If you have been following the news about Google+, you would know there are conflicting reports about it.

Some say it is a ghost town in the sense that no one is using it. Here are some statements from the Freelance Switch:

Google Plus remains a social media ghost town. Though it has half a billion users, almost no one actually uses it, at least not regularly. …

Google Plus has over 500 million members. And every day, millions of people move around the margins of Google Plus through Google Local, Hangouts, Picasa and Social Search.

Yet the core of Google Plus, its social network, is hardly used at all. It’s a social networking ghost town.

Others say it is an active social media hub. Here are the views of Copyblogger:

Google+ is now the second largest social network in terms of active users, passing Twitter and ranking only second to Facebook. So much for the “ghost town” theory, huh?

Where did all that ghost town talk come from, anyway? How about Facebook’s PR department and snarky bloggers who’ve invested too heavily in other platforms?

Be careful who you listen to.

So it’s up to you whom are you listening. This article won’t attempt to analyze such claims. Google is not revealing its stats and in their absence it would be pure conjecture to lean on one side or the other.

This article assumes you want to use Google+ and will explain how to get more followers for your Google+ account.

To business.

This may sound obvious but take a look at random profiles on Google+ and you will be amazed by how much this advice is ignored.

This is business 101 baby.

The very definition of business says first create something of value and only then do marketing. Or else what will you market if you have nothing in the first place?

Similarly first of all make a brilliant Google+ page. Fill up all details in correct grammar, use a good quality, photo not something taken from your webcam, and insert a huge awesome image as your banner. Ask yourself – when someone will land on your page will he get that vow feeling? If the answer is no, you need to change it.

For an example see the Coca Cola’s page whose screenshot is displayed above.

What is a Google+ custom URL?

Take a look at the following two URLs:

The first one was the old URL of HubSpot and the second one is their new one.

The latter URL is called a custom URL because it has been customized to suit the profile name.

In August, last year Google had announced it is rolling out custom URLs for some profiles and pages, and that it will soon make the feature available to “many more brands and individuals”.

You’ll have to check whether you qualify for the custom URL or not, but if you do, it is strongly recommended that you choose the custom URL. It is much easier to remember and share and demonstrates professionalism.

As they say, focus on quality over quantity. Don’t spam your followers’ feeds with garbage content from all over the Internet. Share quality stuff.

The advantage of sharing quality material is that it will receive more +1’s and more shares from your readers. The people in their circles will then see your content and will come over to check out your page and, if impressed, they will circle you too.

Also, sharing quality stuff will demonstrate to your followers that you can be trusted with your editorial judgment.

Source: Smashinghub.com