Can Google+ Communities Really Boost Your SEO?
So I have to ask you a question – are you participating in Google+ Communities yet? Have you started your own?
I know – it just seems like one more place to be, right? But in all honesty, it's so much more than that; I could easily write an eBook about the many reasons you need to be using Google+ and all of its features to boost your business. (Hm…maybe I should think about doing that!) And that includes Google+ Communities in a big way!
Now there are a lot of people-oriented reasons to use Google+ Communities. By that, I mean that people will see you as a thought leader in your niche, you'll network with some great people, and you'll keep learning and growing in your field
But – there's a whole different side to Google+ Communities that affects whether people even find your articles and information, and if you know anything about my blog, you might have guessed 
that I mean your search engine optimization or SEO. Using Google+ Communities can provide a huge boost to your SEO, and here's how.
that I mean your search engine optimization or SEO. Using Google+ Communities can provide a huge boost to your SEO, and here's how. Yes, Google+ Communities Really Can Boost Your SEO!
1. Google indexes public Google+ Communities
If you've been doing SEO for any length of time, you'll know that getting indexed by Google as many legitimate ways as possible helps to boost your SEO. If you are involved in your own or other public communities on Google+, Google will increasingly see you as an authority in your field, and your position in a search engine results page or SERP will benefit as a result.
2. Networking leads to inbound and outbound links
The more you network with people in your niche via Google+ Communities, the more you'll likely end up reading other peoples' blogs and having people in your niche read your blog. As you comment on each others' well-written blogs in ways that contribute to the conversation, you'll start creating a very rich set of links between others' blogs and yours. Both inbound and outbound links are important signals to Google (the search engine side) that your site is relevant and authoritative in its niche. (Relevant means it's about what you say it's about; authoritative means that people can trust your information.) The more your site is seen by Google as being authoritative and relevant, the higher you'll appear in SERPs.
3. Boost knowledge of your brand
Active involvement in your Google+ communities will begin to boost people's knowledge of your products and services (not to mention their knowledge of you as an expert in your field). As you become seen as an authority in your niche, people are going to naturally recommend others to you and post your company as the "answer' to someone's problem when they see questions about your niche in online forums. All of these things naturally boost your SEO when people are referring their friends to your company to provide the products or services you need.
Are you active in a Google+ Community? Come hang out at my Google+ community – I'd love to see you there!
I want to know what you think of Google communities and if you have one or have joined one. Leave me a comment and share your thoughts.
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Thanks Liz for the piece on Google Communities. Love it Love it Love it
;0 Ya welcome Edmund! I love it too! You have grown a big community there! Great job!
Great information… I need to make this a priority. Thanks for the reminder.
[...] discussed is the reality that you can actually specifically leverage your social media in order to boost your SEO! This is the very technique that has been used at Assist Social Media to land many articles [...]
Great reasons to join Google + Elizabeth! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Lorii! I really think you would find a niche of people interested in reading your blog there and some new ideas!
I have 3 and paricipate in quite a few…I love it! And I have def noticed an increase in visibility and presence!
It’s amazing what they can do for you!
Ok, ok, what you say makes a lot of sense…I will look into this with the intent to participate!!
i’m so glad you are thinking of joining or creating your own community!
Loving Google+ communities and really love how you tied the SEO value into the bigger picture!
You know me.. It’s my favorite part of Google communities! LOL
My coach and I do our sessions on Google + but that is all I do. I am really excited to get going but right now don't have the time…I will soon though because I see huge benefit for me and my business!
I see it too sweetie! A google plus community linked to your website would do wonders for you!
so much more to learn for me when it comes to google+. thx for the info.
my pleasure Catherine.. if you meed help with Google plus just let me know!
I will definitely look into this. I heard so many good stuff about Google+ and the things it could do to my SEO. Thanks for pointing this out.
Oh it sure can Lorii and Google+ and SEO go hand in hand!
Great call to action for Google+ Communities at the end!
Thanks Pam! I hope you use it..;)
I'm one of those with the Google+ page, but haven't really done a lot with it, Elizabeth. I'm trying to understand and utilize more. Thanks for the information.
take your time Lovvie and pace yourself.. learn each platform and you’ll be amazed at how well you get things going!
Great article Elizabeth. I decided to start one for our blog last night after reading your article and we have already had triple the amount of people join in just one day than we have had following us on our Google+ page for the last 6 months. I can't recommend the Google+ Community page enough!
Great Brian! I hope you have linked it to your website and sent out invites on your social media!
Thanks for explaining this in an easy to understand way. I have resisted getting involved in google+ as I have felt I didn't have the time to devote to it, but you have convinced me that I can do this so I must make the time!
Glad you are diving in! when you get there circle me up and invite me to your community!
You make a compelling argument for being active in Google+ communities. OK – I'm convinced – it's time to get a move on. Thanks for the nudge Liz
lol ya welcome my dear! come join my community and share all your great content with my crew!
Great information on Google+ AND Encouragement. Haven't taken the plunge yet, but I see the benefit in doing so. Thanks!
..;) Glad you do Niki!
Hi Elizabeth,
I was not aware of the value of Google communities, so great to know. Thank you for sharing the benefits.
I’m glad you know now Cathy~
I have to admit that when this has been suggested to me by others, my overwhelming reaction has been, "not another place to be." As I pull myself out from under what feels like a mountain of things to do, I definitely plan to look into this.Thanks for this reminder, Elizabeth!
great Lisa.. you can create it and share your articles there as a resource place.. and invite others to join that can do the same..;)
I started mine last week…most of the people I know aren't in the google plus world yet, but hoping I have planted my flag in my niche when everybody eventually gets on board.
Well I’m there.. where’s my invite? ..;)
Thanks Elizabeth. I have begun a community, now let's see where it goes. I agree with you, lots of potential there!
Great Norma! Get those tag lines and links back to your site..;)
Thanks for your suggestions! I have a Google+ account but I do not use it they way I could be… I do like the idea of getting more involved with communities – I will check into that more.
I'm not on Google+ at the moment but the more I read about it, the more I am convinced that I need to check it out. Thank you for your recommendations!
So believe in the power and future of Google Plus. It really is just common sense. Useful and valuable content in your niche deserves attention and rank, right?
G+ is definitely a happening place. I am using it more and more and really see it as the KIng of social media sites before it’s all over
Elizabeth, do you think that Google + communities will be bigger than Facebook in the future? I have seen some very positive results from people sharing my posts on Google + and I am thinking that I need to listen to you about the Google communities!!
Thanks for the reminder Elizabeth! I have a Google+ community and am a member of a few others, but haven't paid them as much attention as I should.
Elizabeth, do you think that Google + communities will be bigger than Facebook in the future? I have seen some very positive results from people sharing my posts on Google + and I am thinking that I need to listen to you about the Google communities!!
I’m not sure that it will be Sherie but I know that it’s an awesome way to get SEO value for your site and meet so people that are NOT on Facebook!
Okay fine Elizabeth…I will delve into Google+ you convinced me!
lol awesome Liz! send me an invite! can not wait to see your community!
Hi Elizabeth, Just dropping by to say hi.
I haven't thought about Google+ communities. Like your opening says, "it's just one thing to tend to." However, it is something I can put on my future list to look into, once I get a good grip on what I have going now.
Thanks for sharing.
Hummmmmm…sounds like something to take a look at (I've been off learning a couple of other things lately, so it's time to add this to my list). Thanks!
I hope you add it because what you have going is great! Love to see you kick it up even more!
I have one and I have joined several. I think they are important but a learning curve and it will take awhile but people will love it!
I think so too! I love the community and family feel of groups..;) This one come with a great advantage!
Elizabeth, thanks for a helpful post demystifying a couple of things that I am woefully unclear on. I appreciate it!
I’m so glad it helped!
I am opening up a beauty supply store and need help naming it.
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Elizabeth you saved my bacon! I launched my G+ community, Speak up Nation, as an experiment and have been wondering what to do with it. And, frankly, I'm kinda confused as to how it works with a G+ biz page, but you've pointed me in the right direction thx.
Anyone who wants to dig deeper will enjoy this article on gaining authority with G+
http://www.copyblogger.com/google-plus-authority/
I hope you'll come share more social media goodness at my community, where I'm chatting with solopros about how to be confident with clients. I'm still getting the hang of it.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106654942621359585282
thank you for inviting me and I’m pumped to help! I’ll be by and i hope to see you in AssistSocialMedia community
I'm trying so hard on this Google+ thing, but I remain uncertain of the true value. I'm going to keep going for a bit and see what I think. This is my second time to give the site a try.
Kenna the value is in the SEO if nothing else! I hope you’ll keep going!..;)
Good article – thank you!
Thanks Molly!
Thank you Elizabeth….Very useful….have a great day…John Muir
I started looking at google+ communities yesterday, and joined a couple. I'm used to linkedIn groups, which is where most of my traffic comes from. If Google= communities are even half as good, it's worth checking out.
Liza, It’s worth it! Just share and engage and you’ll find the same thing. If you create a community on Google Plus you’ll notice some great SEO benefits!
Nice post Elizabeth! I created a VA community called The Virtual Assistant Project and on Google+ simply out of curiosity as to what the platform offered. I found that the community has been more personal than Facebook or actually any forums for which I am a member. And because there are so many communities that have sprouted on Google+ the sites have to REALLY stand out in order to prompt people to participate.
Please join us here https://plus.google.com/communities/106925635014548144073 and stop by and introduce yourself and let us know a little about your business.
Thank you!
Janine
I sure will stop by! VA services from goos people are a huge demand! Thank you for sharing your community and I hope you’ll stop by mine as well!
We have just started using this and have seen a slight boost in our rankings. We have been focused mainly on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube as it seems many people have been on those "channels" more.
As anyone will tell you keeping all the sites maintain is a daily task that sometimes gets overlooked
Ahh The daily tasks are what makes and breaks you! Thanks Tyler!
Thanks for sharing these tips Elizabeth on Google+ Communities. I have met a ton of new people and really enjoying the conversations. It's a plus to get a boost in SEO while doing it!
I know.. Fun and it gives a SEO boost! Thanks for the visit Susan!