Even though it wasn’t too hard to get an invite into Google+, Google’s social networking site that is still in “Field Testing”, you now should be able to access and edit your Google+ profile the next time you log in to your Gmail account. Google has made the brand-spanking new social networking site available to the everyone with a Google account despite the fact that the site is still under construction.
Yeah, Google+ may be new, but it has been able to much more than its counterparts in the same amount of time. According to The Next Web, it took Twitter 780 days and Facebook 852 days to reach 10 million users – Google+ achieved that same feat in only 16 days. So there is no question that the site will round out the “Big Three” social networking sites once it’s finally ready for production. Google admits to not being nowhere near done, and is constantly adding features, some per user request and others as a means to differentiate itself from other social networking sites.
One of those features that small businesses could take advantage of if implemented is business/professional profiles. Similar to Facebook Fan Pages, a Google+ business profile could be a great way to share relative information to possible clients and customers about your business/area of expertise WITHOUT sharing information to other users in your circles who may add you to one of their Circles for reasons other than you’re doing professionally. In other words, you may want a personal profile to share with friends and family or discuss similar interests with others; and a business profile to specifically share information related to your business.
Word on the street is that the reason why Google+ has banned the use of pseudo/brand names from using Google is because the site wants your personal information that you share across its many platforms…for advertising. So business/brand information for the time being is not allowed on Google+. But that doesn’t mean Google may offer a way to legitimately get your business on the site in the future if the demand is there. Folks have been clamoring for Google+ to allow business/brand identity inclusion, if Google wants to play in the social networking game, it will have to at least listen.
What do you think? Should Google+ let businesses use Google+ as a platform to expand their reach, or is Google right in only allowing personal information? Let us know in the comments.