Google+ is often still referred to as “the social network that none of your friends are on” or more commonly as a “ghost town”. That is, if anyone is referring to it at all! Google+? What’s that? As a business owner, why should I care? Here are a few answers for those queries.

First, let’s dispose of a common misconception. Google did not launch Google+ just to compete against sites like Facebook and Twitter. Rather, one of Google’s primary purposes in Google-Plus-Iconcreating Google+ was to provide Google with information which will improve its primary product… its own search engine.

As search engines evolve from serving up an anonymous soup of information toward personalizing each user’s experience, Google needs an efficient way to gather social media data to evaluate each website’s identity and reputation. Only then can it continue to refine its user experience to create more and more powerful searches.

Rather than peer hungrily at the data gathered by sites such as Facebook and Twitter, Google decided to create its own data gold mine—Google+. Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Google has complete access to the information on Google+ and is able to use that information to evaluate each website’s identity and reputation.

So…if you value your business’s search rankings on Google, better have a good Google+ presence!

Author: Deanne Watts, Office Manager for Jonathan C. Watts, Attorney at Law.

This is just a basic overview and is not legal advice specific to your situation. If you would like to speak with Jonathan about your situation, please email him at jcw@eastbaybusinesslawyer.com or call him at 925-327-1019.