For better SEO I understand I should be using Google+, but under what identity?

[lindsayjhopkins]

It appears one way to rank more highly is by using Google+. But should I start to build a community myself or as my company?

I have a good Twitter following under my own name, which links to my company page and a facebook page (for my business).

I much prefer to be a face on social media than hide behing a logo, but am faced with a dilemma and not sure where to begin: Will Google recognise the relationship between me and my business if I set up an account under my own name?

Primarily it's my business I want to promote, so from an seo perspective it seems should I use Google+ as my business, but I really dislike 'corporate' social media?

[BenRWoodard]

From the sounds of your explanation you are the business.  You may be "doing business as" a name but your customers and future customers are purchasing your services because of you.  I have seen a lot of people claiming their Google+ business page and using it in a tactical way but very personal as well.  It's going to be a different strategy but can still be very personal.

I don't know Google personally but... (a little joke there) I can only assume with the new rel="author" and rel="me" tags and all the connecting of Google's infrastructure that it understands people are becoming the face of their companies.

I would recommend claiming your social network identity for "branding" and creating a strategy around it.  Begin posting strictly business news to Google+ page and only referencing it.  Same thing with Facebook and Twitter.  Claim your brand identity, use the networks intentionally but keep your own personal pages so that you become the authority of your market AND your brand.

At least that's what I'm trying to do.

[kbloemendaal]

I have a Plus page for my company, I don't use it but wanted to capture it. I use my face, and my personality to brand. I do the same thing on FB and Twitter as well. Having "company" profiles for all of them, I rarely actually use them.

I think you answered your own question

[Delete2012]

Be transparent, be yourself, and gain influence. Otherwise, suck at everything.