Let’s Get Started Personal Page:

1. You must have a Google account that has an active Google profile in order for Google Plus to work. If you have not set up your Google profile, you will be unable to sign up for Google Plus.

2. Google Plus profiles can only be set up using a regular Gmail account versus using your Google apps account to create your Google Plus profile. Further, in the event you request an invitation to be sent to your Google Apps email address, you will not be able to receive that email.

3. For those of you who have either a Yahoo or Windows Live Hotmail account and you have used one of those email accounts to sign up for a Google account, you are ready to proceed. Before continuing, check to make sure your new Google profile is visible to the public.

Google+ Circles:

Circles are how everything works within Google +. A circle, or circles act as network identifiers, which you create and are only visible to you. There is no limit to the number of circles you can create, and you can add friends to one or more circles. The name(s) and visibility of your Google + circles are limited to you alone. That means no one can see who is in your circles except you.

An outstanding feature of Google+ is its ability to automatically scan your email and Android contact lists, and suggest people with whom you may want to follow. The interface for adding people to your circles is intuitive and easy to use.

Let’s say you want to follow a celebrity on Google Plus. It is as simple as searching for his/her name in the search box and then adding him/her to one of your circles. Remember, your circles and the circle names are visible only to you.

The Google+ Life Stream:

The Google Plus life stream contains updates from all the people included in the circles that you are following. These updates include photos, status updates, videos and comments from people contained in your Google + circles.

Specific Circles Updates:

All of your circles are listed one after another on the left pane. By clicking a circle’s name you will open that circle’s filtered life stream. Listed under that filtered life stream, are the updates from people who are only in that particular circle. This functionality is particularly useful for catching updates from some of your followers who tend to not be as active as others on Google+.

Google Plus Notifications:

The notifications button is located on the top right corner of your Google + profile. This little button monitors your Google + activity and alerts you to comments in a post you commented earlier, someone responds to a status update, or tags you in a photo uploaded by you.

In addition, you can preview which of your friends is in a discussion within one of your circles. While this is similar to Facebook, the distinction here is in the absence of a notification like, Mr. XXX tagged you in a photo. Unlike Facebook, a person who wants to tag you in a photo will have to first obtain your permission. This is a long awaited game changer.

Chat Or Email Google+ Friends:

The ability to send an instant message to friends on Google+ mirrors the chat feature on most social networks. The chat widget is located at the bottom of the right pane where you can click and send a friend an instant message.

Google+ replaces the private message functionality found in Facebook and Twitter, with a handy option called “Email” found directly below the profile photo of your Google Plus friend. Click it to send a private message directly to that friend’s email inbox.

While there are more Google+ tips and tricks we can discuss, we will move on to setting up your Google+ business profile.

Google+ Business Profile:

1. Login:

Sign in to your Google account and then navigate to http://www.google.com/+/business/.

2. Pick a Category:

Select a category that fits your business profile from the menu boxes located at the top left of the google.com/+/business page. The category selection choices are as follows:

• Local Business or Place: Suitable for: hotels, restaurants, places, stores, services
• Product or Brand: Suitable for: apparel, cars, electronics, financial services
• Company, Institution or Organization: Suitable for: companies, institutions, organizations, non-profits
• Arts, Entertainments or Sports: Suitable for: films, TV, music, books, sports, shows
• Other: Suitable if your business doesn't fit into one the above categories

3. Add Your Information:

Step 3 requires that you enter your business name and website. After you have entered your business name and website, you will be asked to to select an additional category that suits your business. Note: the additional sub-categories are dependent on the main category you chose in Step 2.

For example, if you chose "product or brand" as your main category, you will now choose from the additional sub-categories such as food and drink, arts and entertainment, fashion and beauty, home and garden, etc.

Now you will need to select the target market that will be allowed to view your Google+ profile. The default is any Google user, or you can restrict this to 18 and older or 21 and older, etc..

4. Tagline and Photo:

In earlier blog posts we discussed the importance of taglines and branding concepts. You may want to read or re-read our series, “Marketing in Crowded Waters.” In addition, as stated in, “Say It In Six, ” keep your message brief.  While Twitter incorporates a tight bio space, Google+'s is even tighter. You are restricted to a 10 word maximum to summarize your business. Imagine the thirty-second elevator pitch being reduced by 90%.

After you have accomplished your bio entry, you can upload your image.

5. Distribute Your Message:

Now you can tell your Personal Google+ circles about your new business page.

6. Your Google+ Brand Page:

That’s it! You are good to go with your brand new Google+ business page.

You will notice on your welcome page, that Google generates a link to your Plus page. (For now, it appears as s a string of random characters, rather than a memorable URL). If you would like another way to post a link, you can opt for a Google+ button for your site.

Time to start rolling those circles around the web and start adding people to your circles (different to personal pages, the defaults include "team members," "customers," and "VIPs"). Enjoy!

See you next week at Today’s Marketing Blog, where we will present the third and final installment of “Google +” series, “Part 3 – Ways to Use Google+ for Marketing.”

MatterMax Media is a full service integrated marketing agency located in Stone Mountain, Georgia.  MatterMax Media provides strategy, technology, marketing and training for individuals, businesses and government.  Today’s Marketing Blog focuses on Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Web Matters.  When you require assistance with your website creation, branding/marketing strategy, feel free to contact us.