Google + and Google + Local for the Eye Care Professional?

Does an Optometrist, Ophthalmologist, Optician or Vision Therapist need to have a presence on Google + and Google + Local?

Absolutely, and here's why.

Roughly 60% of your patients use Google to find your practice when they are in  need of Eye Care. I am willing to bet that most Eye Care Professionals do not even know that Google has done away from the Google Places page? Are you even familiar with the new Google + Local for your business?

Google + and + Local are the biggest trending topics online these days. So, what is it and why should you care about it? Simple –  Google + is a new social media site that is directly tied into the most widely-used search engine on the planet, with looming search engine optimization (SEO) implications. If you care about your company’s online reputation – what consumers are saying and where they are saying it – you need to read this post.

If you used Google’s search engine in the last year, you may have noticed a strange development – a little “+1” button that would show up in search results. Clicking on it would indicate to Google that you have endorsed that result as a solid source of information for the search term you used. Naturally, everyone speculated that the more +1 clicks that a site received, the higher that Google would esteem it for that particular search term. Google denied this at +1’s implementation but did not dismiss the possibility of +1 affecting search rankings in the future – which means it will be a reality soon enough.

With G+ using the +1 button as a way to endorse a post by a contact, the overall vision for +1 is revealed to be a bit grander. Google envisions +1 as the tool that ties together all user-endorsed content across the web. Whether you +1 something in search results or a photo that your friend took of his dog and uploaded to Google+, you’re contributing to your personal version of Google’s search algorithm, meaning that content may eventually be served to you differently based on your +1 behaviors.

This concept is very bold and presents an interesting problem for SEO management, if it does indeed create a personalized set of results which varies wildly for every user. When the SEO community reaches some sort of consensus (or if Google releases more information) then I’ll do a follow-up to this post on how +1 affects Google+ SEO performance.

Here is how to get started:

Create your profile
To create a Google+ page, an Eye Care Professional first needs to have a personal profile on Google+. You can login using your Google account if you already have one. If you don’t have a Google account, it’s very quick and easy to join. Start now.

Create a page
Google+ can help people learn about what makes your business tick -- your products, promotions, hours and anything else an Eye Care Professional wants to share. If your location is important, for instance, add a map to your Google+ page that directs customers right to your doorstep. Keep that information up to date and make it easy to find through Google+ searches.

Grow your circles
Whenever people follow you, you can add them to your circles. They’ll also begin to see your posts in their stream. So spread the word and encourage people to add you. You can even get the Google+ badge to let people add you to a circle without leaving your site here.

Google+ Tips

Add your Google Plus  Profile ID to the following:

LinkedIn Profile (Hint: Use the Website Section in your Profile)
Twitter Profile (Hint: Create a short url link)
Personal Blog or Website (Hint: WordPress has Code- Widgetsplus)
Facebook Profile (Hint: Use the Website Category)

Google + Local 

Google Places have been swallowed up by Google+ Local Pages, merging all business listings into one to be used across search, Maps, mobile, and Google+.

Users can access enhanced local listings via a new Local tab in the left sidebar of Google+, by performing searches on the fly on their mobile (currently supporting Android, iOS coming soon), in Google searches, and through Maps.

One notable addition: Zagat’s reviews are incorporated, taking the place of Google’s five-star rating system. Google purchased Zagat’s last year and working the review system into Google+ Local has taken down the paywall, making the service free for all users.

Here’s how it works, demonstrated in a video released by Google.

The new format will be rolling out to all users “in the weeks and months ahead,” Google VP Engineering Jen Fitzpatrick wrote in the blog post announcing the change. Business owners are still able to manage their information through Google Places for Business, though now the listing will surface through a number of Google services.

Different people are interested in different parts of your business. Whether it's breaking news, updates, promotions, links, photos - even talking face-to-face with groups via easy-to-use video chat - Google+ lets you easily share the right things with the right customers.

Help word get around. Put the +1 button anywhere you'd like people to be able to recommend your business, products or services to friends and contacts all across the web.

Do you want to capture 50% to 60% of the people searching for eye care in your area?

Here is what to do:

1. Claim Your Listing.
2. Add Information About Your Business.
3. Upload Photos.
4. Add Videos.
5. Solicit Reviews.
6. Create an Offer.
7. Promote it on Your Website and Social Media sites.
8. Optimize the Keywords on Your Website.
9. Create Backlinks to Your Website.
10. Create Address and Phone Number Citations on the Web.

Happy Googling !