In this interview, New York Times bestselling author Chris Brogan offers insights into the power of Google+ for small businesses.

Google+ is an emerging social network that promises to challenge Facebook – especially in regards to its benefits for businesses.

While Google+ is only a fraction of the size of Facebook, it is indeed backed by Google – the corporation that controls 2/3 of all search on the open web.

Search results are and will be increasingly influenced by what is shared on the social networks. However, much of the sharing on Facebook is completely invisible to Google and the other search engines.

That alone ought to be reason enough to learn how to use Google+ to make your business more attractive – for Google and consumers alike.

Chris Brogan shares quite a few more reasons in his latest book: Google+ for Business: How Google’s Social Network Changes Everything.

In our 16 minute video interview, Chris shared a number of tips and best practices for using Google+ for business.

Here are a few of the highlights.

Make Your Buyer the Hero

If you want to connect and build mutually beneficial relationships with potential buyers, you want to focus on them – making them the hero.

Consider the nature of the noise on the social networks that causes people to tune out. It’s selling, and too much about them – which of course, is another form of selling.

When you are engaged in a conversation that has you feeling good about you, suddenly, all of that noise melts away. This is easily the most valuable tip Chris shared – one that I now have posted right above my desk.

Build Your Personal Presence First

One of the laws of human behavior is that if you are desperately seeking attention – you probably won’t get it.

People are hard-wired to interact and socialize with other people. Understanding and implementing that in all of your business activities is sure to make your business brand more desirable.

Brogan notes that we are still in the early days of Google+, and even major brands such as Pepsico and Ford are finding people are not quite yet ready to interact with brands. This answers the most frequently asked question about Google+.

Do we need a Google+ business page in addition to our personal profile? Chris Brogan suggests you can create a Google+ business page as a placeholder for your brand – but in these early days of Google+ it’s best to focus on building your personal presence.

Be Accessible to Potential Buyers

The purpose of social networking is making connections, sharing, and otherwise learning about people and new business opportunities.  Right?

So, why is it that so many fail to share their contact information on their social networking profiles?

The About page of your Google+ profile is a unique opportunity to embed links to your sites, other networking sites – as well as a direct link to your email address. Don’t forget to include your telephone and snail mail address too.

Easier than that are the message and email share buttons on the left side of your Google+ profile.  Take the time to edit your profile and make the settings for these public so that anyone can contact you.

Video Messaging – A Cool New G+ Feature

There are a number of additional tips in Google+ for Business – and in these FREE instructional videos on ChrisBrogan.com (where you can also go to buy the book).

One that isn’t is the new feature that allows you to create a video message to share with your Google+ communities.  Here’s how – just click on the Add Video button at the bottom of the box where you post your message, and it will open to several options – including one to record live video.

Is Google+ just another social network?

It’s more like a direct line to Google, one that you can dial up to get more business.

You just have to know how it works – and Google+ for Business will show you how.

Thanks Chris for sharing your insights!

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below.

And please share this with your community and encourage them to join the conversation.

Until next time, Jeff