{"id":31388,"date":"2014-03-28T09:08:10","date_gmt":"2014-03-28T16:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/blog\/?p=31388"},"modified":"2015-01-19T09:53:26","modified_gmt":"2015-01-19T17:53:26","slug":"how-to-build-brand-with-google-plus-hangouts-on-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/blog\/how-to-build-brand-with-google-plus-hangouts-on-air\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build Your Brand with Google+ Hangouts On Air"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re like most businesses today, you have accepted social media as a necessary part of a content-based marketing strategy. On Twitter you can communicate short-and-sweet deals, tips, news headlines, and pictures of the flavor of the day. On Facebook you can run contests, post pictures, and link to blog posts. But how many businesses realize the opportunity that is Google+?<\/p>\n

More than just another social platform, Google+ offers SEO, branding, and audience-engagement benefits. Its Hangouts On Air<\/strong>\u00a0(HOA) feature, in particular, can be a real game-changer that helps brands build traction and expertise in their field faster and more cheaply than any other way.<\/p>\n

\"Hangout<\/a>
Hangouts On Air give brands visibility and interaction opportunities, both as host and attendee.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First Things First: Why Be on Google+?<\/h2>\n

If your brand is not on Google+, you\u2019re missing far more than just social interaction. Now the second most active<\/a> social network globally, Google+’s integration with search and other Google products brings undeniable SEO benefits beyond those of other social media platforms.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoogle+ is really the unification of all of Google\u2019s services, with a common social layer.\u201d<\/em> \u2013\u00a0Vic Gundotra, head of Google+, in his recent presentation at Pubcon<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cYou just need to do it. It’s a top ranking signal, and I think you’re dumb if you don’t do it.\u201d<\/em> \u2013\u00a0Danny Sullivan, editor of Search Engine Land, speaking in an HOA<\/a> this week<\/p>\n

Plain and simple, if your brand cares about being found in Google search, it needs to be active on Google+. There’s at least one obvious SEO benefit:\u00a0Articles posted or +1\u2019d by someone a searcher has circled in Google+ can appear in that searcher\u2019s top 10 results in the SERP. Google sees this as an endorsement from someone the person trusts, which creates ranking potential for your content in people\u2019s personalized results.<\/p>\n

Businesses actively engaged on Google+ can join communities, comment on posts, give +1s, and post their own content in a conversation-friendly environment that was designed to mimic the way people build relationships in real life. But brands can also use Google+\u2019s free Hangout On Air (HOA) feature to find their audience, network with influencers, and gain or establish expertise.<\/p>\n

Hosting Your Own Hangout or Hangout On Air<\/h2>\n

Any Google+ user can use the Hangouts feature to start a video conference with up to 10 followers anytime. This is already a money-saving tip, because Hangouts give companies a completely free and easy way to do teleconferencing. Your video conference Hangout will be private, just between participants, if you use this method:<\/p>\n

\"Start<\/a><\/p>\n

Alternatively, you can start a Hangout On Air<\/strong> \u2014 a live video conference available for any Google+ user to watch and comment in, and forever after saved as a publicly viewable video on your brand\u2019s YouTube channel.<\/p>\n

Hosting an HOA or a series of HOAs on subjects relevant to your business can quickly:<\/p>\n