This is a guest post by Kevin Lau.
Google+ may have had a shaky start but lots of people are using it to help build up a new traffic stream to their website. If you are among them, you might be wondering how you can start getting the results you want. In truth you have to focus on a few different areas to start seeing some good results. A few small actions put together can create a much bigger end result – and a bigger stream of traffic – than one big promotion in one direction.
Let’s check out five ways to increase your flow of traffic from Google+ to your website, starting today.
Update Your Stream on a Regular Basis
The most obvious thing to do here is to provide a link to every new blog post you write on your personal profile. But there are other things you can do too. Simply updating your stream regularly will tell people you are serious about using Google+. If you make yourself worth following you will build a bigger audience and that audience is then more likely to follow you off site to your own website.
Create New Circles and Populate Them with People You Know
Google+ sure looks lonely without anyone in your Circles. So start populating them. You get a few Circles set up ready for use but you can create other more relevant ones as well. For example you can set up ones for clients or customers, depending on your needs. Just make sure you choose your Circles wisely, otherwise they could end up becoming unwieldy.
The main thing to remember here is that you should share appropriate messages with the right group of people. For example clients might benefit from a very different message to the one you’d send to fellow workers in your line of work. This is one of the benefits of using Circles – once you know how.
Stick to Your Area of Expertise
Don’t share everything on Google+. Remember you are using it to enhance the traffic flow to your website, so everything you share should be related to your expertise.
Let’s say you own a cupcake business. Stick to news, views and information about cupcakes. You will find plenty to talk about and share, but stick to cupcakes because that is your area of expertise. As soon as you stray off topic you run the risk of losing the interest of your audience. The more relevant you are the more chance there is of people heading off to look at your website as well.
Become an Expert in Your Niche by Initiating Hangouts
We talked about expertise above but you can go further than this. Your target should be to become known as an expert. You could be just anyone making cupcakes. But if you share your knowledge and provide information and advice people can rely on, you’ll see just how important it is to become an expert.
You see, if someone on Google+ wants to find a cupcake expert, they should be able to look for one and find you. Alternatively if they are already in your Circles (and you are in theirs) and they want to find out more information on cupcakes, they’ll almost certainly visit your site because they know you’ve got the knowledge they need.
Fill Out Your Profile Completely
This might sound like the most basic thing to say, and it is. But it is surprising how many people miss this out. Your profile on your Google+ business page is the most important thing – it is the cornerstone of your efforts on there. Sure you can get good results by doing all manner of things on Google+, but if you don’t have a profile you won’t have any information people can look at. If someone lands on your profile they’re not doing so to get a message telling them you haven’t filled it out yet. They’re doing so to find out more about you, so make sure they get the information they need – including your website address.
You can see that it is highly important to make sure you can employ more than one way of getting a new stream of traffic to your website through Google+. If you’re still new to the social media site don’t worry if you find it difficult to get to grips with at first. You’ll probably find you get used to it over time – and your website will benefit from a trickle of extra traffic that could turn into a flood too.
What do you do to drive traffic from Google+ to your website or blog, and what other tips would you suggest for those looking to increase their Google+ traffic?
About Kevin Lau
Kikolani covers blog marketing and blogging tips for personal, professional, and business bloggers to succeed in search and social media marketing. Kristi Hines is a 
Great tips and recommendation. I have to check out my google + profile and steam as well because since the date of google + launching, I haven’t really took the time to organize and update it. Two thumbs of for the tips Kevin!
RonLeyba recently posted How to Get Rid of Love Handles Fast
Thanks Ron! I know a lot of people are still on the fence about really jumping into google+ especially since there is so much to do elsewhere – facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc. Google+ is definitely taking off – if you take a look at the latest stats its projected to hit 200 million users this year!
Kevin Lau recently posted How To Deal With Your Online Network Marketing Business Reputation
Excellent post.
Everyone is trying to figure out if google+’s will modify your search engine results. It is a very interesting concern. What do you think?
Jacko recently posted Make a splash online
Kevin,
These are wonderful tips. I love Google+ and I see it as a way to connect with my readers, friends and other people outside my blog. And I so much agree with you on creating specific circles and populating them with people and updating each circle with relevant content.
Only one thing that I don’t agree is, to share only one type of updates, related to your blog. I usually interesting, funny and other kind of useful stuff amongst my blog posts or my personal (online marketing related stuff). I find that people love it this way. I get good engagement and since I don’t only update with my own kind of news, I can naturally get people to click through my blog posts when I share them!
Cheers,
Jane.
Jane @ viral blog traffic recently posted List Building: Strategies To Build Email List
Hi Jane!
Thanks for sharing your insights! I know plenty of people that do the same to vary up your messages and keep people wanting to return. It really makes it easier for you to relate to people.
Kevin Lau recently posted How To Deal With Your Online Network Marketing Business Reputation
Hi Kevin,
Those are great tips! I have been slowly using google + more and I have noticed that a lot of others are too. I need to make sure that I have my business profile set up correctly, is that different from the personal profile page?
Thanks for the tips!
Stacy
Stacy recently posted Habit Building Day #3: Study Success
Hi Stacy,
That is great you starting to use G+! Yes the business page is different from the profile page. Google would rather have you promote your business on your business page as oppose to your profile page. As far as layout goes they are pretty much identical but when you have a business page it has a red Google+ icon instead. It will be exciting to see all the new features they roll out with in the coming months! Let’s connect and be friends on G+ =).
Kevin Lau recently posted How To Deal With Your Online Network Marketing Business Reputation
Hi Kevin,
Excellent G Plus tips here!
Posting relevant content on a frequent basis and reaching out have helped me grow my following. Keep sharing, keep engaging and good things happen.
Another thing: thanks for your continued support on Twitter. I appreciate you
Thanks for sharing with us.
RB
Ryan Biddulph recently posted How You Can Prosper as a Cash Gifting Sponsor
Hey Ryan,
Thank you for the kind words! Great to connect with you here just like on twitter =). You have the magic formula right there! Sharing + Engaging/Connecting + Providing Value = WIN WIN.
Kevin Lau recently posted How To Deal With Your Online Network Marketing Business Reputation
It definitely seems like Google+ is the type of Network that you want to be focused with. Your not just sharing to share your really trying to Niche yourself.
Thanks for the great post.
Ryan H.
Hey Ryan,
That is exactly true! The early adopters that joined G+ when it was still in beta are definitely taking advantage of the platform. Check out people like Chris Brogan and Chris Lang! Chris Lang in particular is writing a book titled Google+ An Hour A Day.
Kevin Lau recently posted How To Deal With Your Online Network Marketing Business Reputation
Hi Ryan,
I agree. It’s all about perception. The more defined how people think of you, the easier it is for them to remember what it is you do.
Kevin Lau recently posted How To Deal With Your Online Network Marketing Business Reputation
Wow Kevin, these are really great tips! I especially like the idea of initiating hangouts!
Stacey Myers recently posted Deciding to Live with Your Toes out the Door
Thanks Stacy. Have you tried G+ hangouts? It’s awesome and it’s fun. It’s what I use to connect with my network these days.
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Tips On How To Get More Subscribers For Your Social Media Marketing Blogs
Great article. I am new to Google plus, but I love it there. It’s different. It’s like moving from high school to college. Almost everyone is a stranger, but somehow, it’s OK.
Jim Syyap recently posted Can Your Website Pass This Five-Second Test?
Hey Jim,
Thanks for your feedback! G+ is definitely the new kid but as you said a lot of people are loving it. I personally like the fact that you can connect with many different people without many barriers in place.
Kevin Lau recently posted How To Deal With Your Online Network Marketing Business Reputation
Hi Kevin, thanks for an good article. Just like many others G+ is new to me, your article gives a structured view on how to utilize it’s potential.
Michael Rurup Andersen recently posted Traditionelle Markedsføring Målsætninger på Social Media
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the kind words. The way I learned is by playing around with the platform and teaching others how to do the same.
Kevin Lau recently posted How To Deal With Your Online Network Marketing Business Reputation
Hi Kevin,
After a sign up i really forget to update my Google+ now its time to update. Thanks for sharing this awesome information and Happy New Year.
Sanjan Bikram recently posted How to Enable Facebook Timeline Right Now with One Click
Hi Sanjan,
That’s great to hear! Also remember to seo optimize your about you page – pretty simple steps – just include your keywords in your header and also throughout your description. G+ is unique in that it allows you to add hyperlinks.
Kevin Lau recently posted How To Deal With Your Online Network Marketing Business Reputation
Hi Kevin,
It’s import to integrate and cross-promote to get more traffic…
Use social media icons, Facebook social plugins, Twitter widgets, and so on to integrate your blog marketing efforts and cross-promote your content. You should give people as many ways to find your blog and interact with you as possible.
regards
Shamelle
Shamelle@Better Blogging Ways recently posted Be The First, Best Or PLEASE Be Different! Stand Out From The Blogging Crowd
Hi Shamelle,
I completely agree. The more you can cross promote the better. Sounds like a good topic for the next blog post aye?
.
Kevin Lau recently posted 4 Easy To Use Tips For Online Network Business Marketers’ Google+ Page
Kevin, thank you for an excellent post. I just recently started implementing Google+ and have found it to be quite versatile and foresee it growing in importance over the next year relative to FB and Twitter.
Janet I Mueller recently posted Live Your Best Year Yet And Achieve Your Goals
Hi Janet,
Thanks! It definitely is slated to take off this year in a big way. Can’t wait to see what happens with new updates and integration to all of the many google products =).
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Tools To Help Get Your Social Media Marketing Content In Front Of Your Prospects
Great recommendations for using Google+ to increase quality traffic to your website. I agree about the more specific content the more people will turn to you for information on that subject matter. I think about it from what is my unique selling point, and the social media platform I share on determines my tone and content.
I also like the idea of using hangouts to host educational seminars. I have a lot of friends who ask me the same questions about online marketing and think I will send them an invite for a Q + A session. This will be a good way for me to test out the service.
Thanks for the article!
Sandra Smith Design recently posted Branding and Social Media
I have been putting off Google Plus ever since it came out. At first I thought I would just wait and see what the world thinks of it and how well it does. I have heard that it seems to be more popular with internet marketers and technical types of people more so than the average user like Facebook. Not sure if that is still the case. At any rate I hope to Google Plus set up and sorted out this year.
Ray@dolphin tutorials recently posted Hosting Backups and Slow Loading Pages
Hi Ray,
Thank you for your honesty! I have talked to a lot of people even many that are social media wizards that have put it off to see what becomes of it. Many of the early adopters were very techy peeps but I am starting to see a large influx of regular joes that use it. There was a big spike around the holidays and new years time possibly from google ads and things like that but its definitely here to stay.
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Tools To Help Get Your Social Media Marketing Content In Front Of Your Prospects
I think not only Google + but for every social media you need to devote sincere hours in posting quality and unique content, unless you do that your page/profile will be like 1000′s of other pages out there with no traffic. SO to stand out from the rest, update your page, offer attractive discounts/prizes/special offers..
Jeff Gross recently posted How to Increase Your Business Web Presence Part 10!
Hey Jeff,
Great tips and advice! I completely agree that it requires time and consistent effort so people know you are attentive! What I try to do is post things different from my twitter and facebook page so I have unique content to share with my audience on G+. Thanks for stopping by!
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Tools To Help Get Your Social Media Marketing Content In Front Of Your Prospects
I also forget to update my Google+ but I know that if I do, I will enjoy its extras a lot!
Anna recently posted dental surgery
For sure Anna! At some point lets do a hangout =).
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Tools To Help Get Your Social Media Marketing Content In Front Of Your Prospects
Hey Kevin,
Google+ hasn’t made it into my daily social media routine just yet mainly because I want to offer something different on there then I do everywhere else, so it’s taking me a bit to realize what the ‘something different’ is. But this is helpful! Thank you!
Morgan@SociableBoost recently posted How To Create Social Media Buzz For Your Event
Hi Morgan!
Thanks – it’s great that you are being very strategic and thoughtful in how you want to approach it. Perhaps you will find that “something” by checking out what other people are talking about and seeing how you can be slightly different? I love the fact that there are many different personalities on social media like yourself for example
.
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Tools To Help Get Your Social Media Marketing Content In Front Of Your Prospects
Hi Kevin,
I agree with you that Google+ was slow to pick up but now it has been on par with any other social networking tools.
I think people just took some time to get used to the Circles concept. I feel it is more crisp and clean when compared to FB(which I feel is losing its touch).
Nice to read this article.
Praveen Rajarao@DailyMorningCoffee recently posted The Naked Truth About Emily Suess
Hi Praveen,
Thanks for your input. I think you’re right people did take a little bit of time to get used to circles. I also love the very web 2.0 feel – clean with lots of white space. I do feel that facebook is going through a lot of transitions as well and in some cases its turning people off. G+ is a great supplement or alternative.
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Tools To Help Get Your Social Media Marketing Content In Front Of Your Prospects
Google+ is definitely something I want to use heavily this year to promote my blog. I’m still getting used to it, not sure how it all works at the moment.
Dean Saliba recently posted December 2011 Blog Income Report
Hi Dean,
Just like the other social media sites theres a little bit of a learning curve involved. Best way is to jump in and play around with it. I would be happy to show you how to use it too =).
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Tools To Help Get Your Social Media Marketing Content In Front Of Your Prospects
Kevin I liked your suggestion to use hangouts to position yourself as an industry leader. I have been just using them to swap ideas with others in my field.
Denise Sonnenberg recently posted Best Advice for a Productive New Year
Isn’t it always true, though, that the first mass use of almost any new, open registration service is going to be spammy? We legitimate folk generally seem to be more conservative to our approach to new things but in the end we still win. Thanks for posting and encouraging a common sense approach. Being on the leading social media edge can be tough work!
Ken Cook recently posted Top Ten Highest Ranked Sites on Alexa – What They Can Teach Us
I’m having trouble creating a constant stream of content. Updating G+ as much as I do Twitter seems spammy, so I find myself only posting when I write a new blog post. What else is there to do?
Brittany Rubinstein recently posted Tweet Styles of the Rich and Famous
Hi Brittany,
Great question! You might try varying it up between your own content, content from some experts or people you look to for social media advice and then your own personal happenings. It doesn’t always have to be strictly social media type posts – the more you can relate to your audience the better.
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Tools To Help Get Your Social Media Marketing Content In Front Of Your Prospects
Hi Kevin,
A really good post. I like many other have been guilty of just dipping my toe in Google+ and not fully immersing myself in it.
The advice you have shared should give me the incentive to get on and start building
a community.
Thanks
James
James Debono recently posted Give Your Business the Internet Marketing Advantage
Hi James,
Thanks! That’s great that you are going to start using G+ more. It has some very interesting and fun features compared to facebook like the hangouts. Let’s have a hangout sometime soon!
Kevin Lau recently posted Online Network Marketers: What Not To Forget In The Digital Era Of 2012
Thanks for the great post Kevin. I really need to go back and take a look at mt Google+ page and actually add it to my daily tasks. I have been one of those that was on the fence about it. I liked it but I never knew if it was going to really be beneficial, I have been a part of it since the beta stages and I drifted away from it. But Thanks again and I am on my way to start updating the profile now!
Thanks Ryan. That’s great that were you a beta user =). I know a lot of people in the same boat as far as creating an account and not really updating it. They weren’t sure if G+ was going to take off or not. I believe it definitely is here to stay!
Kevin Lau recently posted Online Network Marketers: What Not To Forget In The Digital Era Of 2012
Still Struggling with G+, nobody is finding me there and I can’t find anyone I connect with there either. I have 5000 followers on Twitter and about 15 on G+ go figure.
Matt Kinsella recently posted How To Be Lucky In Life
Hi Matt,
Have you tried having a hang out? It will help you get found much faster and its loads of fun connecting with people.
Kevin Lau recently posted Online Network Marketers: What Not To Forget In The Digital Era Of 2012
A very comprehensive advice here. I was about to start a Google+ page since everyone has been talking about it and thank god I stumbled over here.
Ricardus @WordPress Hosting recently posted Integrate a fully functional Q&A section in your WordPress website
Hey Kevin:
I sure appreciate the nudge. I’ve been slow to adopt Google+ into my marketing strategy and your post helps simplify my starting point.
You’ve opened my eyes to how circles work… and it does seem to be an advantage to Facebook’s more broad “status updates”.
Best to you!,
Jenn
Jenn Lawlor recently posted The Complete Guide to Creating a Custom Facebook Landing Page (2012)
Hi Jenn,
Thank you – there are some big differences between facebook and google+. It definitely does seem that G+ is much more open and helps facilitate people connecting.
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Awesome Micro-Blogging Tips For Social Media Marketing Consultants And Would-Be Micro-Bloggers!
Great tips. Do you have any strategy on how to get people to follow your business page? I have a personal page with lots of interaction, but having a hard time getting people to add my business page after adding my personal page. Seems that personal pages are easier to find and add?
Nyla Crystal @Sacramento belly dancer recently posted A Casablanca Moroccan Dinner Party in Rocklin
Hi Nyla,
I would suggest adding them to your circles as well as commenting and interacting on their business pages. Also might help would be having google hangouts throughout the week connecting with different people that have business pages. It could be a prequalifier to joining your google hangout.
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Awesome Micro-Blogging Tips For Social Media Marketing Consultants And Would-Be Micro-Bloggers!
Google Hangouts sounds like a good idea. I just feel like I post a lot of duplicate content because I know the stuff I post on my business page isn’t getting response so I post it on my personal page and then it gets response. I’ll give the hangout a shot. Thanks!
Nyla Crystal @Sacramento belly dancer recently posted Beware the Belly Dancer: 3 Things to Avoid when Hiring a Belly Dancer
Hey Nyla, definitely let me know how the hangouts go!
Kevin recently posted 3 Major Social Media Real-Time Trends
I’ve still yet to implement any Google+ sharing features on my own site because I have trouble enough keeping up with my own personal profiles plus my business profiles on facebook and twitter… its just a constant nagging child and more just keep popping out to take care of and feed. As someone who has been in the social media scene since it was just getting its feet wet in 2005, i know i sound very cynical in saying this, but its just true. I’m getting tired of trying to keep up with it all…
Michael Cummings recently posted Is an Around the World ticket worth it?
Hi Michael,
I can understand where you are coming from – it can be very overwhelming maintaining a facebook page, twitter, etc. I would say though that G+ is a platform that you probably don’t want to overlook because of all the possibilities and features that it offers. It’s really about connecting with people without restrictions as oppose to facebook and other platforms. I just had an interview with Jack Humphrey and that was the theme of the entire conversation – social media sites like G+ are meant to facilitate people to people interactions more easily and uninterrupted.
Kevin Lau recently posted 3 Awesome Micro-Blogging Tips For Social Media Marketing Consultants And Would-Be Micro-Bloggers!
Awesome post
Definitely useful 
Thanks 
Henno Kruger recently posted Georgia Salpa
Henno you are most welcome!
Kevin Lau recently posted 5 Ways to Take Control of Your Internet Network Marketing Business
Great tips Kevin, like many I’ve signed up for Google + a while back, and go in every once in a while, but I know SEO is going to be strongly related to Google +, so I need to be on there a little more and network more with people to grow its use.
Jamie Northrup @ Web Consultant recently posted Ranking My Blogs Case Study Weeks 3 to 8 Update
Hey Jamie,
Yes the seo benefits from G+ are going to be huge. The nice thing is right now you can also add your keywords in your about section with hyperlinks. A great tool.
Kevin Lau recently posted Online Marketing Micro-Blogging Tips For Newbies
Hi Kevin,
For some reason this is the post that finally prompted me into G+ action. I’ve had a profile set up for donkey’s years but not shared anything until now. My last blog post is my first share and this blog was the second with credits to you.
I can’t help feeling Google is finally getting the hang of social.
Cheers.
Ewan Kennedy@SEO Consultant recently posted Plagiarism Checks – Check This
Hey Ewan!
That’s great to hear – glad you enjoyed it.
Kevin recently posted 3 Major Social Media Real-Time Trends