPs supplied, when you search on the term, "ice cream", will be of a chocolate essence. Thus, you may never be introduced to alternative flavor suggestions of strawberry or peach, which could peak your interest if the results were to be displayed, but you'd rarely see them because of your previous search habits; curious and new discoveries would seldom be encountered.

But I'm rambling, the above ventures into another blog post which I have yet to further develop. Thanks for your valued comment.

Comment by Phoenix - Operations Assistant on February 17, 2012 at 5:04pm: I don't like G+ :( Frustrates the snugpots out of me. I'm reading all I can as quickly as I can.

grrr

Comment by Whitney Hill on February 17, 2012 at 5:16pm: I believe that small businesses and special interests groups are the early folks to come on because of the special features and integration with other Google Tools. Casual Facebook users are going to be slow to migrate...Will Google provide migration tools from Facebook?

Comment by Bob Walton on February 17, 2012 at 5:42pm: Early adopters benefit most when a novelty takes off, "google buzz" may have flopped, but I think google is taking this latest venure seriously in light of the way Facebook's and Twitter's popularity is exploding.

Comment by Bob Walton on February 17, 2012 at 5:44pm: I'm not sure of any migration tools but google would be wise to develop one.

Comment by Teresa Molter on February 17, 2012 at 6:51pm: I really don't know anything about Google+ so thanks for all the information!

Comment by Bob Walton on February 18, 2012 at 9:11am: As Phoenix alluded to, G+ is not easy for one to get their mind wrapped around; circles of "friends", "family" and "associates" I get. +1ing is not as natural as "like"ing on facebook.

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