Google* circles – Small Business Odyssey

Google has taken video chat to another level with its Google Plus Hangouts. Commentators report that this feature is the real groundbreaking aspect of Google+. Unfortunately, Google+ Hangout has not really taken off yet as Google+ members are still trying to come to grips with the many features and implications of Google Plus.

Google continues to innovate in this area and has recently created further refinements based on user feedback. Google Plus Hangouts provide many opportunities for small business marketing through connection with your customers or clients. You can also connect with your friends and staff.

The only requirement is that the people you connect with on Google+ Hangouts have to be in your circle and they have to have you in their circle – so this requirement is a basic privacy element of Google Plus. There is also a limit on participation numbers – at the time of writing the limit is 10 participants.

How to start a Google Plus Hangout

The button for starting a Google+ hangout can be found on your page along with your Google+ stream. You will see a button in the right hand column with the words, “Start a hangout’ and related icon:

If you have not used this facility before (or used Google Talk), then you will be asked to install a plugin which enables Google+ Hangout to interact with the audio and video equipment on your computer. The plugin request will look like this:

You will be advised when the installation of the plugin is successful and you will have the option again to setup a Google+ Hangout.

When you have the plugin installed and click the “start a hangout” button your will be taken to the Green Room – effectively the waiting room before you go on air (you can even check out your personal appearance beforehand!).

The Green Room for Google Plus Hangouts – the waiting room

Google Plus has created an interim space, called the Green Room, so you can check out your appearance (if you want), ensure your audio and video equipment are functioning and invite people to join in your Google+ Hangout. Once you click ‘Start a hangout”, you will be taken to the Green Room which is illustrated in the image below:

From within the Green Room, you can add individuals or circles to your Google Plus Hangout. You click on the ‘+Add circles or people to share with” button and you will see a drop-down menu of your circles so you can specify which circles you want to communicate with (this is where setting up and naming your Google + circles becomes really important, e.g. creating a customer circle for customer communications and surveys).

You can also invite individuals by adding their name to the field that appears once you click the ‘+Add circles or people to share with” button. You can choose to place a name in this field and/or add specific circles. When you add a circle you can also add individuals by clicking on the field ‘Add more people” and entering the individual’s name beside the Google+ circle displayed as shown below:

Adjusting your settings for Google Plus Hangouts in the Green Room

In the Green Room, as illustrated previously, you will see icons for audio, video and settings (working from left to right). If you click on the audio or video icons, you will mute the relevant equipment.

The settings icon enables you to advise Google Plus of the source you wish to use for your video (webcam), audio and volume controls. You will be able to choose from the dropdown menu for each of these pieces of equipment. From my experience, Google Plus automatically activates my webcam when I click on “Start a hangout’ (even when I have not switched the webcam on myself). Remember to click the ‘Save Settings” button when you have finalised your settings.

The thing to remember is that the Green Room is for setting everything up for your hangout (even yourself). You or your Green Room are not visible to others until you click on the green ‘Hang Out’ button in the Green Room.

Google Plus Hangouts provides a great opportunity for small business marketing by enabling video chat with your circles (including your customers and friends).

Since November 2011, Google has offered small businesses the opportunity to create their own Google+ Business Page. This is a direct challenge to the supremacy of Facebook Fan/Business Pages. It is a wise addition for anyone engaged in small business marketing. The Business Page is really valuable if you actively build your circles on Google+ and update your stream regularly.

When you join Google Plus, you will see an image in the right hand column of your Home page which enables you to create a Google+ Business Page (or Brand Page):

When you click on this button, you will see a range of options for categorising your business page as illustrated in the image below:

The category you choose determines the initial information your provide to develop your Google+ business page.

Google gives examples of the types of businesses that fall within the various categories (pass your mouse over the relevant button to see these). Here are the examples given for the first three categories:

Local business or place – hotels, restaurants, places, shops, services … basically places that you go to (if you select this option, Google can automatically pick up your Google Places and Google map details via the business phone number that you enter)
Product or brand – clothing, cars, electronics, financial services…(where recognition is via an established brand or where you are developing a brand)
Company, institution or organisation – includes not-for profits … (might also apply where you are offering a range of brands in different niches).

Once you have completed the basic set-up of your Google+ business page, you can then add photos and videos and begin to add content to your stream. When you enter a URL as part of your stream content, Google+ picks up the relevant thumbnail and image and some intro information.

Sharing your Google+ business page

Google provides a special URL for your business page which enables you to guide other people to your page and/or to share with your business page circles. With your Google+ business page, you can create circles that you name, while the default circles for business pages are:

Customers
VIPs
Team members
Following

Google offers you the option of sharing your new page with your circles. However, I would set up some content in your stream before sharing, so people have a reason to use the Google+1 button to recommend your Google+ business page (and/or share your content with their own circles). Their +1’s will show up as recommendations on Google’s search results and in Google ads.

When you post to your stream on your Google+ business page, it also updates your Google Plus stream on your personal home page. This means that the content from your Google+ business page is shared with your circles.

How do you delete a Google+ business page?

Many people enquire about this issue but there is a lack of information around, and what is available is often out of date (as this advice will be if Google+ changes again).

To begin the process to delete a Google+ business page, click on the arrow below your name on your Google+ home page (see image below):

Then follow these three steps:

Choose “Manage your pages’ from the drop-down menu
Select the Google+ business page you want to delete
Click on “Delete’ at the bottom of the relevant business page (see image below):

A Google+ business page gives a boost to your small business marketing by enabling you to get closer to your customers (current and potental) through sharing your business message with the right people.