--- title: Getting the Most from Google's Ghost Town description: "via Website Magazine's Social Media Mavens Channel :: When Google+ first arrived on the social..." image: https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-12-06-27-1147-AM-Apr-10-2023-01-43-05-9970-PM-2-1.png --- [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) [![Website Magazine Logo](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png?width=586&height=145&name=gradient-regular@3x-1.png "Website Magazine Logo")](http://Website%20Services,%20Inc.) - [About](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about) - [FAQs](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/faq) - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise) - [Editorial Staff](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff) - [Resources](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com) - [Newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up) - More - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact) [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) Search - [Latest](https://www.websitemagazine.com) - [Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design) - [Development](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-development) - [SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo) - [Ecommerce](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce) - [Content](https://www.websitemagazine.com/content) - [Marketing](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing) - [Advertising](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising) - [Email](https://www.websitemagazine.com/email) - [Infographics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/infographics) - [View All Topics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/channels) # Getting the Most from Google's Ghost Town ![Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Peter_Devereaux.png) [by Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/author/peter-devereaux) 01 Nov, 2013 - - - [mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/getting-the-most-from-googles-ghost-town](mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/getting-the-most-from-googles-ghost-town) - Link Copied! ![Getting the Most from Google's Ghost Town](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-12-06-27-1147-AM-Apr-10-2023-01-43-05-9970-PM-2-1.png) #### [Google+ Hangouts](https://www.websitemagazine.com/blog/%3E%20The%20initial%20newness%20has%20worn%20off%20though%20and%20most%20brands%20have%20all%20but%20abandoned%20their%20Google+%20presence%20in%20favor%20of%20networks%20with%20established%20audiences%20and%20higher%20levels%20of%20engagement.%20Google+%20may%20be%20a%20virtual%20ghost%20town%20compared%20to%20the%20likes%20of%20Facebook%20or%20Twitter,%20but%20the%20network%20actually%20offers%20several%20unique%20and%20business-friendly%20features%20to%20help%20companies%20create%20active%20and%20engaged%20communities%20while%20gaining%20a%20whole%20lot%20more%20than) ### [One of the features that sets Google+ apart from other social networks is its 'Hangout' offering, which enables users to engage in group conversations, host Q&A sessions or virtual conferences or launch products live with 'Hangouts on Air'. In fact, Hangouts On Air are broadcast not only on Google+, but can also be distributed on YouTube and websites where they have been embedded. Rasmussen College, for example, leverages this feature to connect with both current and future students. "The Hangout feature is great for allowing businesses to be seen and continue to prove themselves as subject matter experts within their industry," said Grant Tilus, inbound marketing specialist for Rasmussen College. "It is also a simple way to create visually engaging video content without the need for big budgets or time commitments." Google+ Communities Similar to Facebook Groups, Google+ offers a 'Communities' feature, which empowers interest-based communities to gather and interact. IT service provider Baroan Technologies saw the potential in this feature and quickly took advantage of it. "Communities are a great opportunity for businesses to interact with their target markets," said Yvonne Miaoulis, marketing manager at Baroan Technologies. "We made a community for Bergen County businesses that serves as a platform for us to provide potential prospects with helpful information and resources about their local areas. Google+ is still young enough that a business can be the first to create a niche community that will grow as more companies join Google+. There are only 25 members in our community right now, but I have no doubt that number will increase exponentially in the next year." Communities can be kept either public or private, and provide businesses with opportunities to connect with key groups on more personal levels. Plus, members can create events within communities, which opens up offline networking and lead generation opportunities. The Google+ Search Debate Since the arrival of Google+, some SEOs have claimed that having a presence on the social network can boost a page's position in the search results. In fact, a recent study from SEO software and analytics provider Moz claims that after page authority, a URL's number of Google +1s is "more highly correlated with search rankings than any other factor." After Moz's study was published, however, Google's Matt Cutts came out to "debunk" its claim, stating "If you make compelling content, people will link to it, like it, share it on Facebook, +1 it, etc. But that doesn't mean that Google is using those signals in our ranking. Rather than chasing +1s of content, your time is much better spent making great content." With that said, the debate between Google+ and search ranking will continue to wage on. But what businesses can count on is that people have more personalized search experiences when they are logged into Google, which includes seeing content from the brands and people in their Google + Circles with higher frequencies. Essentially, having a presence on Google+ has the potential to boost your enterprise's visibility, regardless if Google takes +1s into consideration or not. Ghost Busters In the end, Google+ should not be an afterthought. Not only can the platform's features help businesses foster tight-knit communities, but time will also tell how the social network is further intertwined into Google's other product offerings. Businesses should proceed with their digital strategies knowing that maintaining presences on Google+ is likely preparing their enterprises for long-term digital success.](https://www.websitemagazine.com/blog/%3E%20The%20initial%20newness%20has%20worn%20off%20though%20and%20most%20brands%20have%20all%20but%20abandoned%20their%20Google+%20presence%20in%20favor%20of%20networks%20with%20established%20audiences%20and%20higher%20levels%20of%20engagement.%20Google+%20may%20be%20a%20virtual%20ghost%20town%20compared%20to%20the%20likes%20of%20Facebook%20or%20Twitter,%20but%20the%20network%20actually%20offers%20several%20unique%20and%20business-friendly%20features%20to%20help%20companies%20create%20active%20and%20engaged%20communities%20while%20gaining%20a%20whole%20lot%20more%20than) ![Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Peter_Devereaux.png) [Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/author/peter-devereaux) As the Editor-in-Chief of Website Magazine and President of Website Services, Peter has established himself as a prominent figure in the digital marketing industry. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, Peter has been a driving force in shaping the landscape of digital marketing. His leadership in creating innovative and targeted marketing campaigns has helped numerous businesses achieve their revenue growth goals. Under his direction, Website Magazine has become a trusted source of information and insights for digital marketers worldwide. As President of Website Services, Peter oversees a team of talented professionals who specialize in SEO/SEM, email marketing, social media, and digital advertising. Through his hands-on approach, he ensures that his team delivers exceptional results to their clients. With a passion for digital marketing, Peter is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies, making him a sought-after thought leader in the field. - - - - - [mailto:peter.devereaux@websitemagazine.com](mailto:peter.devereaux@websitemagazine.com) #### Popular Post ### [31 Back-to-School Keyword Targets ![31 Back-to-School Keyword Targets](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/schoolbus-1-1-1-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/31-back-to-school-keyword-targets) ### [GoDaddy Goes .XXX ![GoDaddy Goes .XXX](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-12-15-39-1451-AM-Apr-10-2023-01-36-09-0977-PM-3-1.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/godaddy-goes-xxx) ### [23 Cool Tech Facts ![23 Cool Tech Facts](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/fact_100x100-2-1-1-1.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/23-cool-tech-facts) #### Subscribe to Our Newsletter! 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All Rights Reserved - [Privacy Policy](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/privacy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Peter Devereaux", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/author/peter-devereaux" }, "dateModified" : "2023-05-01T21:37:21.424Z", "datePublished" : "2013-11-01T05:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Getting the Most from Google's Ghost Town", "image" : [ "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-12-06-27-1147-AM-Apr-10-2023-01-43-05-9970-PM-2-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/getting-the-most-from-googles-ghost-town", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png" }, "name" : "Website Services, Inc." } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "NewsArticle", "author" : [ { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Peter Devereaux" } ], "headline" : "Getting the Most from Google's Ghost Town", "publisher" : { "name" : "Website Magazine", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/" } } ```