Unlocking Visibility: Why Google Plus Was a Game-Changer for Your Website’s SEO

In the dynamic and fiercely competitive world of online content, if you managed any type of website and aspired for it to be discovered by people searching on the internet, then actively engaging with Google Plus was, without a doubt, a crucial step. Back in its prime, the digital sphere was abuzz with discussions about G+’s unparalleled capabilities. Many contended that Google Plus was functionally superior to other major social platforms like Facebook or Twitter, especially when it came to its direct impact on search engine optimization (SEO) and overall website visibility. This wasn’t just idle talk; there were tangible, integrated features that made Google Plus a powerful ally for content creators.

Unlike its contemporaries, Google Plus offered a more direct conduit to Google’s search algorithms. Its unique functionalities were designed to enhance how content was discovered and ranked. For example, the ability to tag individuals using the `+name` format, such as +Joan Hayes, was more than just a social courtesy; it helped connect content to credible authors and their networks. Similarly, adding descriptive hashtags like #chocolate, #food, #craft, or #google, allowed for meticulous categorization and significantly boosted the searchability and reach of your posts. These keywords weren’t confined to the G+ platform; they played a vital role in how Google indexed and presented your content across its entire search ecosystem, leading to better organic reach and targeted traffic.

The Direct Evidence: How Google Plus Influenced Search Results

While industry discussions and expert opinions were valuable, sometimes, seeing is truly believing. To unequivocally demonstrate the profound impact of Google Plus on search engine visibility, a simple yet powerful experiment was conducted. The objective was to show how active engagement on G+ directly influenced how content appeared in Google Search. The chosen subject for this test was a consistently top-performing article: Cherry White Chocolate Pudding Cookies. This particular post was selected due to its established popularity, providing a solid benchmark for comparison.

The initial search for “Cherry White Chocolate Pudding Cookies” was performed on the author’s own computer. The results were clear: the article ranked prominently at the top. What truly made this result noteworthy, however, was the inclusion of the author’s Google+ profile picture positioned right next to the search listing, accompanied by a distinct Google+ symbol. This visual element, a cornerstone of what was known as Google Authorship, immediately enhanced the listing. It not only drew the eye but also signaled to the searcher that the content originated from a verified and recognized individual, lending an invaluable layer of credibility and trust directly within the search engine results page (SERP). This personal branding element was a significant advantage in cutting through the online noise.

Personalized vs. Non-Personalized Search: A Crucial Distinction

To further understand the nuances of Google Plus’s influence and the role of personalized search, the experiment was extended. The very same search query was then performed on a different computer – specifically, the author’s mother’s computer. This particular machine offered a pristine, unbiased testing environment: it had never been used to visit the author’s website, had no active Google+ account or activity associated with it, and was primarily used for leisure activities like solitaire. This setup was absolutely essential for obtaining non-personalized search results, which provided a stark and highly informative comparison.

When “Cherry White Chocolate Pudding Cookies” was searched on the mother’s computer, the article still impressively held the number one position. However, a critical difference emerged: the author’s photo and the distinctive Google+ symbol, so prominent in the personalized search results, were conspicuously absent. This observation was immensely insightful. It powerfully illustrated a key aspect of Google’s search algorithm at the time: actively engaging with Google Plus and meticulously linking your profile to your content through authorship could significantly enhance your content’s visibility, particularly for users logged into their Google accounts or those within your Google+ circles. While the core ranking of the article remained strong due to its inherent quality and SEO, G+ provided that extra layer of visual prominence and a powerful trust signal that demonstrably boosted click-through rates for connected users.

Beyond Popular Posts: Elevating Lesser-Known Content

The investigation into Google Plus’s impact didn’t conclude with a single, highly popular article. A deeper exploration into “less popular” posts on the blog revealed an even more compelling argument for comprehensive Google Plus integration. Articles that had not been actively shared or promoted on Google Plus were frequently relegated to much lower positions in search results, often struggling significantly for any meaningful visibility. This striking contrast clearly highlighted the direct and potent correlation between consistent G+ engagement and improved search engine prominence, even for content that hadn’t yet gained widespread organic traction.

During this phase of the experiment, an particularly exciting discovery came to light. When performing a search for an article titled “Magic Turtle Bars” (Magic Turtle Bars), the search results were genuinely astonishing. Not only did the article immediately appear as the number one search result, but it did so even before the full search query had been completely typed into the search bar. Furthermore, the first four image results displayed were all directly attributable to the author’s blog. In a remarkable demonstration of Google Plus’s influence, a significant portion of the entire first page of search results was related in some way to the blog itself. This phenomenon vividly underscored how Google Plus, through its powerful authorship features and the amplification of social signals, could effectively create a dominant cluster of related content within the SERP, thereby monopolizing a specific search query and directly channeling users into your online content ecosystem.

Google’s Unmistakable Preference for Google Plus Content

Perhaps the most convincing and impactful evidence of Google Plus’s critical importance for SEO lay in Google’s overt prioritization of content posted directly on the platform. It wasn’t merely about G+ activity indirectly boosting your website’s ranking through social signals; Google was actively showcasing Google Plus posts *within* its primary search results. This served as an unmistakable indicator of how deeply the social network was interwoven with the search engine, establishing G+ as a powerful, direct channel for content visibility and discovery.

Consider the illustrative example discovered during the “Magic Turtle Bars” search. Right there, prominently displayed on the first page of results, were actual posts originating directly from Google Plus itself! These weren’t just links redirecting to the original blog post; these were social shares that Google deemed worthy of direct, prominent inclusion in its search listings. The very first such post was a direct share by the author on G+, complete with an engaging photo, a relevant link embedded in the comments, and strategically chosen hashtags. This clearly demonstrated the immediate and powerful potential of a well-crafted Google Plus post to surface directly in search results, often bypassing the need for extensive traditional SEO efforts.

Even more compelling was the second result in that series: a share made by a friend, +Jenny Melrose from The New York Melrose Family, who had thoughtfully shared the author’s post on Google Plus. This particular instance underscored a critical understanding: Google possessed a strong, undeniable preference for placing Google Plus posts directly into its core search engine results. This meant that not only your own consistent G+ activity, but also the shares, reshares, and overall engagement from your extended network, could directly contribute to your content’s organic visibility, effectively expanding your reach through powerful social amplification. It showcased the immense value of fostering a supportive community on the platform.

This preferential treatment for Google Plus content was not an isolated occurrence; it was a consistent pattern. Take, for instance, the search results for the renowned Black and White Muffins created by +Chef Dennis Littley. The Google Plus post specifically related to these muffins was given significant priority, often appearing noticeably *above* the original recipe post from his own dedicated website. This was a clear and powerful testament to the direct indexing capabilities and high ranking potential that Google Plus content possessed, fundamentally altering how content was perceived and presented by Google Search.

The pattern of G+ prioritization remained remarkably consistent across various content pieces. For the author’s popular Key Lime Pound Cake, Google once again prominently featured the Google Plus content. First, the author’s own G+ share appeared, then a subsequent share from +Renee Dobbs, and only after these two G+ entries, finally, the original blog post itself. This repeated and powerful demonstration clearly illustrated the direct and impactful role Google Plus played within the search ecosystem, functioning not merely as a supplementary social signal, but as a primary, high-priority source of content for Google Search, offering an undeniable advantage to those who embraced it.

Embarking on Your Google Plus Journey: Steps to Enhanced Visibility

Hopefully, these compelling, real-world examples have solidified the argument and encouraged you to fully embrace Google Plus and begin actively sharing your valuable content on the platform. The benefits to your website’s organic visibility and overall search engine ranking were simply too substantial to overlook for any serious online publisher. If you ever felt a bit daunted or unsure about where to commence your G+ journey, practical assistance was readily available. A comprehensive and user-friendly guide titled How to get Started Using Google Plus was specifically crafted to walk you through the initial setup process and explain the fundamental functionalities, ensuring a smooth and straightforward onboarding experience for everyone.

Mastering Authorship: A Cornerstone of Google Search Recognition

Once your Google Plus account was successfully established and you began the invaluable practice of sharing your content, the absolute next crucial step was to meticulously set up your authorship. Google Authorship was a pivotal initiative by Google designed to significantly enhance the quality, authority, and trustworthiness of its search results. It functioned as the essential mechanism that enabled Google to accurately recognize you as the verified creator and owner of your content, thereby directly linking your Google+ profile to your website or individual blog posts. This powerful and direct connection yielded several profound and far-reaching benefits for content creators:

• Significantly Increased Click-Through Rates (CTR): The appearance of your distinctive Google+ profile picture positioned right next to your search results made your listings stand out dramatically on the SERP, capturing more user attention and, consequently, encouraging a higher percentage of clicks.
• Establishing Authority and Trust: Authorship played a fundamental role in solidifying your reputation as a credible expert and a trusted voice within your specific niche, building invaluable trust with both Google’s algorithms and your target audience.
• Enriched Personalized Search Results: As vividly demonstrated in the initial experiment, authorship directly contributed to generating more personalized and prominently featured search results, especially for users who were logged into their Google accounts or were active within your Google+ circles.
• Enhanced Content Discovery: This linkage effectively facilitated the broader discovery of all content seamlessly associated with your verified G+ profile, thereby creating a richer, more integrated, and ultimately more satisfying user experience across the Google ecosystem.

For those who sought additional, in-depth guidance on navigating Google Plus and optimizing authorship, seasoned experts like +Gareth Mark proved to be invaluable resources. He generously penned numerous helpful posts specifically on the topic and was often available directly through Google Plus to provide personalized assistance and expert advice, ensuring that webmasters could fully and effectively leverage this immensely powerful feature to its maximum potential.

Continuous Engagement and Strategic Learning: Maximizing Your Google Plus Advantage

The journey towards fully maximizing your online visibility and establishing a commanding digital presence with Google Plus was best viewed as an ongoing process of continuous learning, proactive experimentation, and sustained engagement. A highly recommended practice for all content creators was to regularly conduct targeted searches on Google for their own content, as well as for relevant keywords within their niche. This diligent approach allowed you to observe firsthand how your posts were performing in search rankings, understand the tangible influence of your G+ activity on those rankings, and even discover other influential voices and emerging trends within your specific industry.

As you actively engaged in these insightful and self-directed searches, there was also a rich array of information and educational content available in more dynamic and interactive formats. A prime example was a particularly privileged Hangout session that brought together prominent figures and leading experts in the field, including +Chef Dennis Littley, +Gareth Mark, and +Jenny Melrose. This invaluable session, aptly titled “Maximizing Google Plus!”, offered a deep dive into advanced strategies, practical insights, and proven best practices for leveraging the platform effectively. Actively watching such high-quality resources provided indispensable tips and actionable advice directly from those who were not only actively succeeding but also shaping the landscape of digital marketing with G+.

By consistently embracing and actively engaging with Google Plus, strategically leveraging its unique features such as authorship, targeted tagging, and relevant hashtags, and thoughtfully participating in its vibrant community, you were proactively setting your website up for unparalleled visibility and securing a significant competitive advantage within Google Search. The seamless integration of social signals and the direct content indexing capabilities offered by G+ fundamentally transformed how content was discovered, making it an indispensable and non-negotiable tool for any serious online publisher or digital marketer during its operational period. This forward-thinking and proactive approach to content promotion and strategic SEO was undeniably key to not just surviving, but truly thriving, in the rapidly evolving and dynamic digital landscape of the time.

I’m sharing at some of these great parties.