Do you use Google+to drive traffic to your blog?
We as bloggers, we are always looking for ways to boost our traffic regardless whether we are a new or an intermediate blogger.
Haven’t heard of any blogger that said they were ok with their current pageviews.
You can spend hours and hours coming up with a killer post but if you aren’t making efforts to drive traffic to your blog and to the specific blog post then all your hard work amounts to nothing.
We all know how important traffic is .Especially if of the ways you want to monetize your blog is through ads then focusing on traffic should be a priority.
With more pageview, you will be accepted to high ad companies such as AdThrive and Mediavine where of course the payout is high compared to some companies such as AdSense.
Nothing can beat the fact that Google plus is a part of Google. It’s a social networking site by google that alone is something. Facebook and Pinterest might be the best way to drive referral traffic to your content but google plus shouldn’t be ignored.
Today it’s all about how to use Google+ to drive traffic to our blog. Many bloggers out there (me included) don’t utilize Google +as they should.
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Setting up an account
Before you start to use Google+ you need to create an account.
If already have an account you can skip this step. Setting up an account is so easy all you have to do is go to https://plus.google.com/ to set up an account.
There are 2 types of accounts that is Google + page and a standard google +profile.
A Google + page is more of a brand /business/organization account while a Google+ profile is individual.
I personally have a Google+ profile and it works perfectly for me but I might change it to a business one. Once you decide the one you want then go ahead create an account.
- Add a profile picture or a logo
Depending on the type of account you choose then you can either add a profile picture or a logo.
It’s highly recommended to use the same picture as in the other social platform especially if you are a new blogger so as to have some consistency and will make you be recognized easily.
- Cover image
Add a picture that says more about you or your brand. The picture should be eye-catching and bold.
Same with the profile picture, try add the same cover similar to your other social platforms such as Facebook.
Canva is a great place to edit your cover. It has header template, all you have to do is edit as desired. Recommended size is 1080 x 608 pixels.
- About section
This is the part where you write something about yourself. Your audience deserves to know a little about you.
Add a link to your blog and to your other social media, write a short bio about your blog/business, and include your skills.
Always keep this section updated.
- Tagline
Your tagline should be very clear and precise. Let people know what you do Also, add a keyword in line with your niche.
- Introduction
It’s time to share more about yourself. Tell people who you are. Naturally use keywords too. Mention the topics that you cover and you can link to a few places on your websites. Such as a freebie, about me page or even a blog post.
Quick Overview
Home
This is the first thing you will see from the drop tab on your left. This is basically your newsfeed.
You are able to see posts from people or communities you are following. It is more or less like the Facebook newsfeed.
If you there is any post you like you can share it on Facebook, Twitter, Google + of course, or you can copy the link and paste it anywhere you like. You can also leave a comment on the post or even plus 1 on the post.
Collection
It focuses on your interests.
For instance, if your interest is in DIYs you will see a lot of collections in that field which you can follow.
You are also able to view the collections you are following or the ones you have created. Google plus collections are similar to Pinterest board in some way.
The collections helps you to easily organise your ideas making it easy for your audience to find posts they are interested in.
Communities
This are just like Facebook groups. You will be able to see the recommended ones, the communities that you are a member and yours that is if you have created any.
The two things you be on the lookout before joining a community is whether it is well updated and how many people are in it.
Profile
Under profile, you can be able to edit your information. Change the cover picture or even the profile picture.
As you scroll down you can be able to see the most recent post you have posted or reshared.
Make sure you have updated your bio with the correct links to your websites and your other social media accounts.
Plus 1+
This is simply liking someone’s post, it is similar to Facebook like.
People
This where you can be able to search for anyone who is on Google + and you can add them. Shows you the people you are following and also the ones who follow you.
You will also see some suggestions of people to follow in your niche.
Once you have followed someone you can choose the circle you want to add them to, this could be family, friends, or even acquaintances.
Circles
You will find circles under the people you are following once you scroll to the bottom.
Circles are small groups that you can create and they are important when you post something and you just want specific people to see.
Simple guidelines to follow when posting content
These simple guidelines will show some important tricks on how to use Google+ as a source of traffic.So read them keenly.
Use good wording that will catch people’s attention. Use the same analogy as when crafting a catch blog post title.
Let your readers know how they will benefit from reading the post. You can play around with emotions such as you can create suspense and curiosity.
Keep off from phrases like “just blogged this” or “currently on the blog”. In your post body add a keyword that you have used in the blog post.
Add a few keywords in the hashtags
Another thing you can do is bolding the title or the keyword. Simply use asterisks which will disappear once you click post and the text will be in bold .For example if i want to bold the keyword seo tips for beginners then it should be*seo tips for beginners*
Use a good picture. Should be clear, high quality, one that attracts people.
When you post the blog post URL, a picture will automatically appear. On the left side of the picture, you can be able to choose a picture you want to use from your post.
Alternatively, you can remove the picture by clicking on the x (which is the remove button) and you can upload a different one. The idea is to make your picture is popping in a way that no one can scroll past it.
Before you post decide who you want to share your posts with. I normally leave it at public unless I have something specific am posting then I will change maybe to a specific circle or community. Try interacting with your audience, if one leaves a comment you can 1+ on it.
Simple Ways to use Google+to drive traffic to your blog
1.Join communities
Join as many communities as you can and participate in them. Some of the communities have more than 100k so Post your own stuff, comment on others and even share other people’s post.
Just make sure you follow all the rules and guidelines in the communities otherwise you don’t spam them which can result in you being removed. Interact with other members and build relationships with them.
2.Create eye-catching posts
Just like any other social media posting eye-catching post is a must.Your post should be good enough to redirect your audience back to your blog.
Try using different forms of posts. You can use videos, pictures, quotes or even plain text.
I personally love using pictures.
A good picture speaks volume and it attracts more people. You can also use bold italics, numbers lists, bullets lists, and strikethrough.
3.Hashtags
I love using hashtags because they are so much fun and they bring so much exposure too.
Hashtags will make it easier for people to find your posts even the ones outside your circles.
Google automatically highlights the hashtag it prefers in blue.
Using hashtags will also help increase your followers too. For your hashtag to be effective use the ones relevant to your content.
4.Be active
Your work is not only to make posts, be active on other people’s posts.Comment, share and like posts.
Doing this will increase your visibility leading to more audience on your posts too.
Just as is the case with Pinterest, Facebook or any other social media really timing is key.
Find out when most of your readers are online then post. This might be tricky so you have to keep experimenting with different time until you get it right.
I love posting on the weekend as it works wonders for me.
Have a G+ share button on your blog too. This will make it easy for your readers to share your content on google plus.
5.Utilize your circles
Circles are amazing because they give you an opportunity to share your content with a targeted group.
Conclusion
One of the main reason why you should use Google + is that it can help you boost SEO stats.
You will definitely see a change in your google analytics and your post will start appearing on Google search way sooner.
It gives you exposure and gives you an opportunity to interact with other people in your field.
I have tried to cover at least the basics when it comes to how you can use Google + for traffic hope you found this article helpful.
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