This blog was posted a while back, and I thought I would update it today. So much has changed on G+ that the truth is you really shouldn’t try to “optimize” your G+ profile or posts much at all. The value of G+ posts on SEO is highly overstated, as a stand alone practice.
USe your G+ profile like any other about you page.
You’re optimizing the wrong page on your Google +
I had a discussion with Stephan Hovnanian ( https://plus.google.com/105076725141939280120/about , who is someone you might want to follow by the way on Google Plus) about optimizing your Google plus profile. Here’s the deal in my opinion. People are always talking about “optimizing” your profile, when that’s a long term losing game.
Your profile page is like a scrolling screen. Google probably see’s every post you make as a new page, and every time you make another post about cute cats, or your amazing insight into… whatever… every post you made previously gets pushed down the page (or buried under more stuff). That causes your links in those posts to gradually diminish in value, both from a readership standpoint (come on, when was the last time you read more than 3 or 4 of the most current posts on a profile page) but also from a SEO value.
Your “About Page” on G+
You could be optimizing your “About ” page, and getting far more SEO value. The About page doesn’t scroll, and is attached to your profile page. Every time you get a mention of your about page or add it as a link on an decent authority site, you are getting far more value when it comes to SEO. Not that you want to ignore all the very cool and important ways to utilize your profile and posts. That IS important. But a complete focus on your profile is a short term strategy. If you build the value of your about page…. it will naturally build the visibility of your profile, and… you don’t have to constantly update, plus, mention, post, engage…
Places to add your About Page URL
Here are places you should mention and add your About page:
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Your Facebook page
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Your Linkedin Profile
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Your Web site (the Google badge goes to your profile, why not add an additional mention and link to your About page)
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Any other social directories you participate in.
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Twitter
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Any forums you participate in
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Blog comments you make from time to time
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On your blog
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Add to your email signature
I bet you can think of many more. So what happens if I do all this you ask? Well, all the things you hope will happen as far as your sites, blogs and authority will get better.
Needless to say, if you are going to start paying more attention to your About page, please read up on all of the good info out there on how to build a good one. And trust me, it can be a very powerful page for your internet visibility, and therefore every page you have a link to on that page..
So, if someone were to ask me, would you rather have a link to your site in a post on a profile which slowly just loses it’s value as it sinks deeper and deeper into the G+ (or Facebook, or whatever) catalog of millions of posts that are made every day, or on an About page, which never moves down into that cavernous digital vault of old posts. Which makes more sense?
By Mike Bayes. My About Page on Google Plus
