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Increasing your Google+ Followers has the dual impact of engaging with your audience on the social platform, but it also affects the search result ranking of Google search results. To increase your followers on Google+ there are several tactics you can use to help.
How Google+ contributes to search ranking
As you increase your Google+ connections, you have an impact on the search results of your followers. When a user is logged into Google when they search, if you are connected on Google+ then that user is far more likely to see your page among the top search results.
Kristi Hines, writing for the Social Media Examiner, had a look at the impact on search ranking for her top keywords and found that the rank of her blog would jump her up to the first or second page of Google. When the users aren’t logged into Google her blog would rank on pages 3, 4, or even beyond page 100 for the popular term “blogging”.
Impact of Logged into Google+, Page Follow, credit to Kristi Hines via Social Media Examiner
Based on Google Analytics, when know at least 75% of the searches on Google are from users who are logged into Google and we have our opportunity. Increasing followers significantly improves search results for those users.
Circles
Circles, like a sphere of influence, help you organize people so that you share and receive updates from groups of people. Out of the box Google provides a few circles (Friends, Family, Acquaintances) to get you started. You can create custom circles and when you add someone to a circle they aren’t notified of which circle, only that they follow you and you’re in one or more of their circles.
You can create Circles in any way you choose to best organize your followers. When you publish content on Google+, you can choose which Circles to share that content with; you can share the content with everyone in all of your Circles or make it public for anyone to see.
For more information on Circles learn more here.
Follower
If you follow someone on Google+ you are choosing to have their content show up in your feed. Similar to Facebook’s following feature. You can add them to multiple circles if it makes sense. Note: You can have someone in a circle but not follow them.
Increasing Followers
Follow Others
Follow others and categorize them into circles to whom you might tailor communications. Follow influencers in your community and industry.
Involve Others by Tagging
Tag others in posts using +name (for example: +Marthavanberkel) to make your comments seen by more people.
Influencers
Identify influencers who have many followers. Comment on their posts and become engaged so their audience may see your insightful comments. +1 their posts or comment on posts that peak your interest.
Join Relevant Communities
Join a relevant business community on Google+. Depending on your business, you may want to search for interest, industry or regional communities.
Do it Again Next Week
To continue to increase followers you should spend another 15 minutes next week. Check to see who’s added you to their to circles and you may want to follow those new people back.
You could share your profile or page link in your other social networks and invite them to connect.
Links to Google+ Profile
Create a link on your website that links to your Google+ Profile or Page. Implement the Google+ Follow Button.
Other Link locations
You can also include links to your profile in online forum profiles, posts, social media profiles or email signatures. If should go without saying, however that you should follow the respective rules of each and do not act “spammy”.