Summary: In the first week of November, the thing for which every internet marketer was waiting for, finally happened. Google+ opened its gates for businesses and brands, and launched Google+ Pages for business. It is about time you claimed your businesses' place on the social network, by going through this quick guide to creating a Google+ business page.

Steps To Create A Google+ Business Page

Google+ has made things really easy with its Create A Page tool. To use this tool, you need to have a Google account, and you will be allowed to set up your brand's page. After you have signed in on the Page creation tool, you will have to choose the right category from a set of five categories to create your page. These following are the five categories:

• Local Business or Place
• Product or Brand
• Company, Institution or Organization
• Arts, Entertainment or Sports
• Other

This is first look of the page creation tool:

Managing The Page:

When the Google+ Pages for business were launched, the creator of the page held the exclusive administering rights. This, however, has changed, as Google+ now allows for third party administering of the Pages. In the beginning this is available for a few companies as a test project, as specified by Google, "We also recognize that some businesses use social media management companies to manage their presence across multiple social networks. So today we're announcing that Google+ is enabling six companies to test Google+ functionality in their management tools ."

While Facebook fan pages have their brand names in the URL, Google+ Business Pages just have a long series of numbers. Whether Google+ will change this feature or not is still awaited. Google+ guidelines clearly state that of one changes the name of their page, their account verification will be invalid, and they will have to verify their account again. One feature is quite a lot like Facebook, as you can create a page through your personal profile and can switch using Google+ as a user or as a Page.

Multiple Pages:

This feature will be highly beneficial for marketers who are handling businesses with various brands. Now they can create Pages for different products and brands right from their own account. One verified profile user can create and administer multiple Google pages. Google says, "Pages can be made for a variety of different entities whereas profiles can only be made for people. If you’re a business, you could have a page for the overall business (say Pepsi) as well as for a particular product (say Diet Pepsi) as well as for an event (say the Dew Tour)."

Sharing On A Google+ Page For Business:

Like you can share on your personal profile, in a similar manner, you can share pictures, videos and links on a Google+ Page. One thing that is different is that while on Twitter, a Page has to follow People first, for them to follow the brand, here, as a Page you can follow the people who have already added you to their Circles.

One thing that is a complete 'NO' on the Google+ Pages is that you cannot hold any sort of Promotional contests. This is quite opposite to Facebook, where Pages often host- “Like and Win Contests”. But Google+ does not want any of this. As per Google+'s Additional Terms of Service - "You release Google from any liability associated with your Promotion and you agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Google, its parent corporation, affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees) arising from your use of and access to Google+ Pages for your Promotion."

Your Page Has To Be Added To The Fans Circles:

Unless the fans click on the “Add to Circles” button on your page, they will not be able to follow your brand. A simple +1ing of your Page will not make them a follower of your page. Similarly, if someone Adds your page to their Circles, then this does not add to the +1es of your page.

On your Page, you will see a +1 count. Now that is a consolidated +1 count of all the +1es you have received on your site, or your Ads and on the Google+ Page. Your number of followers are listed below the +1 count.

Verify Your Page With A Badge!

Very similar to the Facebook's Facepile, Google+ is giving out badges and icons too, that you can add to your site. All you have to do is go to this badge maker page and get a badge for your site. For the users to Add your Page to their Circles, it will be easier if you get a badge and not an icon in linking your site to a Google+ page.

Local Businesses on Google+:

Local businesses can enter phone numbers on their Pages, allowing for instant contact with people. Google believes, this is essential for the customer's convenience as well as the business' growth,"Local Google+ pages are unique from other categories of pages because they have features that allow customers to easily connect with that business’s physical location. For example, local pages include a map of the business’s location and feature its address, phone number, and hours of operation."

Linking Pages To Sites

Google+ has released a tool called Direct Connect and Pages verified through Direct Connect are already showing up in search results. For more on Direct Connect, see this video-

To enable Direct Connect, you have to link your site to your Page on Google+. For this you need to do this -Rel=”publisher” (this is to link your site to the Google+ page)

Since anyone with a Google account can create a Page they like, in order to ensure you come across as the original brand, Google recommends the use of a the new verification icon and badge. This badge is given to those Pages, that are actually connected to a website. So, no unauthorized person will be able to create your Page.

Follow these steps to create a Page and connect with your fans on Google+. See these pages to get an idea how to go about it:

• Pepsi
• Phoenix Suns
• Save the Children
• Special Report with Bret Baier
• Toyota
• Train
• WWE
• X Games
• Zen Bikes

Navneet Kaushal is the CEO of PageTraffic Web-Tech, India’s premier SEO, SMO & PPC Agency. You can follow him at twitter @navneetkaushal