social networks

Google+, the search company's social network, recently revealed "Google+ Pages" for Business. Brands, companies, and celebrities which have been waiting for this new feature since last June can now register on Google+. 

With more than 40 million users, Google+ is doomed to play a key role in Social Media Optimization (often abbreviated as SMO) and Social Media Marketing (SMM), as other social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Renren in China.

What is a Google+ page?

Google+ pages allow brands, companies, institutions, NGOs and celebrities to be present on the search giant's social network. They are similar to standard individual pages that users can follow and add to their circles.

Below is the official video introducing Google+ Pages:

Google+ pages can be recommended through the search engine "+1" button, and use chat and video conference features. A logo enables users to differentiate a business page from an user account. For the time being, you cannot create a username for your page.

Several companies already created a Google+ page, such as the brands below:

10 reasons to start a Google+ Business page

There are several reasons why you should start your Google+ Page:

- Branding: Promote your brand, explain what your company does, and present the products and services you offer.

- Broadcasting: Use your Google+ Page to announce your company news and events, and share useful information with your fans.

- Customer relationship: A Google+ Business Page enables you to get closer to your customers. You can get to know your followers, and interact with them!

- Traffic: Drive more traffic to your company website. Social networks now represent a considerable source of traffic for your website.

- Privacy: A business page cannot add an individual to its circles unless the user previously added the company in his circles. You can also customize your message to your audience, choose who should receive your update among your circles: everyone, your customers, your coworkers, or any members of a group you created.

- Market: 40+ million users you can have access to. This is far less than 800 million Facebook users, but I'm sure this number will continue to increase dramatically in the months to come.

- Blog: If you have a company blog, you can now promote your blog posts in your Google+ page.

- SEO: Creating a Google+ page is a key step to boost your SEO. As for Google +1 buttons, having your Google Page followed and shared by many users will enable your website to achieve high rankings in the search engines results pages.

- Connect: Business pages will be indexed and ranked very well by Google. The search engine will automatically redirect the user to the company Google+ page when the user enters "+" before the company name (for example +Google).  This feature will be available to certain brands in the US only. Below is a video introducing Google Connect:

- Cost: It's free!

Does THEM have a Google+ page?

Yes, you can add our SEO & Web Design Google+ Page to your circles (click on the image below to add us to your circles).

How can I create a Google+ page?

If you want to open a Google+ page for your business, you can do it here: http://www.google.com/+/business/.

Is Google+ available in China?

As other many social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube that are blocked in China, Google+ isn't currently accessible in China.

World’s largest social network service Facebook hits 500 million users according to a post on their blog.

Facebook: 500 million strong 

Despite difficulties about privacy concerns, Facebook has gained almost 250 million users compared to one year ago. 

However, the world's leading social network has to find other ways to maintain its growth since some markets like the US seem to be saturated.

That's why Facebook recently announced its willingness to go local and grow in Asian countries, notably in China (even if it's still blocked!), Russia, South-Korea and Japan where it isn't the leading social network.

In China, Facebook competes with local social networks such as Tencent QQ, Renren Network (former Xiaonei) and Kaixin001.

Facebook launches new application

Facebook also unveils a new application namely "Facebook stories" allowing users to share stories that highlight the benefits of Facebook in their life.

For example, Ben Saylor, a high school student, who used Facebook to organize a community effort to rebuild a theater in Kentucky, after it was damaged by floods in May.

Next objective for Facebook is clearly to reach 1 billion users.

Kaixin001, one of China's largest and fastest growing social network site, hits 80 million users, Hans Tung (Kaixin001's Board Director) says at the 6th edition of CHINICT which takes place on May 27th & 28th 2010 in Beijing, China.

CHINICT is a conference which gathers every year all the actors of tech innovation and entrepreneurship in China.

A successful Chinese social network

Famous for launching social games on a social platform, Kaixin001 has had an astronomical growth very quickly online since its foundation in 2008. The company thinks that the key thing of any SNS site is the social relations on the site : friends and family who are all on the site and who can share headlines, etc.  Gaming tries to build things that users would welcome, users would enjoy.

For example, Happy Farm, the most famous game in the platform, hit more than 15 million active users in 2009. Even after this peak, they are still 10 millions this year. Kaixin001's success in China can also be explained due to the permanent blockage of other social network webstites, such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

A Gaming social network, and then ?

Kaixin001 needs some time for 3G adoption as well as smartphone adoption. But the Chinese social network does not want to be known solely as a gaming platform. It is now getting itself into the travel sites business as well. They also seem ready to open to third-party. Nevertheless, despite its growth, Kaixin001 doesn't think that time to IPO has come yet...